Effect of Nipple Angle on Water Disappearance by Pigs

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different nipple angles on water disappearance in growing pigs, which is denned as the water which leaves the watering device but is not consumed by the pig. this water adds to the volume or the total waste slurry. Four crossbred pigs averaging 70.0±1.4 kg were assigned into 1 of 4 treatments using a 4x4 Latin-square design. Treatments were distinguished by the angle between nipple terminal and the perpendicular wall. These angles were: 1) NA-30 (= Nipple Angle 30°), 2) NA-45 (= Nipple Angle 45°), 3) NA-60 (= Nipple Angle 60°) and 4) NA-90 (= Nipple Angle 90°). All of the nipples were fixed at shoulder height of each pig. After a 7-day adaptation period, samples were collected from each pig for 4 days, followed by a day for change-over. Pigs were fed a 0.8 kg diet twice daily at 08:00 and 20:00 and supplied water ad libitum. Throughout the experimental period, pigs in the NA-30 treatment group showed greater water disappearance than other treatments. Water disappearance was the lowest for the NA-60 treatment group (p