Table 2.
LSmeans of the line effect for feeding behavior and performance traits measured weekly.
| P | High-RFI | Low-RFI | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trait (w) | Line | LSmeans | SE | LSmeans | SE |
| Daily feed intake (w) (g/d) | ** | 193.4a | 1.0 | 188.4b | 1.0 |
| Meal feed intake (w) (g) | ** | 30.2a | 1.0 | 27.8b | 1.0 |
| Meal duration (w) (s) | ns | 106.8 | 1.0 | 104.9 | 1.0 |
| Daily feeding time (w) (min) | ns | 12.32 | 0.02 | 12.76 | 0.02 |
| Daily feeding rate (w) (g/min) | ** | 17.0a | 1.0 | 15.9b | 1.0 |
| Average daily gain (w) (g/d) | ns | 76.4 | 0.7 | 76.6 | 0.7 |
| Feed conversion ratio (w) | * | 2.68a | 0.03 | 2.60b | 0.03 |
| Number of meals per day (w) | * | 6.9a | 1.0 | 7.3b | 1.0 |
| Daily interval between meals (w) (min) | * | 144.14a | 1.0 | 135.08b | 1.0 |
N = 78. Least square means (LSmeans) and SE of the line effect were estimated from linear models accounting for the following fixed effects: week, line, and the ABW14d covariable. The weekly effect was significant for all the traits studied (P < 0.0001). The ABW14d was significant for all traits studied except daily feeding time (w) and average daily gain (w). The interaction between week and line was tested but was never significant.
In a row, values with different superscripts (a, b) were found to be significantly different (P < 0.05) for the line effect.
*: P < 0.05; **: P < 0.01; ***: P < 0.001