| The effect of trough-anchored blind teats on the behaviour and performance of early-weaned piglets fed the same diet in liquid or pelleted form was examined. A preference test revealed that soft-textured teats elicited the most interest from piglets, and these were used in all subsequent experiments. Piglets provided with troughs fitted with blind teats spent more time at the food trough and lying down compared to control pigs. They spent less time belly-nosing, piglet nosing, chewing, and sucking, at the water nipple, and behaving aggressively at or away from the food trough. This effect was observed during the period in which piglets were exposed to experimental treatments, and carried over into a secondary phase during which experimental treatments were no longer imposed. Over the period in which piglets were fed the liquid diet, they achieved a higher dry matter intake and growth rate. They spent less time at the feeder, at the water nipple, and belly-nosing. They spent more time lying than piglets fed the same diet in pelleted form. These results suggest that trough-anchored blind teats and a liquid diet allow piglets to adjust to early-weaning more readily, and improve their overall welfare. |
