The influence of drinker device on water use and fertiliser value of slurry from growing-finishing pigs
J. Alvarez-Rodriguez A C , B. Hermida A , J. Parera B , H. Morazán A , J. Balcells A and D. Babot A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Departament de Producció Animal, Universitat de Lleida, Avda. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
B Servei de Producció Agrícola, Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Alimentació i Medi Natural. Ronda Sant Martí, 2-6, 25002 Lleida, Spain.
C Corresponding author. Email: jalvarez@prodan.udl.cat
Animal Production Science 53(4) 328-334 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12136
Submitted: 18 April 2012 Accepted: 13 September 2012 Published: 23 January 2013
Abstract
This study assessed the effect of drinker type on water use and slurry characteristics of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 124 crossbred pigs [20 kg of bodyweight (BW)] were allotted to 16 pens (3–4 pigs/pen) in two time periods during the cool season (length: 97 days each). Drinker devices were: (1) pig teat, (2) bite drinker, (3) nipple square bowl, and (4) nipple bowl. There were limited differences among drinker types concerning the growth pattern of pigs during the fattening period, but target BW (100 kg) was similar in all treatments (P > 0.05). Feed intake did not differ among drinker types (P > 0.05). Nipple bowl drinker showed the lowest water disappearance during the experiment, whereas bite drinker showed the greatest values during the late fattening period (P < 0.05). Slurry production did not differ among drinker devices (P > 0.05), but slurry volume increased linearly during the study (P < 0.05). Pigs raised using nipple square and nipple bowl drinkers produced slurry with greater DM content than teat drinkers (P < 0.05). Most of the slurry fertiliser value elements (N-P-K) were significantly affected by drinker type (P < 0.05). Slurry from pigs using teat and bite drinkers had lower N-NH4, total N and K content than that from nipple square and nipple bowl drinkers (P < 0.05). Total N content of slurry on a wet basis decreased during the fattening period (P < 0.05). Improved efficiency in water use by pigs led to greater slurry N and K content, mainly due to the increase in its DM content. A negative association between water use at pig facilities and its slurry fertiliser value was demonstrated.
References
Aarnink AJA, Verstegen MWA (2007) Nutrition, a key factor to reduce environmental load from pig production. Livestock Science 109, 194–203.| Nutrition, a key factor to reduce environmental load from pig production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
ACA (2012) Agència Catalana de l’Aigua. Available at http://aca-web.gencat.cat [Verified 18 June 2012]
Ange KD, Eisemann JH, Argenzio RA, Almond GW, Blikslager AT (2000) Effects of feed physical form and buffering solutes on water disappearance and proximal stomach pH in swine. Journal of Animal Science 78, 2344–2352.
AOAC (2000) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 17th edn. (AOAC International: Arlington, VA)
APHA (1995) ‘Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater.’ 19th edn. (American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation: Washington, DC)
ASAE Standard (2003) ‘Agricultural machinery management data. Standard (D497.4).’ (American Society of Agricultural Engineering: St Joseph, MI)
Babot D, Hermida B, Balcells J, Calvet S, Alvarez-Rodríguez J (2011) Farm technological innovations on swine manure in Southern Europe. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 40, 316–325.
BREF (2003) ‘Reference document on best available techniques for intensive rearing of poultry and pigs – integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC).’ (European Commission: Seville)
Brooks PH (1994) Water-forgotten nutrient and novel delivery system. In ‘Biotechnology in the feed industry’. pp. 211–234. (Nottingham Press: Leicestershire)
Brumm MC, Dahlquist JM, Heemstra JM (2000) Impact of feeders and drinker devices on pig performance, water use and manure volume. Journal of Swine Health and Production 8, 51–57.
DOGC (2010) ‘ORDEN AAR/506/2010, de 2 de noviembre, por la que se establecen los criterios para la aplicación de los niveles de reducción en la excreción de nitrógeno del ganado porcino mediante la mejora de la alimentación, de acuerdo con el anexo 2 del Decreto 136/2009, de 1 de septiembre, de aprobación del programa de actuación aplicable a las zonas vulnerables en relación con la contaminación de nitratos que proceden de fuentes agrarias y de gestión de las deyecciones ganaderas.’ (Departamento de Agricultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural, Generalitat de Catalunya: Barcelona)
Dourmad J-Y, Jondreville C (2007) Impact of nutrition on nitrogen, phosphorus, Cu and Zn in pig manure, and on emissions of ammonia and odours. Livestock Science 112, 192–198.
| Impact of nutrition on nitrogen, phosphorus, Cu and Zn in pig manure, and on emissions of ammonia and odours.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Duthion C, Catroux G, Germon JC (1979) Land spreading of liquid pig manure: II. Nutrient balances and effects on drainage water. In ‘Effluents from livestock’. (Ed. JKR Grasser) pp. 59–79. (Applied Science Publishing: London)
European Communities (1986) European Union Directive No. 86/609/CEE. Council Directive of 24 November 1986 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. Official Journal of the European Communities Series L358, 1–32.
