不同生长阶段舜皇山土猪肠道微生物组成与多样性

目的 挖掘肠道微生物在舜皇山土猪耐粗饲及抗病等方面的作用,为舜皇山土猪的饲养与保护以及益生菌的开发提供理论依据。 方法 采集3个生长阶段的舜皇山土猪粪便样品,各4~5组,进行16S rDNA V3-V4区基因高通量测序,分析其微生物的组成及多样性。 结果 舜皇山土猪肠道微生物主要由拟杆菌门(Bacteroides)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes )组成,但这两个主要门类的丰富度在各生长阶段有较大差异,且哺乳猪肠道的变形菌门(Proteobacteria)丰富度明显高于其他生长阶段。舜皇山土猪肠道内的Firmicutes/Bacteroides(F/B)比例较低,具有较高的瘦肉率的潜力,但并未表现出很高的瘦肉率,推测与其自身生长缓慢有关。不同生长阶段舜皇山土猪肠道微生物中的优势菌属有所不同,但普氏菌、考拉杆菌属、瘤胃菌科是它们的共性菌,这与商品化猪肠道的优势属(主要是乳杆菌、链球菌等)存在明显差异。考拉杆菌属在肠道微生态的动态平衡方面起着至关重要的作用,并且在含致病菌较少的保育猪中丰富度较高,推测其在舜皇山土猪抗病特性方面具有重要作用。与其他两个生长阶段的猪相比,哺乳猪丰富度差异显著的细菌菌属有23种,保育猪12种,育肥猪27种,但它们含有较多的益生菌,如SCFAs产生菌、木聚糖降解菌、纤维降解菌等,推测与其耐粗饲料特性相关。 结论 舜皇山土猪的发育状态以及饮食习惯影响其肠道微生物的组成。舜皇山土猪的瘦肉率受肠道内F/B比例的影响,同时其自身生长速率也有可能影响其瘦肉率。考拉菌属可能在舜皇山土猪抗病特性方面具有重要作用。舜皇山土猪肠道内的木聚糖降解菌、纤维降解菌等微生物是其耐粗饲的主要原因。     

抑郁症患者肠道菌群研究

目的研究抑郁症患者肠道微生物群落分布情况。方法选择2017年1月-2018年1月在本院临床心理科就诊的确诊为抑郁症的患者79例,以及同时期在本院体检的健康者80例。收集患者新鲜粪便,利用16SrRNA基因测序技术分析患者肠道菌群。结果对159例粪便标本进行16SrRNA基因测序,共获得1 276 841条有效16SrRNA基因序列,抑郁组Shannon指数明显高于对照组。在门水平,共发现20个细菌门,抑郁患者肠道菌群丰度前3位的分别是厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门、梭杆菌门;在科水平,前3位主要为拟杆菌科、普雷沃氏菌科和瘤胃菌科;在属水平,前3位分别是多形杆菌属、普氏菌属、另枝菌属。对照组肠道菌群丰度前3位的分别是厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门、梭杆菌门;在科水平,前3位主要是拟杆菌科,普雷沃氏菌科和瘤胃菌科;在属水平,前3位分别是多形拟杆菌属、普氏菌属、另枝菌属。抑郁组多形杆菌属、普氏菌属、另枝菌属、栖粪杆菌属、考拉杆菌属丰度明显低于对照组,抑郁组毛螺菌属、副杆菌属、布劳特氏菌属、巨单胞菌属丰度明显高于对照组。抑郁组拟杆菌属和栖粪杆菌属丰度与SDS评分成负相关,毛螺菌属丰度与SDS评分成正相关。结论抑郁症患者病情严重程度与抗炎性细菌拟杆菌属和栖粪杆菌属丰度成反比,与毛螺菌属丰度成正比。     

