PSII-12 Effect of a Supplemental Water Source on Growth Performance of Finishing Pigs

Crossbred pigs (Fast Genetics 276 × PIC 800; n = 2,388; initial BW = 74.1 ± 2.0 kg) were used in two, 63-d growth trials to evaluate the addition of a water source (fixed double nipple waterer) to wet/dry feeders on finishing pig performance. Pigs were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments with 27 to 30 pigs per pen and 40 pens per treatment. Pens were equipped with a wet/dry feeder (SDI, drop shelf wet/dry feeder) with no supplemental water or a wet/dry feeder with a supplemental water source available from 74 kg BW until marketing. Growth data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure with repeated measures over time. The model included fixed effects of water treatment, trial, and time with all possible two-way interactions. Removals, mortalities, and total removals were analyzed using a binomial distribution. No differences (P > 0.05) in body weight were observed initially or at the last marketing event between water source treatments; however, a supplemental water source tended (P = 0.061) to decrease average market weight compared to pigs not given a supplemental waterer (Table). Overall average daily gain (ADG) was lower (P = 0.011) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) was decreased (P = 0.002) for pigs given a supplemental waterer compared to pigs only drinking from a wet/dry feeder. No differences were observed for the percentage of mortalities, pigs removed, or total removals (P > 0.05) regardless of treatment. Finally, daily water disappearance was 2.5 liters greater for pigs with a supplemental waterer compared to pigs with no supplemental waterer. In conclusion, the addition of a supplemental water source to wet/dry feeders decreased growth performance.