The behavioural and production responses of finishing pigs to increasing workload to obtain food ad libitum from hopper feeders

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. S. Morrow ◽  
N. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Time Spent Feeding

AbstractTwo randomized-block experiments were carried out with growing pigs housed in groups of 10 from about 36 to 92 kg live weight and offered non-pelleted diets from single-space feeders containing separate food and water dispensers both operated by the pigs. The dispensing rate of food could be adjusted and rates of 1·4, 2·7 and 5·3 g per press of the nose plate were compared in experiment 1 and 4·8, 6·9 and 9·3 g per press compared in experiment 2. As dispensing rate increased in experiment 1 there were significant increases in food intake, growth rate and backfat thickness and a significant improvement in food conversion ratio on a carcass gain basis. There was no effect on the variation in growth rate between pigs within pens nor were there treatment effects in experiment 2 on any of the above measurements. The amount of food accumulating in troughs increased with feeder setting in both experiments.Behaviour at feeders was observed in each pen for 24 h during the 5th week using time-lapse video recording. The number of visits to feeders was not significantly affected in either experiment but time spent feeding was significantly increased at the lowest setting in experiment 1. Both the number of withdrawals from feeders accompanied by aggressive encounters and the number of pigs queuing decreased up to the dispensing rate of 6·9 g per press. There were tendencies for all parameters of behaviour to continue changing up to the highest dispensing rate.

The nutritive value of extruded and raw peas for growing and finishing pigs

2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.V. O’Doherty ◽  
U. Keady
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Gross Energy

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to determine the nutritive value of extruded or raw peas (Pisum sativum as an energy and protein supplement for pigs of 33 to 100 kg live weight. Experiment 1 determined the effects of extrusion on the nutrient apparent digestibility of peas when included at 200 g and 400 g/kg in the diet. In experiment 2, performance was determined in individually fed pigs (no. = 70) offered diets ad libitum including a control (no peas, T1), 200 g/kg raw peas (T2), 400 g/kg raw peas (T3), 200 g/kg extruded peas (T4), 400g/kg extruded peas (T5). The peas were extruded at 120°С for 30 s. All diets were formulated to have similar concentrations of digestible energy (DE) and total lysine. There was a significant interaction effect (P < 0·05) between level of peas and extrusion on the digestibility of the organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), energy and the DE content of the peas. The inclusion of 400 g/kg raw peas led to a lower estimated digestibility of OM (P < 0·001), N (P < 0·001), gross energy (P < 0·05) and DE content (P < 0·05) of the peas compared with the 200 g/kg peas. However, there was no difference (P > 0·05) between the digestibility of the 200 and 400 g/kg peas when the peas were extruded. In experiment 2, there was a significant interaction (P < 0·05) between the level of peas in the diet and extrusion. As the level of raw peas increased from 200 to 400g/kg, growth rate decreased (P < 0·01) and food conversion ratio (FCR) increased (P < 0·01). However, as the level of extruded peas was increased from 200 to 400g/ kg, there was no difference in either growth rate or FCR. It is concluded that extrusion of peas improved the nutrient digestibility and improved overall gain and FCR of the pigs.

A note on the behaviour and performance of growing pigs provided with straw in a novel housing system

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Arey ◽  
J. M. Bruce
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Number ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Number Of Visits ◽  
And Performance

AbstractStraw-Flow is a novel housing system for growing pigs which simplifies the handling of bedding and manure by allowing pigs to take unchopped straw from dispensers. Three groups of 50, 50 and 60 Large-White × Landrace pigs were housed in Straw-Flow pens from 5 to 90 kg. They were supplied daily with 50 to 100 g unchopped straw per pig and given food ad libitum. From 30 to 90 kg, mean growth rate was 863 g/day and food conversion ratio was 2·56 kg food per kg growth. The pigs' behaviour was divided approximately into: 0·820 lying, 0·100 active, 0·075 feeding and 0·005 drinking (on a proportional basis). There were no differences (P > 0·05) between groups or different weights for any of the behaviour categories. The pigs were less active before noon than after noon (P < 0·05). The daily number of visits to the drinker between weights 5 and 25 kg fell from 23·7 to 11·0 (P < 0·05). A single drinker, of new design, appeared to be adequate for a group of 50 to 60 pigs.

