Impacts of nipple drinker position on water intake, water wastage and drinking duration of pigs

Abstract

Water determines the life quality of pigs, however, adequate measures need to be taken in order to reduce wastage while theanimals are drinking. The current study hypothesized and examined a suitable position at which to fix the nipple drinker to providesufficient drinking water to pigs while also limiting water wastage. Additionally, this study describes both the drinking pattern anddrinking duration of pigs. The height to place the drinker was calculated based on the neck movement of the pigs (neck movementangle, NMA). According to the NMA, 3 independent treatments were investigated with angles placed at clockwise 30°, 0°, and counterclockwise 30°. These positions will be correspondingly referred to as T1, T2, and T3, respectively. To understand the diurnal drinkingpattern and drinking duration, along with each pig’s drinking cycle, the number of visits to the drinker was recorded with a camera.The outcome shows that T3 had less water wastage and a higher average daily gain compared to T1 and T2. Further, the number ofvisits to the drinker and drinking duration were affected by the treatments. The research affirmed that the nipple drinker with a counterclockwise 30° angle at a proper height is the best at reducing water wastage for finishing pigs. Correspondingly, the T3 treatment mightcreate opportunities to drink more water in group housed pigs.