Lack of effect of regular movement and of mixing groups on the performance of growing pigs

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
EB Greer

The effect on pig performance of 2 methods to reduce pen stocking densities was examined using 228 pigs growing from 20 to 100 kg in 7 commercial piggeries. Pigs either: (i) remained in the same pen for the full period; (ii) were moved to a different pen every 4 weeks; or (iii) were mixed, after 8 weeks when they weighed about 50 kg, with half the pigs from a second pen and then moved to 2 new pens. Pigs were fed ad libitum the diet normally used on each farm. Daily gain, feed:gain ratio and backfat depth were unaffected by treatment (P> 0.05). There was an indication (P<0.10) that movement increased daily feed intake and this may have been associated with a slight decline in carcass gradings. Fighting occurred when the pigs were mixed after 8 weeks, but no adverse effects were apparent at slaughter. Floor space allowances for growing pigs can be increased by 2 movement strategies (moving or moving-and-mixing) commonly used by producers, with only slight, if any, detriment to performance.

ZOOTEC ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Alfred Tamawiwy ◽  
M. Najoan ◽  
J S Mandey ◽  
F. N Sompie

ABSTRACT   EFFECT OF UTILIZATION OF VIRGIN COCONUT OIL (VCO) IN THE DIET ON PIG PERFORMANCE. Utilization of fats and oils in pig diets is of great importance due to their high energy value. VCO is obtained by cold press processing of the kernel from the coconut fruit. Utilization of virgin coconut oil (VCO) in the diets on pig performance.  The present study was designed to elaborate the effect of utilization of VCO in the diets on energy and protein digestibility of growing pigs. The experiment was conducted using 20 castrated male pigs aged 1.5 - 2.0 months weighing 12,0±2,0 kg. The data were analyzed according to the linear model procedure for ANOVA appropriate for Randomized Block Design with 5 treatments and 4 replications. Treatments were formulated as follow: R0 = 100% control diet + 0% VCO; R1 = 99.5% control diet + 1.0% VCO; R2 = 98.0% control diet + 2.0% VCO; R3 = 97.0% control diet + 3.0% VCO; and R4 = 96.0% control diet + 4.0% VCO. Parameters measured were: daily feed intake, daily gain, daily water consumption. The results showed that the utilization of VCO up to 4% in the diets had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on daily feed intake, daily gain, daily water consumption of pigs. It can be concluded that the addition of VCO up to 4.0% in the diets has no significant meaning on pig performance.   Key words: Virgin coconut oil (VCO), Performance, Growing pigs  


2000 ◽  
Vol 2000 ◽  
pp. 115-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Penny ◽  
P.J. Penny

The live weight range 20-40 kg is a critical phase for lean growth optimisation. One of the constraints on efficient pig growth is floor space allocation which is often seen as a compromise between maximum performance and economic return / unit of floor space. It is documented that a reduction of floor space, usually by removing or increasing the number of pigs in the pen, decreases both pig growth and feed intake (Kornegay et al 1984). Interpretation of these experiments is difficult, as the modification of other pen resources such as feeding space are not adjusted for. It is therefore hypothesised that by reducing floor space provision whilst at the same time increasing feeding opportunity will optimise pig performance. The objective of this experiment was to test this hypothesis.


Author(s):  
A.L. Lightfoot ◽  
A.W. Armsby ◽  
C.F. Widdows

An experiment at Terrington compared restricted floor feeding with ad libitum hopper feeding of group housed pigs over a weight range of about 35-90 kg. A prototype micro-processor controlled feed dispensing system, developed from the “Pig Code” electronic sow feeder, was used to automatically record ad libitum feed intake. Two dispensers were used to investigate the effect of feeder siting on pig performance and pen cleanliness.


1978 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. KENNELLY ◽  
F. X. AHERNE ◽  
A. J. LEWIS

Forty-eight crossbred pigs of average initial weight 21 kg were fed 10% Tower rapeseed meal (RSM) and 10% Candle RSM as partial replacements for soybean meal (SBM). Diets were formulated to be isocaloric. Pigs fed the SBM diet consumed less feed, gained significantly (P < 0.01) faster and were more efficient at converting feed to gain than those fed the RSM diets. Performance of pigs fed Candle RSM was not significantly different to that obtained with Tower RSM. In a second experiment, dehulled Tower RSM and Tower RSM hulls were mixed in amounts to produce RSM with crude fibre levels of 6.8, 10.8, 13.5 and 15.8%. The simulated RSM and Tower and Candle RSM were used to completely replace SBM in the diets of weanling (75 g) Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats fed SBM had significantly (P < 0.05) higher average daily gain (ADG) than those fed Tower or Candle RSM, or diets containing the rapeseed meats. There was no significant (P < 0.05) difference in ADG, feed intake or feed to gain ratio of rats fed either Tower or Candle RSM. Feed intake, feed to gain ratio and fecal volatile fatty acid concentrations increased while average daily gain decreased with increasing level of hulls in simulated RSM diets. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) in thyroid weight between rats fed SBM, Tower RSM or Candle RSM.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Newman ◽  
Jeffery A. Downing ◽  
Peter C. Thomson ◽  
Cherie L. Collins ◽  
David J. Henman ◽  
...  

