Feeding weaners with soaked feed results in better early growth

摘要

When pigs are fed manually at least twice a day, it is easy to detect those which are sick or are failing to thrive and so have them treated as quickly as possible. Tests in Denmark have shown that the manual distribution of soaked feed to young pigsin the first two weeks after weaning will ensure ahigher daily feedintake and, with that, better early growth than from conventional dry feeding. Although the use of dry feeders with separate nipple drinkers or bowls is still a simple and reliable system that can be adapted to almost any type of pen, therefore, there could be times when the alternative of giving feed and water together in the same trough is beneficial.