Water requirements of italian heavy pigs: effect of water restriction in the winter season on production and behavioural traits

Seventy Italian heavy pigs (initial average body weight: 78 kg) were allotted to two experimental groups, both fed with a liquid diet (water-to-meal ratio 3:1 w/w). One group was allowed to drink water ad libitum thanks to nipple drinkers in the pen, whereas the other group had no water supply except from that delivered with food. Pigs were brought to the weight of 160 kg and then slaughtered. Animals were regularly weighted and videotaped in order to collect both behavioural and productive data. Blood smears were made to evaluate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and water consumption was recorded. Results show that in our experimental conditions (i.e. pigs receiving a liquid diet in the winter season) the absence of an additional supply of fresh water did not modify growth traits, carcass parameters, animal behaviour or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio