Daily gain, food intake and food efficiency in pigs during the growing period

1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kanis ◽  
W. J. Koops
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Food Efficiency ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Daily Gain

ABSTRACTThe non-linear model y = ae(−hW−c/W) was fitted to weekly calculated daily gain (DG), daily food intake (FI) and food efficiency (FE) of 653 barrows and gilts fed ad libitum or restrictedly during a growing period from 27 to 108 kg live weight. Where y was DG, FI or FE, W was live weight and a, b and c were parameters. The model fitted well to the expected course of the traits, with an accuracy similar to that of quadratic polynomials. Parameters for one trait could simply be derived from the parameters for the other two traits. For each trait, four basic patterns were distinguished, depending on the signs of b and c. Curves with a maximum (b > 0 and c > 0) occurred most frequently. In cases of curves with a maximum, the model could be reparameterized to a model with parameters having a simple biological meaning.Coefficients of determination in barrows averaged 0·29 for DG, 0·88 for FI and 0·45 for FE, whereas these values were somewhat lower in gilts. With ad libitum feeding, a DG curve with a maximum was fitted in proportionately 0·83 of the barrows and 0·61 of the gilts. The maximum DG was on average at live weights of 64 kg for barrows and 77 kg for gilts. A maximum in the FI curve was predicted in proportionately 0·60 of the barrows and 0·39 of the gilts. Curves for DG and FI in gilts were less curvilinear than in barrows. FE curves, with ad libitum feeding, had a maximum in proportionately 0·59 of the barrows and 0·52 of the gilts. This predicted maximum FE was, on average, before the start of the growing period. Gilts had a higher FE than barrows from 35 kg body weight onwards, and the difference increased with increasing live weight. Differences in FE between ad libitum and restricted feeding were small, with a tendency for animals fed at a restricted feeding level to be more efficient at the end of the growing period.Average FE curves and individual FI or DG curves were used for indirect prediction of individual DG or FI curves, respectively. The correlation between directly and indirectly predicted values of DG and FI at live weights of 30, 65 or 100 kg was about 0·7 in ad libitum fed barrows and gilts, and greater than 0·8 in pigs fed at a restricted level. This indicates that the model is suitable to predict and control the course of individual daily gain by influencing the course of food intake.

Growth and food intake curves for group-housed gilts and castrated male pigs

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Andersen ◽  
B. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Food Efficiency ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
The Difference

AbstractPolynomial models with random regression coefficients were used to describe cumulated food intake and gain as a function of number of days on test for gilts and castrated male pigs which were on test from 30 to 115 kg live weight. Growth rate and daily food intake were expressed as the derivative of the curves. The applied models allowed a separation of between and within animal variation. Confidence limits for average curves and prediction limits for individual curves were also obtained. A similar model was used to describe gain as a function of cumulated food intake. From this function food efficiency was obtained. The application of the results in stochastic simulation models is discussed.Growth rate and daily food intake had a more curvilinear progress for castrated males than for gilts. It was estimated that 98% of the castrated males and 96% of the gilts had a lower growth rate at day 80 than at day 50; 74% of the castrated males and 48% of the gilts had a lower daily food intake at day 100 than at day 80. On average food efficiency of gilts was higher than food efficiency of castrated males and the difference increased through the test period.

Effect of food intake capacity on production traits in growing pigs with restricted feeding

1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kanis
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Fatty Tissue ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Lean Tissue ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Tissue Proportion ◽  
Daily Gain

ABSTRACTEffects of food intake (FI) and ad libitum food intake capacity (FIC) were investigated in 438 pigs fed in seven batches. Batches 1 to 6 consisted of barrows and batch 7 of gilts. Restrictedly fed animals had one to three ad libitum fed litter mates. In batches 6 and 7, animals were fed ad libitum until 48 kg live weight. Thereafter, two-thirds of the animals were fed according to a fixed weight scale. FIC is considered as a trait of the animal, independent of its actual FI. With ad libitum feeding FIC can be measured directly, with restricted feeding FIC has to be estimated.Two methods of estimating average FIC from about 27 to 107 kg live weight were applied. The first method consisted of assigning to each restrictedly fed animal the average FI of one to three ad libitum fed litter mates. The second method was applied in batches 6 and 7 only and consisted of estimating FIC with multiple regression based on individual 'ad libitum performance' in the first part of the growing period.Effects of FI and FIC on daily gain, food conversion ratio, backfat thickness, lean tissue proportion, fatty tissue proportion, lean tissue growth rate, fatty tissue growth rate and lean tissue food conversion were investigated. FI had significant effects on each trait, except on lean tissue food conversion. FIC had significant effects on body composition traits, but not on daily gain and food conversion ratio.Irrespective of the method used to estimate FIC, results showed that animals with a higher FIC produced more fat and less lean from the same amount of food than animals with a lower FIC. It was suggested that the partition of food energy between energy for maintenance, protein deposition and fat deposition is associated with FIC. The findings confirmed that selection for leaner and more efficient pigs may result in animals with lower FIC, irrespective of the feeding regimen during performance testing.