叶酸调控对高尿酸血症大鼠肠道微生物的影响

探究叶酸对高尿酸血症大鼠肠道微生物的影响,为治疗高尿酸血症提供新思路。将SPF 级雄性大鼠分为空白对照组、模型组和叶酸组,采集大鼠的粪便样本,采用16S rRNA高通量测序技术分析肠道微生物的多样性、群落组成以及结构的变化。研究结果显示,Alpha多样性和Beta多样性分析表明,空白对照组、模型组和叶酸组大鼠粪便中微生物多样性和群落组成存在明显差异,其中模型组大鼠粪便微生物具有较高的物种丰度和种群差异性。对门分类水平上的物种丰度分析发现,微生物种群主要由厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）和拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）组成;对属分类水平上的物种丰度分析发现,微生物种群由乳杆菌属（Lactobacillus）、Muribaculaceae、拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）、柯林斯菌属（Collinsella）、梭菌属（Clostridium）、罗姆布茨菌（Romboutsia）、劳特氏菌属（Blautia）和毛螺菌科NK4A136群（Lachnospiraceae NK4A136_group）等菌属组成,与空白对照组相比,模型组中Muribaculaceae和柯林斯菌属的丰度显著升高,乳杆菌属、梭菌属、罗姆布茨菌和毛螺菌科的丰度显著下降;叶酸组中Muribaculaceae、拟杆菌属、柯林斯菌属和劳特氏菌属的丰度显著升高,梭菌属、罗姆布茨菌和毛螺菌科的丰度显著下降。研究探索了叶酸干预调控高尿酸血症大鼠肠道微生物的变化,为治疗高尿酸血症提供参考。     

患子宫内膜炎母猪产道致病菌谱分析及卟啉单胞菌的分离鉴定

【背景】子宫内膜炎是规模化养殖场母猪常患的生殖道疾病之一,对养殖业造成的经济损失较大,细菌感染是常见的病因之一,但具体病原及致病机制尚未完全明确。【目的】探究产道菌群对母猪子宫内膜炎的影响。【方法】采用第三代细菌16S rRNA基因全长高通量测序技术进行对比,研究健康和患有子宫内膜炎母猪产道菌群差异,并依据菌群分析结果对子宫内膜炎母猪产道分泌物进行细菌分离。建立荧光定量PCR计数方法测定母猪产道样品中的卟啉单胞菌数。【结果】健康和患子宫内膜炎母猪产道菌群的丰富度和多样性差异显著;与健康组母猪相比,患子宫内膜炎母猪产道菌群变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门相对丰度显著增加(P<0.05)。在属分类水平上,健康母猪产道的主要优势菌属为金黄杆菌属、芽孢杆菌属、毛螺菌属等,这些优势属在患子宫内膜炎母猪产道丰度降低,患子宫内膜炎母猪产道丰度最高的菌属为埃希氏菌属(Escherichia)、Rodentibacter和卟啉单胞菌属(Porphyromonas)。在种水平上,Porphyromonas somerae是患子宫内膜炎母猪产道的主要条件性致病菌。依据菌群分析结果,本研究从子宫内膜炎母猪产道分泌物中分离到一株卟啉单胞菌,经鉴定该菌16S rRNA基因与Porphyromonas somerae DSM 23386 strain JCM 13867(NR_113090.1)相似性达99.04%。荧光定量PCR计数方法测定,子宫内膜炎母猪产道卟啉单胞菌数量显著高于健康母猪(P<0.05),推测卟啉单胞菌与该批次母猪子宫内膜炎病因有关。【结论】本研究为子宫内膜炎母猪的病因和发病机制奠定基础,并为其治疗提供理论依据。     

