Study links pig feeding strategy to lesions and growth outcomes

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A new study in Animals reports that feeding strategy mattered more than pen size for several welfare outcomes in finishing pigs. In the 12-week randomized 2 × 2 factorial trial, researchers compared pigs kept in groups of 9 or 18 and fed either ad libitum or a mildly restricted ration at a constant floor space allowance of 1.15 m² per pig. Across most of the study period, pigs on the restricted ration had lower rates of ear and tail lesions than pigs fed ad libitum, while pigs in the smaller groups showed higher daily weight gain and final body weight. The paper was published April 28, 2026, by researchers from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and collaborators. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals advising swine operations, the findings add to a growing body of evidence that feeding management and competition around feed access can shape both welfare and production outcomes. Earlier Norwegian field work from some of the same research group found that larger group sizes on commercial farms were associated with less ear and body biting but also lower daily weight gain, while recent literature has also pointed to group size as one factor in tail-biting risk, especially in systems that avoid routine tail docking. This new controlled study suggests that even mild feed restriction may reduce damaging behaviors, but any practical application would need to be weighed against growth targets, feeder design, space allowance, and the risk of creating new competition points in commercial barns. (researchgate.net)

What to watch: Watch for follow-up work on how feeder design, enrichment, and stocking conditions interact with mild feed restriction before producers translate these results into broader on-farm feeding changes. (mdpi.com)