The effect of two feeding systems for growing pigs on growth performance, carcass and meat quality

Abstract

Twenty-nine growing pigs were fed using two regimes: ad libitum or ad //6/tam/rationed diet from 65 kg, with grower rations adjusted to the needs of fatteners at changing body weight. Pigs fed ad libitum reached the slaughter weight of approx. 105 kg 14 days earlier than those kept under the rationed diet system. Average daily weight gain of pigs fed ad libitum was higher by 0.15 kg and the feed conversion ratio was slightly higher (0.07 kg). Slaughter and meat quality traits were similar in both feeding systems, except for a slightly higher crude protein content (0.49%) in the meat of pigs fed under the rationed diet regime.