Further studies of the effect of dietary energy content on the voluntary intake of pigs

1968 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Owen ◽  
W. J. Ridgman

1. Twenty-seven Large White pigs from three litters were involved in a 33 factorial experiment in which they were given three pelleted diets containing 0, 10% and 20% of dry sawdust during each third of an experimental period ranging from 29·5 to 118 kg live weight. The effects of these treatments on dry-matter intake and rate of growth in each sub-period and on the final carcass quality of the pig were studied.2. The results confirmed a previous finding that pigs developed a compensatory increase in intake in response to diets containing increasing amounts of sawdust, but that in small pigs this operates very poorly and leads to much retarded growth on the high sawdust diets.3. The compensatory intake mechanism took some time to develop after the pig had been put on to the sawdust diets, the delay being much longer in the smaller pig. Similarly, when the pigs were returned to high energy diets some time elapsed before intake returned to normal. During this time lag the pigs grew faster, as with compensatory growth, than when they had not previously been subjected to low energy diets.4. It is concluded that long-term observations must be made in order to investigate the nutrition of pigs fed ad libitum.5. Although energy intake can be restricted by giving low energy diets for a short period, this does not seem to improve carcass quality.

1962 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Osińska

Complete chemical analyses of all body components of 20 Large White pigs were carried out. At the average live-weight of 90·3 kg. (empty body weight 86·5 kg.) the total protein content was found to be 12·7 kg. and that of the chemical fat 25·4 kg. The edible parts of the carcass (i.e. lean and separable fat) contained only 58·5% (range 55·2–61·3) of the total protein but as much as 85% of the total chemical fat. Simple and multiple correlations were computed between various carcass characters and protein, chemical fat and energy content. The results indicate that it may be possible to obtain fairly accurate estimates of the chemical composition and energy content of the edible parts of the carcass, of the whole carcass, and of the empty body by methods based on various systems of assessing the carcass quality.


1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Owen ◽  
W. J. Ridgman

1. An experiment to investigate the effect of dietary energy concentration on the voluntary intake and growth of pigs from 27·2 to 118·0 kg. (60 to 260 lb.) live-weight is described and the results discussed.2. From 27·2 to 50·0 kg. live-weight energy intake was substantially restricted and growth retarded by diets of low energy concentration but from 50·0 to 118·0 kg. there was little difference between diets in either energy intake or growth because daily food intake of the low energy diets was increased.3. Effects of diet on carcass quality as measured by full dissection were small except that killing-out percentage was lower on one of the low energy diets.4. It is concluded that limited differences in the energy concentration and palatability of ingredients are unimportant in formulating pelleted diets for self-fed pigs.


1965 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Barber ◽  
R. Braude ◽  
Zena D. Hosking ◽  
K. G. Mitchell

SUMMARY1. Seventy-two individually fed pigs on six treatments were used to determine the effects on performance and in particular on carcass quality of (a) giving quantities of liquid skim-milk (preserved with formalin) in excess of those normally recommended; (b) replacing meal by skim-milk in the ration on a calculated dry-matter basis (1 gal. skim-milk equivalent to 1 · 1 lb. meal) as compared with a calculated energy basis (1 gal. skim-milk equivalent to 1 · 3 lb. meal) and (c) giving skim-milk for only a part of the growing period instead of throughout. The experimental period continued from 9–10 weeks of age until slaughter at an average live-weight of 135 lb.2. Extensive carcass measurements were taken and in addition assessment of the carcasses was made by a representative of the County Quality Pork Association and by an expert pork butcher.3. Carcasses from pigs given an all-meal diet were comparable in all respects with those from pigs given skim-milk throughout up to a maximum of either 5¼ or 10½ pints per pig per day.4. Carcasses from pigs given the highest level of skim-milk (maximum of 15¾ pints per pig per day) were superior in many respects to those on any of the other treatments, but the possibility that this was due to their slower rate of growth rather than to the high level of milk per se, is discussed.5. Pigs given skim-milk as replacement of part of their meal allowance on a calculated dry matter basis grew significantly faster than those in which the replacement was made on a calculated energy basis or than those given an all-meal diet. The importance is stressed of ensuring that in assessing the value of skim-milk for pigs the caloric value of the rations being compared is similar. The need for experiments based on actual determinations of the caloric value of the rations used is also emphasised.6. While the performance of pigs given skim-milk up to 75 lb. live-weight only was similar to that of pigs given skim-milk throughout, evidence was obtained that the quality of their carcasses was slightly inferior.7. There was some suggestion that as the level of skim-milk in the diet increased an eye muscle of a rather paler colour was produced.


2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Schwager-Suter ◽  
C. Stricker ◽  
D. Erdin ◽  
N. Künzi

Abstract Net energy efficiencies were calculated from data of an experimental herd with respect to type of cow, lactation number, stage of lactation and diet. The trial consisted of 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 Holstein-Jersey F1-crosses in 1st, 2nd and > 2nd lactation. Data were collected during 210 days of lactation, from calving to week 30 and included total dry matter intake, energy content of foods, milk yield, milk solids, body weight, body condition scores and several body measurements. The cows were divided into four feeding groups : high and low energy content of roughage as well as high and low proportion of concentrates. Net energy efficiency was calculated as the ratio of milk energy to total net energy intake after subtracting energy utilized for maintenance and body tissue change. Body tissue change was calculated either via body-weight changes or body condition-score changes. Due to the distribution of the efficiencies being skewed, efficiencies were transformed applying a Box-Cox transformation. Transformed net energy efficiencies were analysed using a repeated measurements design considering the sequential nature of the observations. Mixed models with a compound symmetry structure for the variance components were applied. Final models contained the fixed effects of type, lactation number, feeding group and the covariates week of lactation and its square. Holstein-Jersey crosses were more efficient than purebreds, second lactation cows were least efficient, cows given low energy roughage and a lower proportion of concentrates were more efficient than cows on the other diets. Least efficient were the cows belonging to the high energy roughage and higher proportion of concentrates group. The coefficients of determination of the final models were between 0·357 and 0·492.


1965 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Robinson

1. A feeding trial was carried out using fortyeight Large White pigs, individually fed in a Danish type piggery. Six different diets prepared at two levels of digestible energy and three levels of crude protein were fed to eight replicates consisting of four hogs and four gilts per replicate. A record was maintained of the weekly live-weight gain and food was given at a defined restricted level in relation to the live weight. Carcass quality was assessed by complete dissection into visible lean, fat and bone etc.2. Of the main effects, energy, supply was without significant effect upon growth, food conversion efficiency (FCE) or any carcass characteristics except body length which was increased with a high energy level. The protein level in the diet had a significant effect upon the percentage of carcass lean and the killing-out percentage, the higher levels of protein increasing both these measurements significantly. Gilts were significantly superior to hogs in every carcass measurement although hogs grew significantly faster.


1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. BAILEY ◽  
J. E. LAWSON

Hereford and Angus bull calves were obtained from lines selected for an average of 18 yr for rapid growth on a high-energy diet (concentrate) or a low-energy diet (forage). They were given a typical feedlot diet (70% concentrate and 30% forage) in amounts about equal to 95% of the ad libitum intake and were slaughtered at a liveweight of 500 kg. Effects of breed, or of the selection diet given to the antecedents of the bulls, on rate and efficiency of gain of empty body, carcass, fat, protein, and energy were measured. Selection diet had no effect on rate or energetic efficiency of gain of the empty body or any of its constituents, nor on the distribution of the constituents of the gain between the carcass and the noncarcass portions of the empty body. This suggests that both selection diets exerted the same selection pressure for improved growth rate and feed efficiency when offspring resulting from selection were provided with a common high-energy diet and that either type of diet would, therefore, be appropriate for selecting animals for production systems that use high-energy diets. It was suggested that the main effect of selection was to increase the mature weight of the offspring. Comparing breeds, it was noted that Hereford bulls were heavier at birth, grew more slowly to weaning but more efficiently thereafter, and their carcasses were a smaller proportion of empty live weight than were those of Angus bulls. Key words: Diet, breed, growth, efficiency, selection, bull