The influence of dietary protein and level of feeding on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of entire and castrated male pigs

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Campbell ◽  
R. H. King
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Protein Level ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACT1. Three isocaloric diets containing 170, 210 or 231 g crude protein per kg were given at two levels, and offered ad libitum to entire and castrated male pigs growing from 20 to 70 kg live weight.2. Between 20 and 45 kg, growth rate improved with each increase in level of feeding (P < 005) and, on the ad libitum treatment the food intake and growth performance of both entire and castrated pigs were similar. On the restricted feeding treatments the growth performance of entire, but not of castrated pigs, improved when dietary protein was raised from 170 to 210g/kg (P < 005).3. During the live-weight periods 45 to 70 and 20 to 70kg, raising food intake improved growth rate (P < 005) but increased the food conversion ratio and carcass fat measurements at 70 kg (P < 0·05). However, food conversion ratio and the majority of carcass characteristics of entire pigs fed ad libitum were equivalent to those of castrated pigs fed at the lowest level.4. Dietary protein level had no significant effect on growth performance from 20 to 70 kg or on carcass fat measurements at the latter weight. However, each increase in dietary protein in the live-weight period 45 to 70 kg depressed the performance of castrated pigs (P < 0·05) while that of entire pigs was reduced when the protein level of the diet was raised from 210 to 231 g/kg.

Effects of floor area allowance on performance of growing pigs kept on fully slatted floors

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Edwards ◽  
A. W. Armsby ◽  
H. H. Spechter
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Commercial Practice ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Economic Analyses

ABSTRACTThe experiment compared four different space allowances for growing pigs housed on fully slatted floors. Space allowance (A m2) was defined in relation to live weight (M kg) of the pigs according to the equation A = kM0·67, using values for the constant (it) of 0·024, 0·027, 0·030 and 0·034. Six replicate pens of 12 pigs were housed on each treatment in a controlled environment building. Food was given ad libitum and from 34 kg until slaughter at 85 kg pigs were individually weighed each week and the pen size was adjusted according to the appropriate equation. Increasing space allowance increased live-weight gain (844, 862, 883, 897 (s.e.d. 14·4) g/day). Differences in killing-out proportion reduced the effect on final carcass weight (63·3, 63·9, 64·1, 64·5 (s.e.d 0·82) kg). Daily food intake was unaffected by treatment but food conversion ratio was significantly poorer at the lowest space allowance (2·70, 2·56, 2·60, 2·59 (s.e.d. 0·043) kg/kg). Economic analyses of the results indicated an adverse effect on profitability of space allowance less than that defined by the equation A(m2) = 0·027 M0·67 (kg). A minimum allowance defined by the equation A (m2) = 0·030 M0·67 is recommended in commercial practice for pigs in fully slatted housing.

scholarly journals Performance of growing pigs and finisher broilers housed together

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-44
Author(s):  
H. O. Obikaonu ◽  
A. B. I. Udedibie
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Feed Conversion Ratio ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Ad Libitum

Growth performance and cost of feeding young growing pigs and finisher broilers under integrated broiler pig production system were investigated. Four young growing pigs (the control) were housed in pen A and fed B of their body weight as commercial growers feed. Another 4 were housed in pen B with broilers in cages placed above them and given 2% of their body weight as commercial growers feed and allowed to make up with droppings from the broilers above. Another 4 were housed without broilers in pen C and given 2% of their body weight as commercial growers feed and droppings collected from broilers housed without pigs in pen D. Each pig within a treatment was tagged and regarded as a replicate. The broilers were put in the cages at week 5 and given broiler finisher feed ad libitum. They were removed at 9 weeks of age and replaced with another batch similarly raised, a process that was repeated 3 times in the 12-week trial. The growth rate of the pigs of the control group was statistically similar to that of the group housed with broilers (P>0.05) bur significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the group housed without broilers. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio of the broilers housed with pigs and those housed without pigs. Cost analysis of the production systems showed that N104.00 was spent on feed to produce 1.0kg live weight of pigs in the control group and N65.00 for the other two groups.

scholarly journals Utilization of free lysine by growing pigs

1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Batterham ◽  
R. D. Murison
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Weight Basis ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Daily Feeding ◽  
Frequent Feeding ◽  
Food Conversion Efficiency

1. The results of nine estimates of the efficiency of utilization of supplements of free lysine by growing pigs fed once daily and reported by Batterham (1974) and Batterham & O'Neill (1978) were re-analysed using carcass rather than live-weight values as the criteria of response.2. The efficiency of utilization of free lysine with once daily feeding relative to frequent feeding was 0·53 using carcass gain as the criterion of response (P < 0·001), and 0·56 using food conversion efficiency on a carcass basis (P < 0·001). These estimates were lower than estimates of 0·67 using live-weight gain (P < 0·01) and 0·77 using food conversion ratio on a live-weight basis (P < 0·05).3. The results indicate that current estimates of the lysine requirements of pigs that are based on responses to supplements of free lysine under once daily feeding regimens may be 10–30% over-estimated, as a result of incomplete utilization of the free lysine.

