Effect of meal frequency during gestation on performance and behavior of individually- or group-housed gestating sows

The effect of splitting daily feed allowance in 1, 2 or 3 meals from the 11th to the 107th day of gestation on body condition recovering and behavior was studied in individually- (two batches of 24 or 21 animals) or group-housed (four batches of 18 animals, 6 per pen) sows. Within each batch, the three meal frequencies were studied in the same room. Body condition (body weight, backfat thickness) was measured periodically as well as standing duration and the non feeding oral activities (NFOA). Meal frequency did not influence significantly body condition recovering.Beside, meals induced specific physical activity, which was higher in sows fed three times per day. With regard to the experimental design, the NFOA frequency was higher in sows fed once per day, in connection with the high frustration induced by feed supply to the other sows except them. This type of activity may have an important impact on the energetic balance. Group-housed sows spent more time standing than individually-group ones. When this extra energy expenditure was not taken into account, the backfat thickness at farrowing was reduced by more than 1 mm.