Effects of food texture on meal duration and behaviour of sows fed high-fibre or concentrate diets

Abstract

The impact of food texture (meal vs. pellets) on meal duration and behaviour was examined in seven pregnant sows fed either a very high-fibre diet (29% acid detergent fibre (ADF), 50% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), a high-fibre diet (23% ADF, 43% NDF) or concentrate (control, 8% ADF, 20% NDF). Serving diets in mash instead of pellets increased meal duration and reduced the time spent performing stereotypies in the 20-min post-feeding period, suggesting a beneficial effect of this texture. High-fibre diets increased meal duration, and when they were fed in pellet form, they increased the time spent lying.