Learning to use a computerized feeding system

Abstract

Computerized feeding systems have been developed, allowing farmers to keep dry sows housed in groups, and simultaneously providing rations adapted to their individual feed requirements. In such a system, sows are individually fed by a complex computer-programmed concentrate dispenser. The major practical problems proceed from the difficulty for naive animals to adapt to such a system. An experiment was designed to objectively assess the problems resulting from training naive gilts to use such a system under the conditions of practical pig farming. The results concern 13 groups of ten pregnant crossbred gilts. Fifty-five percent of them learned spontaneously to feed from the computerized food dispenser during the first 24 hours. Sixteen percent required an additional period of 3 hours during which they were separated from those that had already learned. For the others, some reinforcement given by the experimenter was necessary (eighteen percent) whereas long lasting shaping was required for the remaining ten percent. These differences are related to individual characteristics : the sows which learn spontaneously to use the feeding system have a behavioural profile opposed to those which need the farmer’s help. The latter appeared as leaders in induced movements, exhibit little exploratory behaviour and acted as subordinate in food competition tests. The ability to learn are not related to the emotivity of the gilts as tested by the contact with the man. A precocious familiarisation of young sows to a dispenser having similar characteristics to this feeding system has to be tested, as it could reduce the fear reactions to the first contact.