Drinker to nursery pig ratio: Drinking behavior, aggression, and drinker location preference over 2 days

Objective: Determine the effect of drinker number (1, 2, or 3 drinkers/pen) on the frequency and duration for drinker visits, aggressive interactions in the drinker vicinity, drinker location preference, and water disappearance for 7-week-old nursery pigs. Materials and methods: Two hundred twenty-five, 7-week-old gilts identified with unique numbers were commercially housed (25 gilts/pen). Three treatments were compared with 3 pens/treatment: 1 drinker (treatment 1), 2 drinkers (treatment 2), and 3 drinkers (treatment 3). One camera was positioned over each drinker to record behavior between 7:00 am and 12:59 pm over 2 consecutive days. In addition, 1 water meter was installed on each water line to record water disappearance. Results: Pigs in treatment 3 visited and spent more time at the drinkers compared to the other 2 treatments (P = .02). Pigs in treatment 1 had more and longer duration of aggressive interactions in the drinker vicinity compared to the other 2 treatments between 7:00 am to 7:59 am (P = .02). When offered 3 drinkers, pigs spent the least amount of time at the drinker across from the feeder near the alleyway (P < .001). Total water disappearance was greatest for treatment 1 and least for treatment 2. Implications: Under study conditions, 3 drinkers increased visits and time at drinkers without increasing aggressive interactions. Pigs exhibited location preference when offered 3 drinkers. Results can inform producers on water placement in pens.