Descriptive study of production factors affecting performance traits in growing-finishing pigs in Spain

Abstract

The objective of this study was to build up a data set including productive performance and production factors data of growing-finishing (GF) pigs in Spain in order to perform a representative and reliable description of the traits of Spanish growing-finishing pig industry. Data from 764 batches from 452 farms belonging to nine companies (1,157,212 pigs) were collected between 2008 and 2010 through a survey including five parts: general, facilities, feeding, health status and performance. Most studied farms had only GF pigs on their facilities (94.7%), produced ‘industrial’ pigs (86.7%), had entire male and female (59.5%) and Pietrain-sired pigs (70.0%), housed between 13-20 pigs per pen (87.2%), had  50% of slatted floor (70%), single-space dry feeder (54.0%), nipple drinker (88.7%) and automatic ventilation systems (71.2%). A 75.0% of the farms used three feeding phases using mainly pelleted diets (91.0%), 61.3% performed three or more antibiotic treatments and 36.5% obtained water from the public supply. Continuous variables studied had the following average values: number of pigs placed per batch, 1,515 pigs; initial and final body weight, 19.0 and 108 kg; length of GF period, 136 days; culling rate, 1.4%; barn occupation, 99.7%; feed intake per pig and fattening cycle, 244 kg; daily gain, 0.657 kg; feed conversion ratio, 2.77 kg kg-1 and mortality rate, 4.3%. Data reflecting the practical situation of the Spanish growing and finishing pig production and it may contribute to develop new strategies in order to improve the productive and economic efficiency of GF pig units.

Factors affecting the daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of pigs in grow-finishing units: the case of a company

“…The workflow followed the study conducted by Agostini et al [9] and was developed in two stages. In the first stage the variables of interest were chosen, representing the most important factors affecting the livestock production records of the company.…”

“…Those that relate production parameters to the conditions of facilities and equipment involved [8] are even scarcer. Agostini et al [9] have established a relationship among production factors and performance indexes from more than one million pigs in GF phase from eight different companies in Spain. From the results important recommendations were made, both for immediate changes in feeding, nutrition and management and for future action in genetics, construction and environmental issues.…”

Characterization and influence of production factors on growing and finishing pig farms in Brazilian cooperatives

“…The production records were obtained through a standard questionnaire concerning production conditions, such as origin of animal, sex segregation, all-in-all-out system or continuous flux, feature hand labor, feeder, drinker, ventilation, and others. The variables (a total of 30) were understood as issues related to the main factors of production or livestock importance; these were based on the study developed by Agostini et al (2013b) and by suggestions made by the professionals of the cooperatives involved.…”

Fatores que afetam o desempenho de suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação

“…O modelo de estudo seguiu o trabalho desenvolvido por Agostini et al (2013). A primeira etapa consistiu na escolha das variáveis de interesse zootécnico e dos fatores de produção a serem levantados (Tabelas 1 e 2).…”

“…A escolha das variáveis levou em conta referências de trabalhos técnicos e científicos recentes, bem como a experiência da equipe proponente e dos técnicos da cooperativa. Diferentemente do trabalho de Agostini et al (2013), foram coletados dados de todas as granjas integradas à cooperativa e foi avaliado um número maior de lotes por granja. Os dados foram referentes aos lotes alojados em diferentes estações do ano.…”