Wet versus Dry Diets for Weaned Pigs

Wet feeding and dry feeding of a starter diet for weaned pigs were compared at three stations — Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI), Clemson University (CLEM) and the University of Arkansas (ARK). Nine-hundred and thirty-six pigs (average weight 7.8 kg) were used in all. A commercial liquid self-feeder provided the wet diet in an approximate diet to water ratio of 1:2. Self-feeders were used to provide the diet in a dry form. Daily gain and daily feed did not differ (P> .10) between pigs fed by the wet method and those fed by the dry method. Feed to gain ratio favored pigs fed die diet in a dry form. A significant station × treatment interaction for daily gain was observed. At VPI, gain favored dry-fed pigs, while at ARK it favored wet-fed pigs; there was no difference in gain between dry- and wet-fed pigs at CLEM. Improved daily gains reflected greater daily feed intakes. These results suggest that there is no major difference in the performance of pigs fed wet and dry diets; thus, the decision to use a liquid or wet feed should be based solely on the merits of the feeding system.