The effect of group size on the performance of growing pigs

1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Carol Petherick ◽  
A. W. Beattie ◽  
D. A. V. Bodero
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Space Allocation ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTThree replicates of three group sizes (six, 18 and 36) of grower pigs were housed with the same space allocation (0·66 m2 per pig), feeding and drinking space per animal. The animals were mixed and kept together for a period of 22 days. They were given food ad libitum, were weighed weekly and a record kept of the group food intake for the 22-day period. Weight at mixing had a significant effect on weight gains during the 1st week. There was a significant interaction between group size and replicates for weight gains; generally weight gains were lowest in the group size of 36 animals during the first 2 weeks, but in the 3rd week there was no difference between the group sizes. Sex had no effect on weight gains. The variation in weights between group members were significantly greater in the group size of 36 than in the group sizes of six and 18 at the start of the trial, but at the end of the trial there was no difference in the variances of weights in the three group sizes. There was no difference between the group sizes in the variances of the weight gains. There was a significant positive correlation (r = +0·36) between weight at mixing and weight gain for the group size of 18. Group size had no effect on food intake, but the food conversion efficiency of the animals in the group size of 36 was significantly poorer than in the group sizes of six and 18.

Genetic components of growth and ultrasonic fat depth traits in Meishan and Large White pigs and their reciprocal crosses

1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Haley ◽  
E. d'Agaro ◽  
M. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Additive Effect ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Impact

AbstractGenes from the Chinese Meishan pig have the potential to enhance reproductive performance of European pigs. In order to allow prediction of the impact of Meishan genes in a range of alternative improvement programmes all traits of economic importance must be evaluated and genetic crossbreeding effects estimated. Entire male and female pigs of four genotypes, purebred Meishan (MS) and Large White (LW) pigs and both reciprocal Fl crossbred genotypes (MS ♂ × LW ♀ and LW ♂ × MS ♀), were farrowed in Edinburgh and subsequently performance tested at either Edinburgh or Newcastle. In Edinburgh, animals were penned in groups of four and fed ad libitum between pen mean weights of approximately 30 and 80 kg. At the end of test fat depths at the shoulder, last rib and loin were measured ultrasonically. In Newcastle, animals were penned in groups of six and fed ad libitum between pen mean weights of approximately 30 and 70 kg. Genotypic means and genetic crossbreeding effects (additive and heterosis direct effects and additive maternal effects) were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood.When compared with the LW, the direct additive effect of genes from the MS produced increased growth rate up to the time of weaning, no change in growth rate between weaning and start of test and greatly reduced growth rate during the performance test. The maternal additive effect of genes from the MS was to reduce growth rate up to the time of weaning, with little effect thereafter. There was substantial direct heterosis for growth rate in all periods measured, but heterosis was less in males than in females during the performance test. The combined effect was such that, within sex, the LW and the two crossbred genotypes were of similar ages when they reached 70 and 80 kg, but MS pigs were 38 to 60 days older. The direct additive effect of MS genes was to increase subcutaneous fat levels and there was little evidence for the effects of maternal genes or direct heterosis on these traits. There was a direct additive effect of MS genes reducing food intake and increasing food conversion ratio and there was direct heterosis for increased food intake. There were significant interactions between genotype and sex. Male and female LW pigs had a similar performance but male MS pigs had slower growth rates on the performance test with lower food intakes, food conversion ratios and subcutaneous fat levels than the females.

Growth and herbage consumption of grazing Merino and Border Leicester lambs reared by their mothers or fostered by ewes of the other breed

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

SUMMARYEight Border Leicester castrated male lambs (wethers) were fostered on to 8 Merino ewes (MB) at birth, and 10 Merino wethers were fostered on to Border Leicester ewes (BM). Two additional groups of 10 wethers consisted of Border Leicester lambs (BB) and Merino lambs (MM) reared by their natural mothers. The lambs and ewes grazed together and growth rate, and milk and herbage consumption of the lambs were recorded.Live-weight gains to weaning at 74 days were 275, 245, 204 and 184 g/day for groups BB, MB, BM and MM respectively. Lambs reared by Border Leicester ewes received more milk and consumed less grass than lambs of similar genotype reared by Merinos, but BM lambs consumed less milk than BB lambs. Merino lambs also consumed less grass than Border Leicester lambs.It was concluded that Merinos grew more slowly than Border Leicester lambs primarily because of their lower voluntary food intake. The lower milk production of Merino ewes was considered to be of secondary significance since if herbage is available ad libitum, lambs with high voluntary intakes will compensate for the lack of milk by consuming more forage.