Three studies investigated the effect of feeding strategy on production performance and endocrine status of growing pigs. For Experiment 1, 20 entire male pigs (70.0 ± 4.6 kg) were allocated randomly to individual pens in one of four climate-controlled rooms. Pigs were fed for 23 days either ad libitum or entrained to feed bi-phasically for two 90-min periods. For Experiment 2, 20 entire male pigs (41.2 ± 3.5 kg) were housed as per Experiment 1. Pigs were fed for 49 days either ad libitum or fed bi-phasically for two 60-min periods. For Experiment 3, 100 female pigs (66.1 ± 3.5 kg) were randomly allocated to individual pens within a commercial piggery and fed for 42 days either ad libitum or bi-phasically for two 60-min periods. Ear vein catheters were inserted into 10 pigs from each group and hourly blood samples were collected for 24 h in Experiments 1 and 2 and for 11 h in Experiment 3. Plasma insulin, non-esterified fatty acid and glucose concentrations were determined in Experiments 1 and 2, and glucose and insulin concentrations in Experiment 3. Feed intake and performance were recorded in all experiments and carcass composition was assessed by computed tomography for Experiment 2. There were no differences in final liveweight between the two treatment groups for all experiments. Pigs fed for two 90-min periods (Experiment 1) showed no difference in feed intake when compared with feeding ad libitum. Pigs in Experiment 2 fed for two 60-min intervals consumed 2.49 kg/pig.day compared with those fed ad libitum that consumed 2.68 kg/day (P = 0.057). In Experiment 3, pigs fed twice daily consumed 2.82 kg/pig.day compared with 2.91 kg/pig.day in ad libitum-fed pigs (P = 0.051). Bi-phasic fed pigs in Experiment 2 had improved (P < 0.05) feed conversion efficiency compared with pigs fed ad libitum. For all experiments, there was no difference in plasma glucose concentrations between the two treatments. In all three experiments, the circulating insulin concentrations for pigs fed ad libitum remained at a constant level throughout the sampling period. However, plasma insulin concentrations for the bi-phasic fed pigs significantly increased ~1 h after both feeding periods during all three experiments. Insulin secretion of pigs fed for two 90-min periods differed from that of pigs fed for two 60-min periods. Plasma insulin concentration increased five-fold following feeding for 60 min, compared with that in pigs fed for 90 min, which increased two-fold. Bi-phasic-fed pigs from Experiment 2 had reduced (P < 0.05) total carcass fat and significantly increased muscle when compared with pigs fed ad libitum. The data showed that feeding pigs at two succinct periods aligned insulin secretion to the time of feeding. Pigs fed for 60 min, unlike those fed for 90-min intervals, had reduced feed intake in comparison to those fed ad libitum. This may suggest that the duration of the feeding bout is important for this response and this may in turn influence both energy balance and the way energy is partitioned.


Author(s):  
A.L. Lightfoot ◽  
A.W. Armsby ◽  
C.F. Widdows

An experiment was carried out to determine which feeding method maximised feed intake of growing pigs and to record growth rates, feed conversion efficiency and backfat measurements. There is an increasing tendency for dry fed pigs to be fed ad libitum or to appetite in order to increase growth rates and throughput of building.Limited information is available on how the modern genetically improved pig will respond to high levels of feeding and whether ad libitum feeding will encourage higher feed intake than feeding to appetite either wet or dry.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (8) ◽  
pp. 3213-3227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma T Helm ◽  
Shelby M Curry ◽  
Carson M De Mille ◽  
Wesley P Schweer ◽  
Eric R Burrough ◽  
...  

