Effect of dietary energy intake during pregnancy on grazing behaviour of primiparous sows kept in an outdoor system under tropical conditions

Abstract

Grazing activity observed in sows kept outdoors is influenced by different factors such as their nutritional status and reproductive stage. Reduction in concentrate feed intake and pregnancy development in sows kept outdoors resulted in an increase in time spent by them in grazing under temperate conditions (Robert et al., 1997). Little information is available about behaviour of sows kept outdoors under tropical conditions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of three planes of energy at three points in pregnancy on grazing behaviour of sows kept outdoors under tropical conditions.