A growth model to estimate economic values for food intake capacity in pigs

1992 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. de Vries ◽  
E. Kanis
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Growth Model ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Economic Values ◽  
Biological Growth ◽  
Protein Deposition ◽  
Positive Economic ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractA biological growth model was developed to study economic values for average ad libitum food intake capacity (FIC) in growing pigs. The model was based on the linear/plateau relationship between protein deposition and food intake. Input variables were: minimum fat to protein deposition ratio (R), maximum protein deposition rate (Pdmax)and food intake (FI). Output variables were production traits and production costs.Economic values (under commercial conditions with ad libitum feeding) were derived with the growth model for each of the traits FIC, R, and Pdmax keeping the other two traits constant, for three alternative levels of FIC. If FIC was too low to realize Pdmax, FIC had a positive economic value, R had a negative economic value and the value of Pdmax was zero. If FIC was higher than necessary to realize Pdmax, economic values were negative, zero and positive for FIC, R, and Pdmax respectively. If FIC was just sufficient to realise Pdmax, the lowest production costs occurred. Now, R had a negative economic value and Pdmax had a positive economic value.With a restricted feeding regimen under commercial conditions a daily food supply just sufficient to realize Pdmax should be pursued. It was concluded that use of a biological growth model to estimate economic values for FIC would give more insight into correct selection strategies than would the use of an economic model.

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.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Voluntary food intake of growing pigs given diets containing rapeseed meal, from different types and varieties of rape, as the only protein supplement

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline A. Lee ◽  
R. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Rapeseed Meal ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Glucosinolate Content ◽  
Protein Supplement ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Soya Bean Meal ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

1. The voluntary food intake, during 30 min periods after morning and afternoon feeds and during 24 h, by growing pigs given diets containing rapeseed meal (Rsm) or soya-bean meal (Sbm) as the only protein supplement was determined. One diet was offered at a time and a daily changeover sequence of feeding was followed.2. Four rapeseed meals were compared, one from seeds of British-grown winter Brassica napus varieties (Brsm) and the others from seeds of the var7ieties Tower (Trsm), Erglu (Ersm) and Span (Srsm). The effects on feed intake of adding flavouring substances to the Brsm diet were also determined. The flavouring substances were molassine meal, sucrose and four commercially-available substances: P, pig nectar; H, hog nectar; S, sow nectar and A, apple.3. Intake of the Brsm diet was significantly less than those of the Sbm, Trsm and Ersm diets.4. Addition to the Brsm diet of molassine meal or sucrose at 50 or 100 g/kg did not improve voluntary feed intake. None of the commercial flavouring substances raised the intake of the Brsm diet to the level of the Sbm diet but they improved intake of the Brsmdiet to varying extents. Flavourings H, S and A gave similar improvements which were substantial.5. The Sbm, Brsm and Trsm diets were each fed ad. lib. to groups of growing pigs continuously for 4 weeks. Weekly feed intakes and weight gains were determined. Feed intakes and weight gains followed closely the intake values obtained in the changeover experiments. The highest values were for the Sbm diet; those for the Trsm diet were slightly lower and those for the Brsm diet were substantially and significantly lower.6. The glucosinolate, sinapine and tannin contents of the rapeseed meals were determined and the results suggested that voluntary feed intake of diets containing these meals was related to their glucosinolate content, but not to their sinapine or tannin contents.

Management strategies to maximize pigmeat output: effect of group size and split-marketing

2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. O'Connell ◽  
P. B. Lynch ◽  
J. V. O'Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Food Conversion Ratio ◽  
2D And 3D