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus is one of the most economically significant pig pathogens worldwide. However, the metabolic explanation for reductions in tissue accretion observed in growing pigs remains poorly defined. Additionally, PRRS virus challenge is often accompanied by reduced feed intake, making it difficult to discern which effects are virus vs. feed intake driven. To account for this, a pair-fed model was employed to examine the effects of PRRS challenge and nutrient restriction on skeletal muscle and liver metabolism. Forty-eight pigs were randomly selected (13.1 ± 1.97 kg BW) and allotted to 1 of 3 treatments (n = 16 pigs/treatment): 1) PRRS naïve, ad libitum fed (Ad), 2) PRRS-inoculated, ad libitum fed (PRRS+), and 3) PRRS naïve, pair-fed to the PRRS-inoculated pigs’ daily feed intake (PF). At days postinoculation (dpi) 10 and 17, 8 pigs per treatment were euthanized and tissues collected. Tissues were assayed for markers of proteolysis (LM only), protein synthesis (LM only), oxidative stress (LM only), gluconeogenesis (liver), and glycogen concentrations (LM and liver). Growth performance, feed intake, and feed efficiency were all reduced in both PRRS+ and PF pigs compared with Ad pigs (P < 0.001). Furthermore, growth performance and feed efficiency were additionally reduced in PRRS+ pigs compared with PF pigs (P < 0.05). Activity of most markers of LM proteolysis (μ-calpain, 20S proteasome, and caspase 3/7) was not increased (P > 0.10) in PRRS+ pigs compared with Ad pigs, although activity of m-calpain was increased in PRRS+ pigs compared with Ad pigs (P = 0.025) at dpi 17. Muscle reactive oxygen species production was not increased (P > 0.10) in PRRS+ pigs compared with Ad pigs. However, phosphorylation of protein synthesis markers was decreased in PRRS+ pigs compared with both Ad (P < 0.05) and PF (P < 0.05) pigs. Liver gluconeogenesis was not increased as a result of PRRS; however, liver glycogen was decreased (P < 0.01) in PRRS+ pigs compared with Ad and PF pigs at both time points. Taken together, this work demonstrates the differential impact a viral challenge and nutrient restriction have on metabolism of growing pigs. Although markers of skeletal muscle proteolysis showed limited evidence of increase, markers of skeletal muscle synthesis were reduced during PRRS viral challenge. Furthermore, liver glycogenolysis seems to provide PRRS+ pigs with glucose needed to fuel the immune response during viral challenge.


1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. NARENDRAN ◽  
G. H. BOWMAN ◽  
S. J. SLINGER

An experiment was conducted during the late fall and winter months with 96 Yorkshire barrows and gilts to study the effects on pig performance of feeding corn-soybean meal (SBM) and lysine-HCl (0.1%) supplemented corn-SBM-Tower rapeseed meal (RSM) and corn-SBM-Candle RSM diets, in the form of mash (corn was medium-ground) and steam pellets. Average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, efficiency of feed conversion (feed to gain ratio, F/G) and carcass backfat thickness were measured in pigs reared from 23 kg to 91 kg liveweight. The energy level in the RSM diets was not adjusted to equal that in the corn-SBM diet. Pigs fed Tower RSM had a lower (P < 0.01) feed intake and backfat thickness and pigs fed Candle RSM had a lower (P < 0.01) ADG and feed intake and higher (P < 0.01) F/G compared to the pigs fed SBM. The pigs fed corn-SBM-Tower RSM had a higher (P < 0.01) ADG and feed intake and lower (P < 0.01) F/G ratio than those fed Candle RSM diets. Steam pelleting of the corn-SBM and corn-SBM-RSM diets improved ADG, feed intake and F/G of the pigs, with the effects being greatest for the RSM diets.


1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levy ◽  
Z. Holzer ◽  
H. Neumark ◽  
S. Amir

SUMMARYIn an experiment with group-fed cattle from 6 months of age to slaughter at 480 kg live weight two levels of feed intake: 1, ad libitum, 2, 85% of ad libitum amount, were combined with two ratios of concentrate to hay: a, 70: 30; b, 30: 70. In two further treatments, 3a and 3b, the cattle were fed diets a or b at 70% of ad libitum from 6 to 10 months and ad libitum thereafter.Daily gain during the first 124 days of the experiment was (in grams) 1293, 983, 1097, 846, 992 and 756, and from the 125th day to slaughter 735, 600, 796, 579, 830 and 714, for treatments la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, respectively. The decline in rate of gain from the first period to the second was inversely related to the level of feed intake and to the percentage of concentrates in the ration in the first period.Daily carcass gain was 582, 393, 532, 350, 531 and 368 g for treatments la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, respectively.The treatments that were switched over from 70% of ad libitum feed intake in the first period to 100% in the second (3a and 3b), exhibited considerable compensatory growth in the second period, but this was not sufficient to be of economic advantage.The overall ME requirement per kg of live-weight gain was inversely related to rate of gain. Of the six treatments, 2a (85% of ad libitum, 70% concentrate) was the most efficient (19·8 Mcal/kg live-weight gain).Animals on the 100% level of feed intake throughout the experiment (treatments la, lb) were significantly fatter than those on the other treatments.


1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Batterham ◽  
L. R. Giles ◽  
E. Belinda Dettmann

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.


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