Effect of social group size and initial live weight on feeder space requirement of growing pigs given food ad libitum

2002 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.P. Turner ◽  
M. Dahlgren ◽  
D.S. Arey ◽  
S.A. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Space Requirement ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Feeder Space

AbstractFeeder space allowance should be sufficient to ensure adequate access to food for all group members, irrespective of competitive ability. However, the influence of social group size on minimum feeder space requirement of pigs given food ad libitum is poorly understood. Performance, aggression and feeding behaviour were assessed over a 6-week period from 29·3 (s.e. 0·19) kg live weight, using four replicates of a 2 ✕ 2 factorial design with two group sizes (20 v. 80) (small and large) and two feeder space allowances (32·5 v. 42·5 mm per pig) (low and high). Food intake was significantly lower in the low feeder space allowance treatments (1·44 v. 1·56 (s.e.d. 0·050) kg per pig per day, P < 0·05) and group mean growth rate was reduced in the later phase between 41 and 56 kg live weight. There was no main effect of group size or interactive effect between group size and feeder space allowance on performance. Mean skin lesion score and the frequency of aggression given or received at the feeders was unaffected by treatment. Heavy weight pigs showed similar feeding behaviour in each treatment, but light pigs visited the feeder more frequently in groups of 20 (23·1 v. 16·0 (s.e.d. 2·04) visits per pig per day, P < 0·05) and spent the greatest time feeding when at a low feeder space allowance (5461 v. 4397 (s.e.d. 288·8) s per pig per day, P < 0·05). To avoid a depression in growth rate, pigs >40 kg should be allocated a minimum feeder space allowance of 42·5 mm per pig. There was little indication of a need to specify differential feeder space allowances according to group size.

RESPONSE OF GROWING-FINISHING PIGS TO DIETARY INCLUSION OF GREEN FOXTAIL (Setaria viridis) SEEDS

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1063-1066
Author(s):  
A. G. CASTELL
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Setaria Viridis ◽  
Green Foxtail ◽  
Ad Libitum

Increasing the level of wheat screenings (95% green foxtail seeds) from 0 to 25% in diets fed ad libitum over the period from 34 to 89 kg liveweight resulted in an increased daily feed intake (P < 0.05), reduced (P < 0.05) feed efficiency and apparent digestibility, but produced no consistent effects on growth rate or carcass composition. Key words: Growing pigs, green foxtail, Setaria viridis, carcass, digestibility

The influence of feeding level from 20 to 45 kg live weight on the performance and body composition of female and entire male pigs

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Campbell ◽  
M. R. Taverner ◽  
D. M. Curic
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Digestible Energy ◽  
Protein Deposition ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTForty-two pigs representing equal numbers of entire males and females were used to study the effects on the performance and body composition of four restricted levels of feeding (14·5, 20·3, 24·9 and 29·4 MJ digestible energy per day), and of offering the same diet (14·5 MJ digestible energy per kg and 210 g crude protein per kg) ad libitum between 20 and 45 kg live weight.Over the four restricted feeding treatments there were no significant differences between the sexes for the performance and body composition of four restricted levels of feeding (14·5, 20·3, 24·9 and 29·4 MJ digestible energy per day), and of offering the same diet (14·5 MJ digestible energy per kg and 210 g crude protein per kg) ad libitum between 20 and 45 kg live weight.Although ad libitum energy intake was the same for both sexes (34·2 MJ digestible energy per day), raising digestible energy intake from that provided by the highest restricted feeding treatment (29·4 MJ/day) to ad libitum resulted in marked differences between the sexes for performance and body composition.For males, raising digestible energy intake from 29·3 to 34·2 MJ/day improved the rate of live-weight gain and protein deposition by 0·15 and 0·10 respectively but had no further effect on food conversion ratio or body fat. The same increase in digestible energy intake for females improved growth rate by only 0·065, had no further effect on the rate of protein deposition but increased markedly food conversion ratio and body fat.

The effect of slaughter weight and sexual status on performance characteristics of male Holstein-Friesian cattle offered a cereal-based diet

2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Kirkland ◽  
T. W. J. Keady ◽  
D. C. Patterson ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick ◽  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Slaughter Weight ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Food Conversion Ratio ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Friesian Cattle

AbstractA total of 180 Holstein-Friesian male calves, mean age and live weight (LW) at start of the study 112 (s.d. 26·0) days and 134 (s.d. 37·6) kg, respectively, were used to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight on food efficiency and animal performance. Animals were offered concentrates ad libitum and a restricted quantity of straw and slaughtered at one of six LWs as bulls: 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 or 550 kg. A further group of cattle were slaughtered as steers at 450 kg LW. Mean age at slaughter was 247 and 434 days for bulls slaughtered at 300 and 550 kg LW respectively. Neither rate of LW or carcass gain was influenced by weight at slaughter ( P>0·05), with mean values of 1·31 and 0·70 kg/day, respectively. Food conversion ratio, killing-out proportion, carcass conformation, fat classification and weight of internal fat depots increased ( P<0·001) as slaughter weight of the bulls increased. In the comparison of steers and bulls slaughtered at 450 kg, steers had lower ( P<0·001) rates of LW and carcass gains and had a higher ( P<0·001) food conversion ratio than comparable bulls. Steers had lower ( P<0·001) estimated carcass lean, and higher ( P<0·01) estimated carcass fat concentrations than bulls slaughtered at the same LW.

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