Abstract:
The Maxi Hopper Pan is a feeder designed to support other feeders during the first 14 days after weaning, although some farmers use it as a stand alone feeder until 18 kg body weight. It has 10 feeding spaces specially designed for an easy access for the recently weaned piglet. Piglets eat in groups as they were used to during the suckling period. Two weaners feeders, TR5 (5 feeding spaces, dry feeding) and GF (one feeding space, wet/dry feeding), were tested alone or with a support feeder (Maxi Hopper Pan) during the first 14 days postweaning. Apparent feed intake was greater without the Maxi Hopper Pan when animals had a GF. As a result adding the support feeder to the GF feeder feed efficiency improved and no differences in average daily gain were detected. The greater apparent feed intake observed without the support feeder may be because of increased feed wastage caused by the difficulties in obtaining feed. The addition of the support feeder is crucial in animals fed with a GF feeder, becauseduring the first days postweaning only heavier animals are able to obtain food. With the Maxi Hopper Pan animals have more opportunities to eat even the lighter ones. Feed intake increased and feed efficiency improved when the support feeder was added to the TR5 feeder. Maxi Hopper Pan improves results because it increases the number of feeding spaces and piglets have an easy access to feed.