基于高通量测序的褐飞虱肠道微生物多样性分析

【目的】探明褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens成虫肠道微生物群落结构和多样性。【方法】分离褐飞虱成虫完整肠道并提取总DNA,利用Illumina MiSeq(PE300)技术对其肠道细菌16S rRNA的V3-V4变异区和真菌ITS2序列进行测序,统计肠道微生物的操作分类单元(operational taxonomic unit, OTU)数量,分析其物种组成、丰度及Alpha多样性。并通过qPCR技术验证随机挑选注释到的4种肠道菌的高通量测序数据的有效性。【结果】分别获得褐飞虱成虫肠道细菌16S rRNA和真菌ITS2优质序列32 395和24 986条,根据序列相似性进行聚类分析分别获得235和128个OTUs。其中,细菌共注释到7个门, 15个纲, 26个目, 45个科和73个属;真菌共鉴定到3个门, 9个纲, 12个目, 15个科和18个属。在门分类水平上,细菌以变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)为优势门类;真菌以子囊菌门(Ascomycota)为绝对优势菌门。在属分类水平上,细菌的优势属为不动杆菌属Acinetobacter以及紫单胞菌科(Porphyromonadaceae)未确定属和毛螺菌科(Lachnospiraceae)未确定属,其丰度分别为36.37%, 17.22%和15.01%;真菌的优势属为粪壳菌纲(Sordariomycetes)未确定属,丰度为95.77%。Alpha多样性分析结果显示,褐飞虱肠道细菌(真菌)的观测物种数、Chao1指数、Shannon指数和Simpson 指数分别为235(128), 262.64(165.40), 3.90(0.91)和0.62(0.75)。4种肠道菌的qPCR结果显示高通量测序数据具有较高的有效性。【结论】褐飞虱成虫肠道细菌和真菌群落整体多样性比较丰富。研究结果为从共生微生物角度解析褐飞虱的环境适应性以及开发基于微生物防治的新技术等方面提供了依据。     

基于16S rRNA基因高通量测序研究狞猫肠道微生物多样性（英文）

【目的】研究狞猫肠道微生物多样性特征。【方法】对7只健康成年野生狞猫(2只雄性,5只雌性;2只来自济南野生动物园,5只来自威海野生动物园)粪便微生物16S rRNA基因V3–V4区进行高通量测序,对狞猫肠道微生物多样性进行研究。【结果】7只狞猫共获得肠道微生物16S rRNA基因V3–V4区有效序列1458741条,平均208392条,序列平均长度433 bp。通过以97%的序列相似性进行分类,获得操作分类单元(OTU)平均233个。经序列比对和分类鉴定,这些OTU都属于细菌域,包括13个门,26个纲,43个目,75个科,119个属。其中,丰度最高的细菌门是厚壁菌门(Firmicutes,平均占61.7%)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria,12.42%)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes,7.79%)、梭杆菌门(Fusobacteroidetes,7.79%)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria,7.53%)。丰度最高的科依次是消化链球菌科(Peptostreptococcaceae,平均占16.15%),梭菌科I(Clostridiaceae_I,14.78%),毛螺菌科(Lachnospiraceae,13.13%),红蝽杆菌科(Coriobacteriaceae,12.31%)等。丰度最高的属是柯林斯氏菌属(Collinsella,11.44%),艰难梭菌属(Peptoclostridium,10.91%),狭窄梭菌属1(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,10.3%),拟杆菌属(Bacteroides,7.41%),消化链球菌属(Peptostreptococcus,5.21%)等。7只狞猫的肠道微生物中有平均15.35%的OTU没有归类到属。样本间聚类分析结果表明,来自同一动物园的样本聚为一支。【结论】本文通过高通量测序技术研究了狞猫肠道微生物的组成和多样性特征,为狞猫的救护饲养和消化生理学研究提供基础数据。     

老年阿尔茨海默病患者肠道微生态改变及其与认知功能的关系探讨

目的探讨老年阿尔茨海默症患者肠道微生态结构与认知功能的关系。方法将2016年7月-2019年5月医院收治的86例老年阿尔茨海默病患者和73例健康志愿者,分别记为研究组和对照组。采用简易精神状态评价量表(MMSE)进行评分评价两组认知功能,采用高通量测序检测两组肠道微生物多样性。比较两组肠道微生物多样性与MMSE评分,并比较研究组中认知功能正常者与障碍者肠道微生物结构;采用Pearson相关性分析法探讨肠道微生物结构与认知功能障碍者的相关性。结果研究组肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌科、乳杆菌科、拟杆菌科、双歧杆菌属、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属、MMSE评分均低于对照组(均P0.05);研究组厚壁菌门、变形菌门、子囊菌门、梭菌科、假单胞菌科、葡萄球菌科、肠杆菌科、隐球酵母科、梭状芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属、葡萄球菌属、变形杆菌属、假丝酵母菌属相对丰度均高于对照组(均P0.05);研究组中认知功能障碍发生率为70.93%,且认知功能障碍者肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数,门、科、属水平相对丰度与认知功能正常者对比和上述结果一致;研究组与对照组肠道拟杆菌门、子囊菌门、拟杆菌科、梭状芽胞杆菌属、假丝酵母菌属、放线菌门、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属相对丰度差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05);研究组认知功能障碍与认知功能正常者肠道未分类拟杆菌门、子囊菌门、假单胞菌属、拟杆菌属、变形杆菌属、梭状芽孢杆菌属、拟杆菌门、拟杆菌科、假丝酵母菌属相对丰度差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05);研究组中肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数,放线菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌科、乳杆菌科、拟杆菌科、双歧杆菌属、乳杆菌属、拟杆菌属相对丰度与MMSE评分均呈正相关,厚壁菌门、变形菌门、子囊菌门、梭菌科、假单胞菌科、葡萄球菌科、肠杆菌科、隐球酵母科、梭状芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属、葡萄球菌属、变形杆菌属、假丝酵母菌属相对丰度与MMSE评分均呈负相关。结论老年阿尔茨海默病患者肠道微生物结构存在异常,且认知功能障碍者更加严重,认知功能与肠道微生物相关。     

