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teat fidelity in pigs and its relation to competition at suckling. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 68: [325][326][327][328][329][330][331][332][333][334][335][336][337][338]. The suckling behavior of 55 piglets from six litters was observed daily from birth to 10 d of age to describe the development of teat preference, teat fidelity and teat disputes and to relate these to weight gain. The percentage ofpiglets suckling from only one teat pair on each day increased from less than 5% on day 1 to 85% on day 10.By 3 d of age, the piglets had chosen their preferred teat pair, since 75% kept the same preferred teat pair between 3 and 10 d of age. The mean percent of nursings on the preferred teat pair increased from 50 to 86% during the first 3 d , and reached 95 % on day 10. Teat disputes were most frequent on day I and missed nursings most frequent on day 2; frequency ofboth decreased as the piglets aged. On day 1, piglets that won most of their teat disputes suckled more frequently and had greater 3-d weight gains. Afler day I, piglets that gained more weight were more consistent in the use of their prreferred teat, pair, had fewer teat disputes and missed fewer nursings. Success at teat disputes was not related to weight gain after day 3. Typically, piglets suckled succe,ssfully; most of the variation in suckling behavior was due to the existence of "problem" pigs that were inconsistent in their use of teats, and were involved in teat disputes and missed nursings. Anterior teats were used more often. Piglets suckling fromL teats in the middle of the udder had a lower teat fidelity than those suckling at either end. Piglets suckling anterior teats gained more weight only between days 4 and 6. This effect disappeared once initial body weight and missed nursings were accounterl for. We suggest that a high level of teat fidelity is an advantage to piglets because iit reduces teat disputes and the chance of missing nursings.

This research evaluated the viability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) intended for in vivo application as direct-fed microbial (DFM) supplements in two experiments during feed processing (Exp. 1) and storage (Exp. 2) and determined the efficacy of DFM on the digestibility and hindgut fermentation of horses during and after an abrupt increase in starch (Exp. 3). In Exp. 1, lactobacilli survived feed processing and a commercial enumeration method was validated. In Exp. 2, viable colony forming units of LAB were assessed and remained viable during 12 weeks of storage. Controls in both experiments had high levels of naturally-occurring bacteria present. In Exp. 3, a high-starch concentrate caused fecal pH to decrease, and fecal propionate and digestibility of many nutrients to increase. The DFM induced minimal improvements in digestibility or fermentation parameters and data provided no clear evidence to support the use of a multiple versus a single strain DFM preparation.

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Gravid Yorkshire sows assigned to one of three pen sizes on d 109 of gestation, were continuously observed for 72 h before parturition. Pens included a 2.1- x .7-m rectangular farrowing crate (n = 6), a small, square pen 2.1 x 2.1 m (n = 5), and a large, square pen 4.2 x 4.2 m (n = 5). Body positions were recorded at 30-s intervals. Other behaviors were recorded using the one-zero method of sampling at 1-min intervals. Sows became more active as they approached farrowing. They stood, sat, lay with legs under, changed positions, drank, urinated, defecated, rooted the floor and pipes, mouthed the waterer and pipes, and pawed the floor more (P < .05) during the 24 h before the birth of the first pig than during the previous 2 d. Position changes, rooting the floor, and pawing frequency peaked during the 6 h preceding parturition and show promise as predictors of parturition. During the 24 h preceding the birth of the first pig, farrowing crate sows stood, rooted the floor, and pawed less and sat, lay, and changed positions more than sows in either pen (P < .05). No differences (P > .05) among pens were noted for lying with legs under or out, eating, drinking, urinating, defecating, rooting the pipes, mouthing the pipes. or mouthing the waterer. Pipe biting and other behaviors commonly thought to be caused by confinement stress occurred in all three pen sizes and seem to be components of nest-building, expressed inappropriately, in a barren environment.