slugFeeding frequencies and their effect on behavior of nursing sows
Journal Title: Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology - Year 2017, Vol 5, Issue 1
Abstract
An experiment to relate behavior activities with reference to feeding was carried on 16 lactating sows and their litters after one week of farrowing. Two types of diets were fed to the sows. The control group (C) animals were fed with standard ration containing 18% crude protein (CP). The ration for kitchen waste fed group (K) was prepared by substituting the CP of standard ration by food leftover kitchen wastes to the extent of 40%. The sows were randomly distributed into four groups based on frequency of feeding either once (C1, K1) or twice (C2, K2). All the sows were housed individually. The behavior data of sows were collected on ethogram data sheet using scan sampling method. Instantaneous sampling time recording rule was followed to record the listed activities at regular interval during the study period. The sows activities were recorded for 15 days after one week of farrowing. The activities were recorded for 4 hours split between morning and evening, one hour before and one hour after offering of feeds to the sows (8:30 to 9:30 am, 10:30 to 11:30 am, 3:00 to 4:00 pm and 4:30 to 5:30 pm). Nine behavioral parameters were recorded and categorized into 3 major attributes viz., feeding and nursing behavior, active self-care behavior and inactive resting behavior. The sows weaned their litters at the end of 8 weeks. The data on litter size at birth and at weaning was used to compare the nursing behavior with productivity of sows. The increased frequency of feeding made sows spend significantly more time (P<0.01) in eating while reducing their inactive resting time. Thus reduced frequency of feeding to once per day is more beneficial in terms of keeping pigs undisturbed and also this reduces the labour requirement for feeding purpose.
Authors and Affiliations
Somerahally Basavaraju Prasanna ▪ Rasbehari Bhar ▪ Yajaman Bajjappa Rajeshwari ▪ Shankarappa Bhajantri ▪ Mathad Shivamurthaiah Rudraswamy
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP17929
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.14269/2318-1265/jabb.v5n1p29-35
- Views 445
- Downloads 27
slugRespiratory heat loss in Morada Nova sheep in Brazilian semi-arid regions
This study aimed to evaluate the respiratory heat loss in sheep from the equations developed for this species and its relations with meteorological variables in semi-arid regions. The respiratory heat loss (sensible a...
slugThermal comfort indexes and physiological parameters of Santa Inês and crossbreed ewes in the semi-arid
The objective of this study was evaluated the thermal comfort indexes and physiological parameters in Santa Inês and crossbreed ewes in Brazilian semiarid. The research was developed at experimental station Benjamin...
slugEffect of environment and age on the physiological responses and blood constituents of Anglo-Nubian goats
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the environment on physiological responses and the influence of age on hematological parameters of Anglo-Nubians goats in the semiarid northeast. Were used 22 young goats wit...
slugEvaluation of the physiological variables in Santa Inês sheep influence by the Piauí semi-arid environment
In this study we aimed to evaluate the physiological variables of sheep under the influence of Piauí semiarid environment. We used ten Santa Ines rams with black coat. The study was conducted at the small ruminants s...
slugInfrared thermal image for assessing animal health and welfare
Infrared thermal imaging is a non-destructive testing technology that can be used to determine the superficial temperature of objects. This technology has an increasing use in detecting diseases and distress in animal...