Amino acid and energy interactions in growing pigs 2. Effects of food intake, sex and live weight on responses to lysine concentration in barley-based diets

1986 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Giles ◽  
E. S. Batterham ◽  
E. Belinda Dettmann
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Soya Bean ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Growth Phases ◽  
Lysine Concentration ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Entire Male

ABSTRACTThe responses of growing pigs to dietary lysine concentration, as influenced by food intake, sex (entire male and female) and live weight were investigated in an experiment involving 128 pigs. The basal barley-soya-bean diet (14·2 MJ digestible energy (DE) per kg) was offered either ad libitum or according t o a restricted feeding scale to both sexes from 20 to 85 kg live weight. The eight dietary lysine concentrations ranged from 8·0 to 12·2 g/kg during the 20 to 50 kg phase and from 6·4 to 9·8 g/kg during the 50 to 85 kg live-weight phase. Performance was assessed by response-surface analysis based on data from successive 10-kg live-weight intervals. Regression analysis was used to assess the response of carcass lean content after slaughter at 85 kg live weight.Daily gain of females fed ad libitum was curvilinear up to maxima of 0·72 and 0·69 g lysine per MJ DE during the 20 to 50 and 50 to 85 kg growth phases respectively. Daily gain response was small but linear up to the maximum dietary lysine concentration for all other combinations of sex and food intake.The response of carcass lean for males given food at a restricted level was linear up to the maximum dietary lysine concentration. For males given food ad libitum, carcass lean response was curvilinear with maximum lean content attained with 0·73 and 0·59 g lysine per MJ DE during the 20 to 50 and 50 to 85 kg live-weight phases respectively. Carcass lean content of females was not affected by lysine concentration within the range used.

Amino acid and energy interactions in growing pigs 1. Effects of food intake, sex and live weight on the responses of growing pigs to lysine concentration

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Batterham ◽  
L. R. Giles ◽  
E. Belinda Dettmann
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Large White ◽  
Lysine Concentration ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Daily Gain

ABSTRACTThe responses of growing pigs to dietary lysine concentration, as influenced by food intake, sex (intact males and females) and live weight were investigated in a 4 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment involving 128 Large White pigs. Lysine concentrations were 7, 8, 9 and 10 g/kg air-dry food. The basal wheat-soya bean meal diet (14·0 MJ digestible energy per kg) was offered either ad libitum or on a restricted feeding scale to pigs from 20 to 85 kg live weight. During the 50 to 85 kg growth phase, the effects of proportionately reducing the lysine concentrations by 0·2 were investigated. Performance response was assessed in two ways; by analysis of variance for the 20 to 50, 50 to 85 and 20 to 85 kg phases, and by response surface analyses of data from successive 10-kg weight intervals.An initial analysis of variance indicated that food intake (of pigs fed ad libitum), daily gain and food conversion ratio varied with lysine concentration, but that the responses differed with food intake, sex and phase of growth.Analysis of the response surfaces delineated by lysine level and phase of growth indicated that for males and females with restricted food and males fed ad libitum, maximum daily gain was produced by feeding at least 10 g lysine per kg, declining to about 8 g/kg at 80 kg. With females fed ad libitum, maximum daily gain was obtained by feeding 9·9 g lysine per kg at 20 kg, declining to less than 5·6 g/kg at 75 kg.Carcass characteristics were largely unaffected by lysine concentration.

