Effect of environmental conditions and feed forms on the performance and feeding behavior of group-housed growing-finishing pigs

Aim of study: To investigate the influence of environmental conditions and feed forms on productivity and feeding behavior of growing-finishing pigs. Area of study: Farm located in the North-East of Spain (42°03'11.0"N 2°06'59.5"E). Material and methods: Two trials were conducted (n = 72 pigs each). In the Hot-Temperate/Pelleted trial (HT-P), pigs were half the time under hot conditions (average temperature Ta=28.1℃) and half the time under thermoneutral conditions (Ta=25.5℃) and were fed in pellet. In the Temperate-Hot/Mash trial (TH-M), pigs were half the time under thermoneutral conditions (Ta=23.5℃) and half the time under hot conditions (Ta=27.3℃) and were fed in mash. Productivity and feeding behavior were registered. Main results: Hot conditions during the finishing period in TH-M trial reduced by 118 g/d growth rate and increased feed conversion ratio (2.28 vs. 2.07 kg/kg) compared to HT-P trial (p < 0.001) due to feed intake reduction. Growing pigs under hot conditions and fed in pellet increased total feeder visits (12.8 vs. 7.9 visits/d) and reduced visit size (147 vs. 230 g/visit, p < 0.001); whereas finishing pigs under hot conditions and fed in mash only tended to reduce visit size (308 vs. 332 g/visit, p = 0.08). Pigs fed with mash ate slower (22.8 vs. 34.8 g/min) than pelleted-fed pigs (p < 0.001), independently of environmental conditions. Research highlights: Feed form and environmental conditions affect both feeding behavior and performance of growing-finishing pigs. Unfortunately, due to a design weakness, it was not possible to obtain the sharp effect of both factors.