A study to evaluate repeatability of feeding time of sows in large group gestations with ESF systems.

Animal welfare, has been traditionally evaluated by measuring level of aggression and stress parameters. However, feeding behavior can also provide a valuable indication of comfort or stress for gestating sows in large groups, when fed with ESF systems.

The study was conducted at Albesa-Ramadera a 3300 sow, Site 1 farm, based in Catalonia, Spain. The farm has large group gestation (128 to 175 sows per group) and utilizes ESF. (Compident 7®, Schauer Agrotronic GmbH). Nulliparous sows are placed separated in dynamic pens, while all other multiparous sows, (parities 2-7) are placed in larger dynamic groups.

By analyzing one week data; feeding time repeatability was considered a potentially good indicator of group feeding stability.

Four dynamic pens were considered in this study; Pen 2 and 6 were multiparous pens with 172-175 sows in each, respectively. Pen 7 and 8, were nulliparous pens with, 128 and 140 sows in each, respectively.

A parameter called; Percentage of time coincidence (PTC), was created to evaluate with what deviation from the average entry time the sow eats one day, as compared with her average entry time during a one week period.

PTC=1, means that the sow eat every day at the same time. PTC=0,99-0,8 means that these sows eat every day within a ± 90 minutes deviation, from the average eating time. PTC= less than 0,8, means that these sows had a large variation of feeding time within the period of the study.

When classifying sows according to their PTC, it can be seen that in multiparous pens, 62 to 73% of sows eat more or less at the same time of the day, (±90 minutes every day), while the rest is less consistent in their entry time.

It can also be seen that in nulliparous pens, 51 to 75% of sows eat more or less at the same time of the day, (±90 minutes every day), while the rest is less consistent in their entry time.

PTC tends to be higher in more stable groups, (longer time since last entry of sows) and in groups where sows have had adequate training. The large difference in between groups of same type (Multiparous, or Nulliparous), is related to the last entry of sows into the pen. In pen 6 and 8, animals had been added during the week of the study.

Stable groups independent of their parity have a large percentage (73-75%) of sows eating within ±90 minutes, of their previous feed.

The parameters measured could be considered useful to evaluate normal or abnormal feeding behaviors especially within farm comparisons.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.