猎豹(Acinonyx jubatus)肠道微生物多样性及其性别差异研究（英文）

【目的】探讨猎豹(Acinonyx jubatus)肠道微生物多样性特征。【方法】通过采集新鲜粪便样品,对9只健康成年野生猎豹(4只雄性,5只雌性)的肠道微生物16S rRNA基因V3–V4区进行高通量测序,对猎豹肠道微生物多样性进行研究。【结果】测序共获得肠道微生物16S rRNA基因V3–V4区有效序列599349条,序列平均长度405 bp。通过以97%的序列相似性进行分类,共获得操作分类单元(OTU)268个。经序列比对和分类鉴定,这些OTU都属于细菌域,包括10个门,21个纲,35个目,72个科,144个属。其中,丰度最高的5个细菌门是厚壁菌门(Firmicutes,平均占OTU总数的42.29%%)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria,31.54%)、梭杆菌门(Fusobacteroidetes,16.66%)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria,5.30%)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes,4.19%)。拟杆菌门的丰度较低是猎豹肠道微生物的主要特征。丰度最高的5个科依次是红蝽杆菌科(Coriobacteriaceae,31.28%)、消化链球菌科(Peptostreptococcaceae,平均占17.66%),梭杆菌科(Fusobacteriaceae,15.46%)、毛螺菌科(Lachnospiraceae,12.40%)、梭菌科I(Clostridiaceae_I,6.93%)等。丰度最高的5个属依次是柯林斯氏菌属(Collinsella,30.16%)、梭杆菌属(Fusobacterium,15.46%)、艰难梭菌属(Peptoclostridium,11.46%)、Blautia属(8.28%)和狭窄梭菌属1(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,6.39%)。约有2.32%的OTU没有归类到属。群落alpha多样性分析结果显示,猎豹肠道微生物群落Shannon指数为2.93–4.41,Simpson指数为0.72–0.91。通过依据性别进行分组,对雌雄两组之间的alpha多样性比较表明,雄性组的物种和Shannon指数略高于雌性组。Beta多样性分析表明,雌雄两组之间的差异高于各组内部不同个体之间的差异。然而,聚类分析显示,相同性别的猎豹的肠道微生物并没有聚在一起。【结论】本文通过高通量测序技术研究了猎豹肠道微生物多样性特征和性别差异,为猎豹的保护、救护饲养和消化生理学研究提供了基础数据。     

圈养食叶猴的肠道菌群特征

充分认识圈养食叶猴的肠道菌群组成特征, 为饲养管理方法的改进提供参考依据。

通过MiSeq高通量测序平台对3个物种的19个个体[黑叶猴(n=5)、川金丝猴(n=9)和西非黑白疣猴(n=5)]的肠道菌群16S rRNA V4-V5区进行测序和分析。

食叶猴肠道菌群以厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门为优势菌门, 瘤胃菌科、普氏菌科、理研菌科和毛螺菌科为优势菌科, 普氏菌属、密螺旋体属和瘤胃球菌属为优势菌属; 食叶猴物种间肠道菌群组成存在显著差异, 肠道菌群按照宿主物种聚类, 而不受环境因素的影响。

宿主物种是决定肠道微生物组成的重要因素, 食叶猴肠道菌群特征反映了宿主对其食性的适应。

     

