The influence of heated mash on
growth and feeding behavior of newly weaned piglets
was investigated. An automatically ventilated nursery
with 4 identical pens was used. Twenty piglets weaned
at 21 d were housed in each pen. The experiment was
repeated 3 times. In total, data were obtained from 240
piglets of 12 pens. The pens were provided with a sensor-
controlled, automatic feeding device, which dosed a
ready-mixed mash in a trough. In each of 2 of the pens,
the feed was mixed with warm water at 36°C, during
the first week of weaning. This heated mash had a temperature
of 34°C at the outlet of the automatic feeding
device (experimental group). In the 2 control groups,
the water was not heated and the temperature of the
mash was 14°C at the outlet of the automatic feeding
device. From the second week of weaning, the mash had
a temperature of 14°C at the outlet of the automatic
feeding device in all 4 pens. Piglets were weighed at
weaning, at weekly intervals through 49 d after weaning,
and on d 139 after weaning. Behavior of the whole
group, as well as behavior of selected focal animals, was
evaluated for the first 48 h after weaning. In addition,
skin condition of piglets was assessed on day of weaning
and on d 7, 14, and 21 after weaning. The amount of
feed consumed by the piglets was recorded on a daily
basis throughout the whole period of nursery. Over the
total period of the study, piglets in the experimental
group gained 3.98 ± 1.66 kg (P = 0.047) more than
the control group. The difference was particularly clear
during the nursery period (49 d) when the experimental
group gained 0.89 ± 0.23 kg more than the control
group (P = 0.03). Although piglets in the control group
consumed 37.15 ± 0.15 kg of feed over the complete
nursery period, the experimental group consumed 42.56
± 0.15 kg per piglet (P = 0.023). By heating the mash
feed in the first week after weaning, both growth performance
as well as feed consumption of piglets could
be increased. No difference in feed conversion and feeding
behavior was found between groups.