Using an automatic straw-distributor to feed silage to pigs – A potential to increase pigs’ silage consumption and effect on behaviour and cleanliness of the pen (OK-Net Ecofeed video)
Silage spread with an automatic straw-distributor increases pigs’ silage consumption, contributes to cleaner pens and improves animal welfare.
Silage increases possibilities to perform foraging and explorative behaviours in pigs. When silage is fed in feed racks, it can however result in crowding and competition as well as increased silage waste.
Solution
Feeding silage in small rations several times per day can increase the pigs’ silage consumption. It can contribute to a cleaner pen and improve animal welfare by increasing the possibilities for the pigs to forage, root and eat silage together as a group.
Description
The test evaluated the effects of feeding silage to pigs with an automatic straw distributor on pig behaviour, silage consumption and cleanliness of the pen. Ley crop silage was loaded on top of the straw in an automatic straw distributor and distributed to the pigs in their loose housing deep litter pen 4-5 times a day. Dry matter content of the silage affected how far from the distributor the silage was spread. Thus, it should not have too large variation in dry matter content. Due to the rather low amount of silage fed per distribution time, the pigs were able to find and consume all the silage. As it was distributed in a large area, it also enabled all pigs to eat silage simultaneously without competition.
The tool is relevant for pig farmers and advisors and can be used in northern Europe climate where conservation of ley crops to silage is common.
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In order to use the comment function, you must register with the third-party provider "Disqus".
When you activate this function, your browser establishes a direct connection with the servers of the third-party provider. We would like to point out that data is transmitted to the third-party provider after activation, and the latter may set cookies that can also be used for analysis and marketing purposes. For more information, please refer to our privacy policy.
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