The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows 1. Feeding level during lactation, and between weaning and mating

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. King ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Factorial Experiment ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Lactation Length ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTA factorial experiment was conducted with 80 first-litter sows and involved two levels of feeding during lactation (ad libitum or 2·0 kg/day), and two levels of feeding between weaning and mating (4·0 or 1·5 kg/day).Average lactation length was 32·2 days. Sows given 2·0 kg/day during lactation lost more backfat (6·3 v. 0·9 mm; P < 0·05) and more live weight (36·8 v. 9·1 kg; P < 0·05) during lactation than sows fed ad libitum and whose average daily food intake was 4·47 kg. Sows receiving 20 kg/day during lactation took longer to return to oestrus after weaning. Within 8 days of weaning more sows fed ad libitum during lactation ovulated (0·90 v. 0·40; x2 = 20·0; P < 0·001) and exhibited oestrus (0·78 v. 0·38; x2 = 12·8; P < 0·001) than sows whose food intake throughout lactation was restricted. Ovulation rate, subsequent litter size and embryonic mortality were not significantly affected by feeding level during lactation.Post-weaning feeding level did not affect the interval between weaning and oestrus. However, sows receiving 4·0 kg/day between weaning and mating had higher ovulation rates (14·8 v. 13·0; P < 0·05) and a greater litter size (10·0 v. 8·8; P < 0·1) at the subsequent farrowing.

Selection for lean growth in pigs with a restricted feeding regime

1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
M.K. Curran ◽  
N.D. Cameron ◽  
J.C. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

Divergent selection lines for lean growth on a restricted feeding regime, in Large White and Landrace pigs, were established to complement the lean growth selection lines on ad-libitum feeding. This study estimated the direct and correlated responses after four generations of selection and the corresponding genetic and phenotypic parameters.The selection objective for lean growth on restricted or scale (LGS) feeding was to obtain equal correlated responses in growth rate and carcass lean content, measured in phenotypic s.d. The selection criterion included measurements of growth rate and ultrasonic backfat depth.Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) boars and gilts were purchased from eight British nucleus herds and boars from national artificial insemination centres in 1982. Homozygous or heterozygous halothane positive pigs were not included in the experiment. The base populations consisted of 31 LW and 19 LR sires and 57 LW and 67 LR dams. Within each population, there were high and low selection lines with a control line, each consisting of 10 boars and 20 gilts, with a generation interval of 13.5 and 12 months for LW and LR pigs. Animals were performance tested in individual pens from 30±3 kg for a period of 84 days and fed a high energy (13.8 MJ DE/kg DM) and high protein (210 g/kg DM crude protein) pelleted ration. Daily food intake was equal to 0.75 g/g of the daily food intake for ad-libitum fed pigs and the total food intake was 134 kg for LW pigs and 150 kg for LR pigs. On average, 3 boars and 3 gilts were tested per litter. The total number of pigs tested per line and average inbreeding coefficients at generation four, by population are given below.

Genetic and phenotypic relationships between performance test and reproduction traits in Large White pigs

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Kerr ◽  
N. D. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Reproduction Traits ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding

AbstractGenetic and phenotypic relationships between performance test and reproduction traits were estimated, after five generations of divergent selection for components of efficient lean growth, in a population of Large Wltite pigs. On ad-libitum feeding, a total of 4334 pigs were performance tested, of which 884 selected gilts had measurements of reproduction traits. On a restricted feeding regime, 1558 pigs were tested, which included 336 selected gilts with reproduction records. For pigs given food ad libitum, genetic correlations between litter weights at birth and weaning with daily food intake (0·48 and 0·42, s.e. 0·16) and with growth rate on test (0·65 and 0·52) were positive, but correlations with backfat depths were not significantly different from zero. For pigs given food at a restricted level, litter birth weight was positively genetically correlated with growth rate (0·50, s.e. 0·18) and negatively correlated with backfat depths (-0·48, s.e. 0·16). Phenotypic and environmental correlations between performance test and reproduction traits were all less than 0·10 in magnitude, for pigs tested on either feeding regime. The variation in backfat depth enabled detection of a non-linear relationship between predicted breeding values for litter weight at birth with predicted breeding values for average backfat depth of farrowing gilts performance tested on ad-libitum feeding, but not for gilts tested on restricted feeding. The positive genetic correlations between growth rate and daily food intake with litter traits suggested that selection strategies which change growth and daily food intake may result in relatively greater genetic changes in piglet growth rate than in litter size.

