Impact of Drinker Type on Pig Performance, Water Use and Manure Production

1999 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Swine Reports. A summer experiment was conducted to examine the impact of drinker design on pig performance, water use and manure volume. Pigs with access to Drik-O-Mat bowl drinkers had similar daily gains, lower feed intake and improved feed conversion compared to pigs with access to a WaterSwing nipple drinker. Water use was reduced 24.8 percent for the bowl versus swing drinkers. Manure volume was reduced 21.6 percent for the bowl versus swing drinker. The difference in manure volume is most likely due to a reduction in water wastage. Selection of drinker devices must include consideration of the manure system design and the need for wasted water for the manure system to function correctly.