Evaluating strategic pellet feeding regimens on finishing pig performance, stomach morphology, and carcass characteristics

Abstract Text:

A total of 2,100 pigs (PIC 327×1050; initially 31.2 kg BW) were used in a 118-d trial to determine the effects of pellet feeding regimens on finishing pig growth performance, stomach morphology, and carcass characteristics. Pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (14 pens/treatment with 25 pigs/pen). The same corn-soybean meal–based diets containing 15% dried distillers grains with solubles were used for all treatments. The 6 treatments were: 1) continuous meal feed; 2) continuous pelleted feed; 3) meal from d 0 to 70 and pellets from d 70 to 118; 4) pellets from d 0 to 70 and meal from d 0 to 118; 5) pellets and meal rotated every 2 wk starting with meal; 6) pellets and meal rotated every 2 wk starting with pellets. On d 110, 4 pigs from each pen were harvested and a combined ulcer and keratinization score was determined for each stomach. Overall, there were no differences (P>0.10) for ADG. Pigs fed meal throughout had the greatest (P<0.05) ADFI, while pigs fed pellets throughout had the lowest, and all other treatments were intermediate. Pigs fed pelleted diets throughout had the greatest (P<0.05) G:F, while pigs fed meal throughout had the lowest G:F, and all other treatments were intermediate. Feeding pellets throughout increased (P<0.05) the number of pigs removed per pen above all other treatments. When pelleted diets were fed for the last 58 d, or for the entire trial, the incidence of ulceration and keratinization increased (P<0.05) while pigs fed meal for the last 58 d had lower incidence, and all other treatments were intermediate. There were no differences (P>0.10) for any carcass characteristics measured. In conclusion feeding pelleted diets improved G:F but increased removals and stomach ulceration; however, rotating pellets and meal provided an intermediate G:F response without the increase in stomach ulceration.

 

Treatment:	1	2	3	4	5	6
d 0 to 70:	Meal	Pellet	Meal	Pellet	Rotated	Rotated
Item,       d 70 to 118:	Meal	Pellet	Pellet	Meal	Rotated	Rotated	SEM
ADG, kg1	0.96	0.97	0.96	0.96	0.96	0.97	0.012
ADFI, kg	2.36a	2.26c,y	2.30b,c,x	2.28b,c	2.30b	2.29b,c	0.024
G:F	0.407c	0.430a	0.421b	0.422b	0.420b	0.423b	0.002
Pigs removed/pen	0.50b	1.92a	1.06b	0.93b	0.85b	0.92b	0.265

^a,b Superscripts within a row are different (P<0.05)

^x,y Superscripts within a row tend to be different (P<0.10)

Keywords: finishing pig, pellet, ulcer