EUROSTAT (2011) European Union statistics. Available at http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu [Verified 27 October 2011]
FEDNA (2003) ‘Normas FEDNA para la formulación de piensos compuestos.’ (Eds C De Blas, GG Mateos, P García-Rebollar) (FEDNA; Madrid, Spain)
FEDNA (2006) ‘Necesidades nutricionales para ganado porcino.’ (Eds C De Blas, J Gasa, GG Mateos) (FEDNA; Madrid, Spain)
Hernández F, Martínez S, López C, Megías MD, López M, Madrid J (2011) Effect of dietary crude protein levels in a commercial range, on the nitrogen balance, ammonia emission and pollutant characteristics of slurry in fattening pigs. Animal 5, 1290–1298.
| Effect of dietary crude protein levels in a commercial range, on the nitrogen balance, ammonia emission and pollutant characteristics of slurry in fattening pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Leirós MC, Villar MC, Cabaneiro A, Carballas T, Díaz-Fierros F, Gil F, Gómez C (1983) Caracterización y valor fertilizante de los purines de vacuno en Galicia. Anales de Edafología y Agrobiología Tomo XLII, 753–768.
Li YZ, Chénard L, Lemay SP, Gonyou HW (2005) Water intake and wastage at nipple drinkers by growing-finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 83, 1413–1422.
Magowan E, McCann MEE (2008) The effect of drinker design and position on water usage and performance of growing pigs. In ‘Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science’. p. 15. (British Society of Animal Science: Scarborough)
MARM (2010) ‘Guía de mejoras técnicas disponibles del sector porcino.’ (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Rural y Marino, Gobierno de España: Madrid)
Meschy F (1998) Balance electrolítico y productividad en animales monogástricos. In ‘XIV Curso de Especialización FEDNA, Avances en Nutrición y Alimentación Animal’. (Eds P García-Rebollar, C de Blas, GG Mateos) (FEDNA: Barcelona)
Miyawaki K, Itoh S, Hoshina K (1994) Water requirement and water-saving effect in finishing pigs fed with wet/dry feeders. Japanese Journal of Swine Science 31, 35–42.
| Water requirement and water-saving effect in finishing pigs fed with wet/dry feeders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mroz Z, Jongbloed AW, Lenis NP, Vreman K (1995) Water in pig nutrition: physiology, allowances and environmental implications. Nutrition Research Reviews 8, 137–164.
| Water in pig nutrition: physiology, allowances and environmental implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1M%2FjvF2ksA%3D%3D&md5=9b3e758bb2e9ad57e814faae65cf1074CAS |
Muhlbauer RV, Moody LB, Burns RT, Harmon J, Stalder K (2010) ‘Water consumption and conservation techniques currently available for swine production. Research Report Environment.’ (National Pork Board: Des Moines, LA)
Nagai M, Hachimura K, Takahashi K (1994) Water consumption in suckling pigs. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 56, 181–183.
| Water consumption in suckling pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2c3msVWmsA%3D%3D&md5=9ddce0e2c6f60d11492acc080af8d1c5CAS |
NRC (1998) ‘Nutrient requirements of swine.’ 10th revised edn. (National Academy Press: Washington, DC)
Okrouhla M, Stupka R, Čitek J, Šprysl M, Trnka M, Kluzakova E (2008) Effect of lean meat proportion on the chemical composition of pork. Czech Journal of Food Science 26, 464–469.
Shaw MI, Beaulieu AD, Patience JF (2006) Effect of diet composition on water consumption in growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 84, 3123–3132.
| Effect of diet composition on water consumption in growing pigs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtFartr3I&md5=7a9fb67660826e4869a36aee6a7299c1CAS |
Torrey S, Toth Tamminga ELM, Widowski TM (2008) Effect of drinker type on water intake and waste in newly weaned piglets. Journal of Animal Science 86, 1439–1445.
| Effect of drinker type on water intake and waste in newly weaned piglets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXmslOhtrY%3D&md5=217d7e1f9fc795479347a644677a68fbCAS |
Turner SP, Edwards SA, Bland VC (1999) The influence of drinker allocation and group size on the drinking behaviour, welfare and production of growing pigs. Animal Science 68, 617–624.
Yagüe MR, Quílez D (2010) Cumulative and residual effects of swine slurry and mineral nitrogen in irrigated maize. Agronomy Journal 102, 1682–1691.
| Cumulative and residual effects of swine slurry and mineral nitrogen in irrigated maize.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yagüe MR, Quílez D, Iguácel F, Orús F (2008) ‘Métodos rápidos de análisis como herramienta de gestión en la fertilización con purín porcino: conductimetría. Informaciones Técnicas del Departamento de Agricultura y Alimentación del Gobierno de Aragón no. 195.’ (Diputación General de Aragón; Zaragoza, Spain)
Yagüe MR, Guillén M, Quílez D (2011) Effect of covers on swine slurry nitrogen conservation during storage in Mediterranean conditions. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 90, 121–132.
| Effect of covers on swine slurry nitrogen conservation during storage in Mediterranean conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yagüe MR, Bosch-Serra AD, Boixadera J (2012) Measurement and estimation of the fertiliser value of pig slurry by physicochemical models: usefulness and constraints. Biosystems Engineering 111, 206–216.
| Measurement and estimation of the fertiliser value of pig slurry by physicochemical models: usefulness and constraints.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