AbstractTwo experiments were completed with grower-finisher pigs to determine if pigmeat output, as measured by carcass gain per m2 per year, could be increased, by 1: increasing group size or 2: split-marketing pen groups. In experiment 1, 390 pigs (mean initial live weight 36·7 (s.d. 1·99) kg) were assigned to one of three treatments each with 10 replicates: 11, 13 or 15 pigs per single-sex group in pens measuring 11·04 m2. Space allowance was 1·00, 0·85 and 0·74 m2 per pig, respectively. Pelleted food was provided ad libitum. There were no differences (P > 0·05) between group sizes in growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, carcass growth and carcass food conversion ratio, backfat and muscle depth or carcass lean content. Pigmeat output per unit area increased with each increase in group size (234, 279 and 314 kg/m2 per year for 11, 13 and 15 pigs: P < 0·001). In experiment 2, 26 groups of 13 pigs (mean initial live weight 38·3 (s.d. 2·15) kg) were assigned to one of three treatments: 1D - group sold on 1 day (no. = 9), 2D - group sold over 2 days (14 days apart, no. = 10), or 3D - group sold over 3 days (each 7 days apart, no. = 7). Pigs were given a standard liquid diet three times daily. No differences (P > 0·05) were observed between treatments for overall growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass lean content, backfat and muscle depth, carcass growth and carcass food conversion ratio or killing-out proportion of pigs. Split-marketing increased cycle length (67·7, 75·9 and 76·8 days for 1D, 2D and 3D, respectively; P < 0·001). Live and carcass daily growth rates per pig place decreased with increase in number of sale days (live: 772, 680, 670 g/day and carcass: 658, 575, 571 g/day; P < 0·001). Carcass gain per unit area decreased in split-marketed groups (358, 318, 312 kg/m2 per year for 1D, 2D and 3D, respectively: P < 0·05). Carcass weight variation (s.d.) within pen decreased with each increase in number of sale days (s. d. 5·28, 3·81 and 1·74, respectively; P < 0·001). In conclusion, pigmeat output, as measured by carcass gains per m2 per year, was improved with increase in group size and by marketing all pigs in a group on a single day.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REDUCED FEED CONSUMPTION OBSERVED IN GROWING PIGS FED VOMITOXIN-CONTAMINATED DIETS

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 277-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. CHAVEZ ◽  
J. A. RHEAUME
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Total Body Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Dietary Treatments

Feeding trials were conducted to determine the significance of the reduction in feed consumption observed when growing pigs were fed complete diets containing approximately 6 ppm vomitoxin. Sixty Landrace weaners, weighing on average 22 kg, were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were: (1) control cereal soybean diet fed ad libitum (mycotoxin free); (2) vomitoxin diet fed ad libitum in which 100% of the clean wheat included in the control diet was replaced by moldy wheat containing 10.32 ppm vomitoxin; (3) control diet fed restricted to the average daily intake of pigs fed the vomitoxin diet; and (4) upgraded vomitoxin diet fed ad libitum and containing approximately 20% more energy, crude protein, minerals and vitamins. Individual feed consumption was recorded daily for 12 wk. The control diet promoted significantly (P < 0.05) greater total body weight gains and also the greatest feed consumption. Body weight gains were not different (P > 0.05) for the vomitoxin and restricted control dietary treatments. The vomitoxin upgraded treatment resulted in greater total body weight gains (P < 0.05) than the vomitoxin treatment. During the 12-wk period, animals in the vomitoxin and restricted-control-fed groups consumed 71% as much feed as the control group fed ad libitum while the vomitoxin upgraded group consumed 77% as much as the control. Analysis for blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, plasma protein and alkaline phosphatase revealed no differences (P > 0.05) between dietary treatments. With respect to animal performance and blood biochemical profiles, the effect of vomitoxin appears to be primarily limited to feed acceptability and intake, with no apparent consequences on the metabolic function of the animal. Key words: Vomitoxin, deoxynivalenol, growing pigs, feed consumption

Utilization of dl- and l-tryptophan in young pigs

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Schutte ◽  
E. J. van Weerden ◽  
F. Koch
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Dietary Level ◽  
Young Pigs ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Food Conversion Efficiency

ABSTRACTTwo trials involving young pigs (total numbers 288 and 400, respectively) were performed to compare the biological activity of Dl- and L-tryptophan under restricted (trial 1) and ad libitum (trial 2) feeding conditions. In trial 1, three additions of Dl-tryptophan (0·3, 0·6 and 0·9 g/kg) and two additions of L-tryptophan (0·3 and 0·6 g/kg) to a basal diet containing 0·9 g natural tryptophan per kg were tested. In trial 2, the treatments were additions of 0·4, 0·8 and 1·2 g Dl- or L-tryptophan per kg to a basal diet having 1·3 g natural tryptophan per kg. Both trials were of 6 weeks duration. In trial 1, almost equal performance was achieved with both tryptophan sources at a dietary level of 0·3 g/kg, whereas at a level of 0·6 g/kg, Dl-tryptophan produced slightly better performance in weight gain, food intake and food conversion efficiency than did L-tryptophan. In trial 2, the supplemental level of 0·4 g L-tryptophan per kg produced weight gain and food intake results which were significantly superior to those of Dl-tryptophan. However, at supplemental levels of 0·8 and 1·2 g/kg, diets with Dl-tryptophan produced somewhat better performance than did L-tryptophan. Based on the results of trial 2, it was estimated that the pig's need for total tryptophan over the weight range of 10 to 35 kg is at least 2·3 g/kg in a diet having 10·3 MJ net energy per kg.

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