Controlling feed waste is all about good trough design, according to Dr. Harold W. Gonyou. Dr. Gonyou is a swine behaviorist and research scientist at the Prairie Swine Centre, Inc., and professor at the University of Saskatchewan. He has done extensive research on feeder and drinker design and lectures on the subject throughout the world. According to Dr. Gonyou, the ideal trough design provides the following:

• Good access to feed
• Adequate space for comfort
• Protection from other pigs

Good access to feed:
Feeders with agitators must be adjusted so pigs don’t have to work too hard to get feed, according to Dr. Gonyou. He says good feed availability is important or intake suffers. “Pigs will only work so hard before feed intake begins to shut down,” says Dr. Gonyou. Feeders should be adjusted so agitators aren’t so tight that feed can’t flow easily into the feed trough.

Adequate space for comfort:
Actual trough design must take into account the largest pig using the feeder, according to Dr. Gonyou. Troughs should be deep and wide enough to provide ample shoulder room so the pig can eat in a natural, comfortable position. “It shouldn’t be difficult for them to eat – they shouldn’t have to twist their heads around,” he says.

Dr. Gonyou recommends feed spaces be at least 13.5” (34.3 cm) wide and 10 to 14” deep (25.4 to 35.6 cm) for pigs up to 265 lbs. (120.2 kg.). For true finishers, handling pigs up to 300 lbs. (136.1 kg.), Dr. Gonyou suggests slightly larger feed spaces.

Protection from other pigs:
Protection from other pigs is also important to ensure that pigs eat efficiently. Pigs are best protected when feeders have solid dividers between feed spaces that provide both physical and visual protection. This gives pigs a sense of isolation so they can focus on eating rather than protecting themselves, according to Dr. Gonyou.

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