203 Effect of a Supplemental Water Source on Performance of Growing-finishing Pigs

Abstract Crossbred pigs (Fast Genetics 276 × PIC 800; n = 2,332; initial BW = 24.5 ± 1.6 kg) were used in two, 84-d growth trials to evaluate effects of an additional water source (fixed double nipple waterer) to a wet/dry feeder on growing-finishing pig performance. Pigs were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments with 27 to 30 pigs per pen and 40 pens per treatment. Pens were equipped with a wet/dry feeder (SDI, drop shelf wet/dry feeder) or with a wet/dry feeder in combination with the additional water source. Marketing began on d 84 of each trial so the highest pig demands on feeders and waterers were assumed to occur from d 0 to 84 when all pigs were present in each pen. Growth data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS and removals, mortalities, and total removals were analyzed using a Chi-square test in SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). No significant interactions between trial and water treatment were observed, thus data were combined using water treatment as a fixed effect and trial as a random effect. No differences were observed for body weight on d 84, average market weight, or number of removals, mortalities, or total pigs removed (Table). Similarly, no evidence for differences in overall average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or gain efficiency were observed regardless of an additional water source. However, pigs given access to a supplemental water source displayed a numeric increase in water disappearance per pig compared to pigs in pens with only wet/dry feeders. In conclusion, addition of a fixed double nipple waterer to wet/dry feeders did not influence growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.