The influence of sequential and simultaneous feeding and the availability of straw on the behaviour of gilts in group housing

Abstract

Effects of 2 feeding systems and the unlimited availability of straw in a rack on behaviour of 240 gilts, 6 months old, 110 kg liveweight, in group housing were studied. Four treatments were compared in triplicate; electronic feeding station for sequential feeding of sows with or without access to straw in a separate feeding rack (ESF with straw and ESF without straw, respectively), electronically controlled simultaneous feeding in boxes with or without straw available (FB with straw and FB without straw, respectively). Sows were active for 13.7, 13.5, 17.1 and 13.9% of their time in ESF with straw, ESF without straw, FB with straw and FB without straw, respectively, the interaction between feeding system and availability of straw being significant (P