Food intake, growth and mature size in Australian Merino and Dorset horn sheep

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Thompson ◽  
J. R. Parks
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Efficiency ◽  
Regular Oscillation ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Mature Size ◽  
Food Consumed ◽  
Australian Merino

ABSTRACTThe pattern of food intake as a function of age, and live weight as a function of food consumed was examined from soon after weaning to maturity in groups of fine and strong wool Merino rams and Dorset Horn rams and wethers. Each group, which initially comprised 20 sheep and from which individuals were removed for slaughter at approximately 6-kg increments in live weight, was fed a pelleted ration ad libitum for 98 and 77 weeks for the Merino and Dorset Horn groups respectively.The pattern of food intake was similar for all groups of sheep, in that food intake increased to a maximum at approximately 50 weeks of age and then declined with age with a regular oscillation superimposed on this curve. In all three groups of rams, but not in the Dorset Horn wethers, the oscillations in food intake were on an approximate annual cycle with a decrease in food intake in summer and an increase in winter.Estimated mature live weights for the strong and fine wool Merino rams were 120·5 and 97·6 kg, and for the Dorset Horn rams and wethers 108·6 and 101·4 kg. Variation between breeds in the level of food intake, food efficiency and consequently the pattern of growth, was largely a function of mature size. The Dorset Horn rams were slightly more efficient at converting food to live weight than the wethers.

Responses in carcass composition to divergent selection for components of efficient lean growth rate in pigs

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Cameron ◽  
M. K. Curran
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Lean Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Selection For

AbstractCarcass composition was measured after six generations of divergent selection for lean growth rate on ad-libitum and restricted feeding, lean food conversion and daily food intake in populations of Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) pigs. There were 161 half-carcass dissections in LW pigs and for LR pigs, a double sampling procedure combined information from 53 half-carcass and 53 hand joint dissections. The performance test started at 30 kg and finished at 85 kg with ad-libitum feeding and after 84 days with restricted feeding, and pigs were slaughtered at the end of the test.In the LR population, selection for lean growth on restricted feeding increased carcass lean content (605 v. 557 (s.e.d. 19) g/kg), but there were no significant responses in carcass lean content with the selection strategies on adlibitum feeding. Selection for lean food conversion and high lean growth on restricted feeding reduced carcass fat content (201 v. 241 (s.e.d. 14) and 150 v. 218 (s.e.d. 18) g/kg), but selection for high lean growth rate with adlibitum increased carcass fat content (212 v. 185 (s.e.d. 11) g/kg). Responses in carcass composition were not significant with selection on daily food intake.In the LW population, selection for high lean food conversion or low daily food intake increased carcass lean content (539 v. 494 and 543 v. 477 (s.e.d. 11) g/kg) to a greater extent than selection on lean growth rate (509 v. 475 g/kg). Responses in carcass fat content were equal and opposite to those in carcass lean content. Selection on lean growth rate with ad-libitum feeding increased lean tissue growth rate (LTGR) (491 v. 422 (s.e.d. 23) g/day), but there was no change in fat tissue growth rate (FTGR) (206 v. 217 (s.e.d. 15) g/day). In contrast, FTGR was reduced with selection on lean food conversion (169 v. 225 g/day), but LTGR was not significantly increased (520 v. 482 g/day). Selection for lean growth rate with restricted feeding combined the desirable strategies of lean growth rate on adlibitum feeding and lean food conversion, as LTGR was increased (416 v. 359 (s.e.d. 12) g/day) and FTGR decreased (126 v. 156 (s.e.d. 7) g/day). The preferred selection strategy may be lean growth rate on restricted feeding, which simultaneously emphasizes rate and efficiency of lean growth.For ad-libitum fed LW pigs, coheritabilities for growth rate, daily food intake and backfat depth with carcass lean content were negative (-0·12, -0·22 and -0·50 (s.e. 0·05), but positive with carcass subcutaneous fat content (0·22, 0·24 and 0·50), when estimated from six generations of performance test data and carcass dissection data in generations 2, 4 and 6.

Genetic aspects of voluntary food intake in the pig and their association with gain and food conversion efficiency

1979 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wyllie ◽  
J. R. Morton ◽  
J. B. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Variable Size ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

ABSTRACTData from 1357 boars ad libitum fed on a performance testing scheme were analysed to explore the genetic aspects of voluntary food intake. The heritabilities of food intake, daily gain and food/gain were found to be 0·23, 0·41 and 0·18 respectively. The correlations obtained between gain and intake of 0·63 (phenotypic) and 0·89 (genetic) were typical of those reported for ad libitum feeding but greater than those reported for semi-restricted. Estimates of genetic correlation between gain and efficiency ranged from 0·64 to zero and for the phenotypic correlation from 0·44 to zero and were smaller than those reported for restricted feeding. Correlations between intake and efficiency were highly negative on the phenotypic level but small and of variable size genetically, in contrast to reports of small phenotypic and positive genetic correlations under restriction.

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