高、低营养水平饲粮对环江香猪结肠菌群结构及代谢物的影响

【目的】研究两种饲粮对环江香猪结肠内容物菌群结构及其代谢物的影响。【方法】选用33.5±8.1 kg的环江香猪10头,随机分为两组,每组5头猪,单栏饲养,分别饲喂高营养水平饲粮(粗蛋白质含量为13.11%,消化能为14.73 MJ/kg)和低营养水平饲粮(粗蛋白质含量为9.77%,消化能为12.24 MJ/kg)。饲喂75 d后屠宰,每组选3头猪采集结肠内容物提取细菌总DNA,PCR扩增获得16S r RNA基因V4标签片段,用于Mi Seq高通量测序,基于QIIME平台比较结肠内容物菌群结构多样性;每组取5头猪的结肠内容物,利用气相色谱和液相色谱分析其中短链脂肪酸、氨氮、生物胺、吲哚和粪臭素的含量。【结果】硬壁菌门、拟杆菌门、螺旋体门和软壁菌门细菌为环江香猪结肠内容物中的优势菌门;饲粮组成不影响环江香猪结肠内容物菌群结构的多样性,高营养水平饲粮组结肠内容物中广古细菌含量显著低于、瘤胃球菌属和假丁酸弧菌属细菌含量显著高于低营养水平饲粮组;高营养水平饲粮组环江香猪结肠内容物中乙酸和丙酸含量显著低于、氨氮和尸胺含量显著高于低营养水平饲粮组。【结论】硬壁菌门、拟杆菌门、螺旋体门和软壁菌门细菌为环江香猪结肠内容物中的优势菌门,短期饲喂高营养水平饲粮可改变环江香猪结肠中的部分微生物含量及其代谢特性。     

Abortion in Sows

Of a total of 31,766 pregnancies 465 abortions were reported, in average 1.46 %. By comparison of the frequency of abortion at different times of the year a significantly higher percentage of abortion was found in sows inseminated during the summer months. No significant difference was found between 68 boars as to the frequency of abortion. In 248 abortions 23 (9.3 %) aborted due to acute erysipelas suis, 5 due to non-infectious diseases, 4 due to spoiled food, but 216 (87.0 %) sows aborted without any previous symptoms.     

Mammary Secretion of IgG in Sows

The IgG-concentration was determined in serum of 3 pregnant sows before and after partus and in colostrum of 7 sows 0–6 days post partum. The IgG-concentration decreased in serum before partus and increased after partus. The lowest value (1.5 g/100 ml) was observed at partus. The results indicate that IgG is transmitted from serum to colostrum. The concentration of IgG in colostrum was found to be 2.1–10.4 g/100 ml at partus. The concentration decreased very fast during the first day post partum. During 3–6 days post partum the IgG concentration was rather constant (0.3–0.5 g/100 ml). The importance of the results for the passive immunization of piglets is discussed.     

Reproductive Performance Among Sows Group-Housed During Late Lactation

Four farms (540 sows) that group-housed sows from 2 weeks of lactation until weaning (G-farms) and 3 farms (300 sows) — used as controls — that kept the sows individually penned throughout the 5- to 6-week-long lactation period (C-farms) were compared in terms of reproductive performance. All sows were crossbred Swedish Yorkshirex Swedish Landrace. Sows were kept in groups in the breeding section and were also grouped on deep litter in the dry-sow section on all farms. Batchwise farrowing routines were used on all farms, and batch size ranged between 8 and 22 sows. Fertility and culling data were collected in connection with monthly visits to the farms for 16 months. Among the older (≥ 5th parity) sows, litter sizes were significantly (p = 0.02) smaller in the G-farm group compared with the C-farm group. The percentage of sows mated within 10 days post weaning was lower (p<0.001) in the G-farm group than in the C-farm group, with the difference being most evident among the older (≥ 5th parity) sows. The frequency of repeat breeders among primiparous sows was similar in the 2 housing systems, but among the multiparous sows repeat-breeder frequency was higher (p = 0.04) in the G-farm group than in the C-farm group. In both groups, repeat-breeder frequency seemed to be highest from July to September. Repeat breeding/failure to farrow was a common reason for culling in the G-farm group. These results indicate that reproductive performance was impaired in the group-housing system. This impairment could have been due partly to the occurrence of lactational oestrus, which makes it difficult to maintain adequate routines for oestrous detection and mating/insemination.     

