Effect of Phase Feeding, Space Allowance and Mixing on Productive Performance of Grower-Finisher Pigs

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of space allowance (SA), mixing and phase feeding (PF) on performance of grower-finisher pigs. Three trials (T) were conducted. In T1 and T2, 345 pigs/trial were moved to finisher stage at 11 weeks of age and assigned to two SAs: 0.96 (n = 15 pens; 10 pigs/pen) and 0.78 (n = 15; 13 pigs/pen) m2/pig. Mixing was applied to 5 pens of each SA leading to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (SA × Mixing). For PF, 2 diets with 0.95 and 0.82 g SID Lys/MJ NE were applied to 5 pens of each SA (not mixed) leading to another 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (SA × PF). In T3, 230 pigs were moved to the grower-finisher stage at 11 weeks of age, mixed, and assigned to 4 treatments (SA × PF; n = 5 pens). Data were analyzed using general linear mixed models. SA did not affect performance (p > 0.05). Non-mixed pigs were 5.40 (T1) and 5.25 (T2) kg heavier than mixed pigs at 21 weeks of age (p < 0.001). PF reduced performance of pigs by 3.45 (T1) and 4.05 (T2) kg at 21 weeks of age (p < 0.001). In conclusion, mixing and reducing SID Lys:NE ratio from 0.95 to 0.82 g/MJ at 15–16 weeks of age, have a more marked impact on performance than reducing SA from 0.96 to 0.78 m2/pig.

Environmental Risk Factors Influence the Frequency of Coughing and Sneezing Episodes in Finisher Pigs on a Farm Free of Respiratory Disease

“…Temperature was controlled with a temperature-based mechanical ventilation system (Big Dutchman 135pro, Vechta, Germany). Space allowance and mixing procedures are described in [19]. Briefly, space allowance varied between 0.78 m 2 /pig and 0.96 m 2 /pig (with 13 and 10 pigs/pen, respectively).…”

Blood and faecal biomarkers to assess dietary energy, protein and amino acid efficiency of utilization by growing and finishing pigs

“…Pig diets are formulated with the goal of optimising growth, health, and welfare of the animals by meeting their nutritional requirements while avoiding the excess of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, that result in environmental pollution. However, the actual nutritional value of a diet for a particular pig farm is affected by different factors such as quality of ingredients [ 1 ], feed form and delivery method [ 2 ], variability of body weight (BW) [ 3 , 4 ], farm management [ 5 , 6 ], or health status of the farm [ 7 , 8 ], among others. With so many factors affecting nutritional value of feed, suboptimal diets are not rare and can result in extra cost for the farmers, potential health and welfare problems for the pigs, and environmental contamination.…”

Mixed management in growing and finishing pigs: Differences between gender and their impacts on behavior, growth performance, and physiological parameters

“…Mixing is a common management strategy used to regroup pigs according to BW or size to decrease BW variability and facilitate farm management practices [ 3 ]. Previous studies suggest that mixing impair individual performance within a pen and affect pig welfare because of the establishment of a new social hierarchy after regrouping [ 4 , 5 ].…”

“…Considering that ATES was measured by the amount of time the head was in the feeder hole and that the ADFI was not affected during period–II, it is possible that the pigs were not essentially eating. Based on the findings by Montoro et al [ 3 ], wherein the effect of mixing on productive performance of grower-finisher pigs was investigated, it is possible that mixed pigs could have used the feeder as a “hide” to protect themselves from an attack (submissive behavior) or control the resources (dominant behavior) before consuming the feed. This possibility can be considered based on the fact that the areas with the highest occupancy and incidence of agonistic interactions during the experimental period were QO—2 and QO—1, which are the areas of the electronic feeder and entrance to the pen, respectively.…”

“…The animals, from birth to slaughter, have to cope with multiple stressors such as early weaning that includes separation from the sow, handling and transportation, mixing with unfamiliar pigs, feed change, and exposure to different pathogens [ 2 ]. Among the farm practices, mixing is a common strategy used to regroup pigs according to weight to adjust group size, obtain uniform groups, and facilitate management [ 3 ]. Previous studies suggest that mixing impair individual performance and affect welfare due to the establishment of a new social hierarchy after regrouping [ 4 , 5 ].…”