Performance test of the intelligent drinking bowls for fattening pigs

The quality and quantity of drinking water are critical for the growth and health of pigs. Traditional bowl-type drinking fountains are associated with several issues, including the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria due to feed residue and water wastage resulting from pigs playing in the water. To address these issues and enhance piggery management, there is a need for innovative, water-saving, and hygienic smart drinking devices. This study aimed to address the shortcomings of traditional bowl-type drinking fountains by developing and evaluating an intelligent water-saving drinking bowl for pigs. We incorporated PLC control modules, water level detection, drinking recognition, and precise water quantity measurement into the intelligent drinking bowl. This system ensured the rational and accurate supply of water to pigs and features an automatic residue cleaning function within the bowl. To evaluate the impact of this intelligent drinking bowl on pig production performance, water consumption, drinking behavior and the hygienic quality of drinking water, we conducted an experiment involving 100 fattening pigs in good physiological condition, with an average body weight of (85.87 ± 15.80) kg. Then, the pigs were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: one with traditional drinking bowls and the other with intelligent drinking bowls. Each group had 5 replicates, with 10 pigs per replicate, and the entire experiment was conducted over a period of 35 days. Our results revealed that both types of bowls demonstrated two distinct peaks in drinking activity, occurring at approximately 09:00 and 15:00. When comparing the smart drinking bowl group to the traditional bowl group, the group using smart drinking bowls showed a 3% increase in daily weight gain, a 0.7% reduction in feed intake, and a 5% decrease in the feed-to-weight ratio. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Meanwhile, the two types of drinking bowls had no significant effect on the drinking behavior, such as the frequency and duration of drinking. Significant differences were noted in water consumption and wastage. The average daily water consumption was (11.14 ± 0.46) L/d for the traditional drinking bowl group and (10.05 ± 0.46) L/d for the intelligent drinking bowl group, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). Water wastage was (0.89 ± 0.13) L/d for the traditional bowl and (0.25 ± 0.13) L/d for the intelligent bowl, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). The intelligent drinking bowl reduced water wastage by 60.9% to 79.5% compared to the traditional bowl. Additionally, total coliform counts in the residual water were (83.00 ± 3.46) MPN/100 mL for the traditional drinking bowl group and (68.33 ± 4.04) MPN/100 mL for the intelligent drinking bowl, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). The total coliform bacteria count in residual water within smart drinking bowls used by fattening pigs was reduced by 16.3% to 19.2% compared to traditional drinking bowls. Economic analysis indicated that the cost savings from reduced water usage alone can offset the initial investment in smart drinking bowls within approximately one year. This study demonstrated that the intelligent drinking bowl effectively reduced water wastage and improved the hygienic quality of drinking water, thereby supporting better animal welfare and offering practical benefits for piggery management.