Parity Influences the Demeanor of Sows in Group Housing

Across the globe, producers are moving from individual housing to group housing for sows during gestation. Producers typically group sows of a range of parities together, although the impacts are largely unknown. This study examined the behavioral expression at mixing for young, midparity, and older sows. Ten mixed-parity groups were filmed at mixing on a commercial piggery. One-minute clips were edited from continuous footage where focal sows of known parity could be identified, and scored for qualitative behavioral expression. Parity 2 and 6 sows were more calm/tired than Parity 4 sows, who were more active/energetic. Parity 2 sows were more curious/inquisitive than Parity 4 and 6 sows, who were more anxious/frustrated. Correlations between qualitative behavioral expression and activity indicated sows scored as more calm/tired spent a greater proportion of time standing, while sows scored as more active/energetic spent more time performing avoidance behavior. Different body language is likely to reflect physical or affective differences in how sows cope with mixing.     

Ovulation and Embryonic Developmental Rate Following hCG-stimulation in Sows

The hCG induced ovulation in sows was studied by use of ultrasonography, and an investigation of the development and diversity of the zygotes/embryos was performed at 24 h after ovulation. Crossbred sows (N=48) were weaned (day 0) and checked for heat twice daily from day 3 onwards. From day 4, the ovaries were transrectally scanned twice daily On day 4, the sows were given an injection of 750 iu hCG im and inseminated 27 ± 2 h (X ± SD) and 38 ± 1 h later. From 38 to 48 h after the hCG injection, the ovaries were scanned at 60 to 90 min intervals. At 24 h after ovulation the oviducts were surgically flushed in 18 sows. Out of the 48 sows, 34 showed heat at 12–36 h after the hCG-treatment and 14 showed heat before the hCG treatment. In the former group of sows, 20 (59%) ovulated within the interval of 38 to 48 h after the hCG treatment, and the follicular size immediately before ovulation was 7.8 ± 0.6 mm. Among the sows which showed heat before hCG treatment only 7 (50%) ovulated within the above interval and the preovulatory follicle size was larger (8.3 ± 0.5, p<0.05) than in the former group of sows, which showed heat after the hCG treatment. The flushing of 18 sows yielded a total of 243 ova, 70 (29 %) 1-cell stages, 160 (66 %) 2-cell stages and 13 (5%) 4-cell stages. A pronounced difference in the degree of variation in embryonic development was seen between sows: 4 animals yielded 1- to 4-cell stages, one exclusively 2-cell stage. In conclusion, the control of ovulation in sows by hCG treatment will affect the follicular growth and the exact timing of ovulation can not always be relied on. It is strongly recommended to use ultrasonography to monitor the time of ovulation if this parameter is important. Ova recovered at 24±1 h after the median time of ovulation revealed a pronounced diversity (1- to 4- cell stage) within sows. No obvious relation with this embryonic diversity and the follicular size at ovulation was seen in these data.     

Aggressive Behavior in Two Different Group-Housing Systems for Pregnant Sows

The study housed 120 pregnant sows from Day 29 of pregnancy to 1 week before parturition either in groups of 10 with trickle feeding (TRICKLE) or in groups of 20 with an unprotected electronic sow feeding (FITMIX). The study recorded aggressive interaction on 11 nonconsecutive days. Frequency of aggressive interactions was higher in FITMIX (p < .05); yet, intense physical contact was unusual in both systems (3% of the total interactions). Conflicts in FITMIX centered largely on the feeder (83% vs. 23% for FITMIX and TRICKLE, respectively [p < .05]); in TRICKLE, they occurred mainly in the resting area (13% vs. 48% for FITMIX and TRICKLE, respectively [p < .05]). Forty-six percent of the FITMIX sows (mostly gilts and subordinates) needed assistance to adapt to the feeding system. Eventually, 8.3% of the FITMIX sows failed to adapt and had to be removed. In conclusion, although aggressive interactions were mainly of low intensity, sequential feeding appeared to make FITMIX a more competitive feeding system.