The effect of feed form and delivery method on feed microbiology and growth performance in grow-finisher pigs

Abstract

There is no generally accepted optimal feed form and delivery method for feeding finisher pigs. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of feed form (meal and pellet) and delivery method (liquid, dry, and wet/dry) on feed microbiology and growth, gain-to-feed ratio (G:F), and carcass quality of finisher pigs. Two batches of pigs were used, each with six pen replicates per treatment. In each batch 216 pigs (32.7 kg; ± 0.48 SE) housed in same-sex (entire male or female) pens of six pigs per pen were on treatment for ~62 d prior to slaughter. The experiment was a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two factors for diet form (meal and pellets) and three factors for feed delivery (dry, wet/dry, liquid). The treatments were 1) meal from dry feeder, 2) meal from wet/dry feeder, 3) meal from liquid system, 4) pellet from dry feeder, 5) pellet from wet/dry feeder, and 6) pellet from liquid system. Pig growth performance was determined, blood samples collected at slaughter for hematological analysis and microbiological and proximate analysis of feed performed. A significant feed form × delivery interaction was found for G:F. During the overall period G:F was 0.446, 0.433, 0.423, 0.474, 0.459, and 0.418 g/g (SE = 0.0080; P < 0.01) for treatments 1 through 6, respectively. When feed was pelleted, G:F was improved when feed delivery was dry or wet/dry compared to meal but when the delivery was liquid, pelleting did not affect G:F. There were no interactive effects for overall average daily gain (ADG). Overall ADG was 1,114 and 1,156 g/d (SE = 16.9; P < 0.01) for pigs fed diets in meal and pellet form, respectively and 1,080, 1,114, and 1,210 g/d (SE = 18.4; P < 0.001) for dry-, wet/dry-, and liquid-fed pigs, respectively. Carcass weight was 76.6 and 79.0 kg (SE = 0.55; P < 0.001) for pigs fed in meal and pellet form, respectively, while it was 74.7, 77.3, and 81.5 kg (SE = 0.60; P < 0.001) for pigs delivered dry, wet/dry, and liquid diets, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.05) and yeast (P < 0.01) counts in troughs were greater for the liquid than the dry diet in both meal and pelleted form. There was also evidence of lysine degradation in the liquid diet but this did not impact pig growth. Feeding the diet in pelleted vs. meal form led to lower hemoglobin and greater white blood cell and neutrophil counts (P < 0.05). To conclude, wet/dry feeding of a pelleted diet is recommended to maximize growth rate while optimizing G:F in grow-finisher pigs.

Effect of space allowance and mixing on growth performance and body lesions of grower-finisher pigs in pens with a single wet-dry feeder

“…Small group pens with 10–14 grower-finisher pigs are convenient from a management point of view because they allow for a rapid monitoring of health and welfare issues in pigs, without the need to access the pen. This pen system is normally linked to wet-dry feeders as these optimize feed efficiency [ 27 ]. Despite no references are available, the authors’ experience in groups like EUPIG ( https://www.eupig.eu/ ) or the ECPHM suggests that this is one of the most common systems in growing-finishing units in the EU.…”

Production of Green Biorefinery Protein Concentrate Derived from Perennial Ryegrass as an Alternative Feed for Pigs

“…However, the methionine and threonine content in the green protein concentrate are comparable with that of soybean meal. Furthermore, the essential amino acid concentration (lysine, methionine, threonine and cysteine) in green protein concentrate was higher than that of sunflower meal, rapeseed meal and cottonseed meal, which are all sources of protein widely exploited as animal feed additives [45,46].…”

Effect of Space Allowance and Mixing on Growth Performance and Body Lesions of Grower-finisher Pigs in Pens With a Single Wet-dry Feeder

“…Small group pens with 10-14 grower-nisher pigs are convenient from a management point of view because they allow for a rapid monitoring of health and welfare issues in pigs, without the need to access the pen. This pen system is normally linked to wet-dry feeders as these optimize feed e ciency (23). Despite no references are available, this is one of the most common systems in growing-nishing units in the EU.…”