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Evaluation and Management of Feeding Systems for Newly Weaned Pigs Using Statistical Process Control

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  024046,  2002 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.10476) @2002
Authors:   Rodney L. Korthals
Keywords:   Wean to Finish, swine feed intake, statistical process control

Starting newly-weaned pigs on feed is critical. Feeders sized to fit 4-kg to 130-kg pigs can make starting pigs in wean-to-finish facilities more difficult. A statistical process control (SPC) chart was used to evaluate intake of newly weaned pigs. A modified Big-Wheel RF2 round feeder with 787-mm diameter (31"dia) trough (2.5-m trough space) was compared to an unmodified RF2 feeder for 13 days. The modified feeder had 140-mm diameter hole at the bottom of the feed hopper compared to a standard 102-mm hole in the standard feeder. By the second day the pigs were eating 120200-g/d/pig on both feeders. Pigs increased intake 38- g/d/pig every day from day 7 until the end of the test, and were eating 460-g/d/pig by day 13. Charting daily intake was an effective way to demonstrate how quickly the weaned pigs adapted to their new environment and dry feed.

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