scientist North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina
Abstract: The objective of the current study was to evaluate nipple drinker size on nursery pig performance. In lactation, all piglets had access to a baby piglet water nipple placed near the sow feeder. At weaning, piglets were placed into one of four nursery rooms with supplemental heating, mechanical ventilation and tri-bar flooring. Pigs (n=756) were randomly allocated to 84 pens (9 pigs per pen, 0.23 m2 per pig) where they were watered with a standard nursery nipple drinker (Aqua Series 1/2" X 3/8" Nursery Nipple, Hog Slat, Newton Grove, NC) or a standard grow-finish nipple drinker (Aqua Series 1/2" Finish Water Nipple, Hog Slat, Newton Grove, NC). All pens had ad libitum access to feed and water for the 42 day trial. Data was analyzed in SAS using PROC GLM. Fixed effects included nursery room and nipple drinker size. Results are shown in Table 1. No differences were detected between nipple drinker sizes for body weight (P≥0.90), average daily gain (P≥0.68), average daily feed intake (P≥0.56), or feed-to-gain ratio (P≥0.28). These results suggest either a nursery nipple drinker or a grow-finish nipple drinker could be successfully used in the nursery to water pigs. Further piglet water research in lactation and early nursery is warranted.