1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
K. Aston

SUMMARY1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed on diets of grass silage ad libitum with supplements of dried grass, dried grass/barley or barley/groundnut in two randomized block experiments.2. In Experiment I, equal quantities of dry matter (DM) as dried grass in the form of a wafer (W), cob (C) or pellet (P) were given with the silage during weeks 8 to 18 of lactation, to three groups of 12 heifers. Silage DM intakes were respectively 14·2, 14·3 and 15·8 ± 0·43 g/kg live weight per day (P<0·05). Milk yields were 14·0, 15·6, 16·7 ± 0·35 kg/day (P< 0·001). Milk composition and live-weight change did not differ significantly.3. In Experiment II, five treatment groups of heifers and cows were offered silage with equal amounts of a supplement of either dried grass pellets (treatment 1) or dried grass/barley in the ratios of 2: 1 (treatment 2), 1: 2 (treatment 3), or a barley/groundnut supplement (treatment 4). In treatment 5 the cattle received the same supplement as in treatment 4, but at a 10% higher level. Silage DM intakes for treatments 1 to 5 during lactation weeks 6 to 22 were 8·64, 8·94, 7·96, 6·96, 7·63 kg/day (1, 2>4, P<0·01; 2>5, P<0·05). The intake of digestible organic matter, milk yields and live-weight changes over the whole experimental period were not influenced significantly by treatments 1 to 4, but in treatment 5 the milk was significantly higher in fat, protein and energy content than in treatments 1 to 4. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.


The Auk ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 1069-1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wasila M. Dahdul ◽  
Michael H. Horn

Abstract Effects of variable energy intake on chick growth, organ development, and gut-passage time in seabirds were investigated by raising Elegant Tern (Sterna elegans) chicks in the laboratory on three diets involving a major prey species, northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and a minor prey species, topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Anchovies are ∼25% higher in energy content than topsmelt and represent a more abundant but highly fluctuating prey resource. Chicks were raised from age 15 to age 35 days posthatch on one of three diets (n = 8): (1) high-energy anchovy at the average daily intake rate, (2) low-energy topsmelt at the same intake rate, and (3) high-energy topsmelt (i.e. at a biomass equal in energy content to the anchovy diet). Chicks raised on the high-energy anchovy diet had a significantly faster gain of body mass and wing length. All three groups, however, had attained a statistically similar wing length at 35 days posthatch and did not differ in lean dry mass or pectoral muscle mass, indicating that energy was allocated preferentially toward wing development and flight capacity. Most digestive organs were heavier and gut-passage rates faster for chicks fed topsmelt. Bill dimensions and tarsus length showed little difference among chicks on the three diets. Lipid content of chicks that were fed anchovy was twice that of those fed low-energy topsmelt and one-third higher than that of chicks on the high-energy topsmelt diet. Our results indicate that Elegant Terns have evolved certain capacities for growth and digestion in response to variable prey quality that may increase the probability of chick survival. Nevertheless, if Elegant Tern chicks were switched to a lower quality, primarily topsmelt diet, they would be underweight at fledging with heavier digestive organs, lower lipid reserves, and faster gut-passage times, which would place added provisioning demands on the parents. Under that scenario, the prospects for survival and long-term reproductive success might diminish for such an Elegant Tern colony.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 122-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. van Heelsum ◽  
R.M. Lewis ◽  
D.W. Jones ◽  
W. Haresign ◽  
M.H. Davies

Currently fewer than 50% of UK lambs produce carcasses of acceptable quality for the domestic and export markets, which compromises the competitiveness of sheep farming. Carcass quality can be changed by selection, and this is now being taken advantage of in terminal sire breeds and, to a lesser extent, in hill breeds. However, little attention has yet been focused on the crossing breeds, which have relatively poor carcass quality, in spite of the large impact such breeds have on the slaughter generation. Recently, a long-term project began to develop breeding programmes relevant to crossing sire (‘longwool’) breeds. Its objective is to produce a selection index to improve carcass quality without compromising the reproductive performance or maternal ability of these breeds. The Bluefaced Leicester is the most prevalent crossing sire breed with its crossbred (‘Mule’) daughters out of draft hill ewes accounting for 89% of crossbred (longwool x hill) ewes in the UK (Pollot, 1998).


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