Impact of Transition and Jetmix Feeders on Pig Growth

This report investigates the effects of two new feeder designs, Transition and Jetmix, on the performance of post-weaned pigs. The study was conducted with 600 Large White/Landrace pigs, weaned at four weeks of age, and allocated into five treatment groups. The primary objective was to compare the growth performance and feed efficiency of pigs fed through these new feeders versus a traditional dry multi-space feeder. The findings indicate that while feed intake increased with the Transition and Jetmix feeders, feed efficiency was poorer compared to the dry multi-space feeder. The report details the experimental design, including the allocation of pigs to treatments, the types of feed offered, and the performance measurements taken throughout the study. It also discusses the economic implications of using different feeders, noting a significant difference in feed costs for a typical sow herd. The results suggest that the use of the Jetmix feeder alone may provide similar performance outcomes without the added cost of the Transition feeder.