The effect of preweaning feeding behaviour on the feeding behaviour of two genetic lines of piglets postweaning

The objective of the study was to investigate the feeding behaviour for two different genetic lines of piglets one week preweaning and postweaning. A total of 16 piglets from different genetic lines of pigs (LGAH vs. VFIL) were used in this study. The LGAH pigs spent more time on feeding and fed more frequently than VFIL pigs. Conversely, the time spent and bout of suckling was higher for VFIL pigs than LGAH pigs. However, the LGAH pigs had a longer suckling period per bout of suckling than for VFIL pigs. The LGAH pigs had a higher weekly feed intake and liveweight gain than VFIL pigs. However, the final liveweights (weaning weights) were not significantly different between the two lines. Weekly liveweight gain was positively correlated with weekly feed intake. After weaning, the means for duration of feeding per day were not significantly different for the two genetic lines of pigs. However, the LGAH pigs ate more frequently and had a shorter duration of feeding time per bout of feeding time per bout of feeding than the VFIL pigs. The LGAH pigs had a significantly higher weekly liveweight gain and feed intake than the VFIL pigs. However, there were no line effects on the final liveweight. Weekly liveweight gain was significantly correlated woth weekly feed intake. The duration of feeding per day and the number of bout of feeding per day before weaning were positively correlated in respect to the duration of feeding per day and number of bouts of feeding per day after weaning. The finding indicated that the LGAH pigs better adapted to the new environment due to earlier experience in consuming solid food before weaning. Thus, they had a better growth rate one week before and after weaning than the VFIL pigs.