Drinker to Nursery Pigs Ratio: Effects on Drinking Behavior and Performance

Abstract

Summary and ImplicationsThe effect of pig ratio to cup waterers was evaluated to determine changes on pig drinking behavior and performance. Ratios of 1:25 (treatment 1), 1:12 (treatment 2), and 1:8 (treatment 3) were studied. Treatment 3 drank more frequently than those provide with one or two cup waterers per pen. There was a trend for pigs provided 2 or 3 cup waterers in a pen to have increased average daily gains. While further research is needed to quantify and confirm these findings, a nursery providing a ratio closer to published guidelines may lead to increase performance. IntroductionInformation is available on the current drinker to nursery pigs' ratios (drinker: pigs). In the UK, producers are recommended a 1:15, while in the US it is 1:10 for nursery pigs. However, a ratio of 1:25 is more typical in US pork production systems. The importance of nursery system design, in regards to placement of key resources is relatively undocumented i.e. previous literature information with regards to the impact of drinkers is limited. Previous work has addressed swine feeder placement and design.Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to determine the total number of visits made to a water bowl drinker by pigs over a 6-h period and (2) to calculate average daily gain when pigs were offered either one two or three water bowl drinkers per pen.