Prandial Correlations and Structure of the Ingestive Behavior of Pigs in Precision Feeding Programs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: A better understanding of pig feeding behavior can provide critical information for improving feeding strategies, productivity, and animal well-being. However, the availability of information is very limited in this research field. Data collected using electronic feeders were used in this study to generate information on pig feeding behavior, such as the time, size, and duration of each visit and meal. Later, data were used to calculate prandial correlations that could be interpreted as hunger or satiety-regulating mechanisms. The results indicated that the hunger-regulating mechanisms were slightly stronger than the satiety-regulation mechanisms in the studied animals. A decrease in both regulating mechanisms was observed during animal growth. Feeding programs showed little influence on the feeding regulating mechanisms, with conventional feeding systems (a group of animals fed diets adjusted by phase) slightly differing from precision feeding programs (animals receiving diets adjusted daily to meet the individual nutritional requirements). The use of electronic feeders in research and field conditions is increasing, as well the variety of sensors available in the market. Thus, more studies focusing on pig feeding behavior must be developed in the coming years to further understand such a complex and interesting animal. ABSTRACT: The feeding behavior of growing-finishing pigs was analyzed to study prandial correlations and the probability of starting a new feeding event. The data were collected in real-time based on 157,632 visits by a group of 70 growing-finishing pigs (from 30.4 to 115.5 kg body weight, BW) to automatic feeders. The data were collected over 84 days, during which period the pigs were kept in conventional (by phase and by group) or precision (with daily and individual adjustments) feeding programs. A criterion to delimit each meal was then defined based on the probability of an animal starting a new feeding event within the next minute since the last visit. Prandial correlations were established between meal size and interval before meal (pre-prandial) or interval after meal (post-prandial) using Pearson correlation analysis. Post-prandial correlations (which can be interpreted as hunger-regulating mechanisms) were slightly stronger than pre-prandial correlations (which can be interpreted as satiety regulation mechanisms). Both correlations decreased as the animals’ age increased but were little influenced by the feeding programs. The information generated in this study allows a better understanding of pigs’ feeding behavior regulation mechanisms and could be used in the future to improve precision feeding programs.