Feed intake and feeding behavior traits for gestating sows recorded using electronic sow feeders

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 99; no. 1; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Vargovic, Laura, Hermesch, Susanne, Athorn, Rebecca Z, Bunter, Kim L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal Behavior and Cognition; Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Appetite; Body weight; Body weight gain; Eating; Electronics; Farms; Feeders; Feeding; Feeding Behavior; Feeds; Female; Genetic diversity; Gestation; Heritability; Hogs; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Reproducibility; Studies; Swine; appetite; sow health; group-housing; gestation; heritability

Abstract Electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems are used to control feed delivery to individual sows that are group-housed. Feeding levels for gestating sows are typically restricted to prevent excessive body weight gain. Any alteration of intake from the allocated feeding curve or unusual feeding beh...