Feeding Behaviour in Group-Housed Growing-Finishing Pigs and Its Relationship with Growth and Feed Efficiency.

Feed consumption and feeding patterns influence the individual feed efficiency in group-housed livestock species. Using the meal as the unit of feeding behaviour, the main objectives of this research were to identify feeding behaviour () traits that may indicate an individual's rank within the social hierarchy or its level of dominance among pen mates and to assess the relationship between growth and feed efficiency with the identified traits, as well as those describing individual feed consumption patterns. Data from 5516 pigs during the fattening period were used.