Inclusion of intensively manipulated silage in total mixed ration to growing pigs–influence on silage consumption, nutrient digestibility and pig behaviour

Abstract

This study investigated how intensively manipulated grass/clover silage (finer structure than chopped silage) fed in total mixed ration (TMR), influenced feed consumption, total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) and pig behaviour. Ten Yorkshire x Hampshire (YH) pigs were included in a digestibility experiment and 64 YH pigs in a behaviour experiment. Pigs received TMR with 20% dry matter inclusion of either intensively manipulated (SI) or chopped silage (SC). Behaviour was registered with instantaneous and continuous sampling. SI pigs consumed more silage (p = 0.001) and spent more time eating from the through (p < 0.01), however no significant difference in TTAD was found (p > 0.05). Less social interactions prior to feeding (p = 0.029) and less rooting after feeding (p < 0.05) were found among SI pigs, indicating SI pigs being more satisfied for a longer time after feeding. We conclude that TMR with intensively manipulated silage benefits feed consumption and increases the opportunities for pigs perform feed-related behaviours.