16
Evaluating the effects of floor space allowance and pig removal from a group on the growth of finishing pigs
A total of 1,092 finishing pigs (initially 36.3 ± 1.2 kg BW) were used in a 117-d study to evaluate the impact of initial floor space allowance and removal strategy on the growth of finishing pigs up to 140 kg. There were 4 experimental treatments with 14 pens per treatment. The first treatment stocked pigs at 0.91 m2 (15 pigs/pen) throughout the duration of the study. The other 3 treatments initially stocked pigs at 0.65 m2 (21 pigs/pen) and were subject to one of 3 removal strategies. The second treatment (2:2:2) removed the 2 heaviest pigs from pens on d 64, 76, and 95. Treatment 3 (2:4) removed the 2 heaviest pigs on d 76 and the 4 heaviest pigs on d 105. Treatment 4 (6) removed the heaviest 6 pigs on d 105. All pigs remaining in pens after removals were fed to d 117. Overall (d 0 to 117), pigs initially provided 0.91 m2 of floor space had increased (P<0.05) ADG compared to pigs in pens on the 2:4 or 6 removal strategy. Pigs initially provided 0.91 m2 of floor space had increased (P<0.05) ADFI compared to pigs initially provided 0.65 m2 of floor space. Feed efficiency was poorer for pigs initially provided 0.91 m2 of floor space compared to pigs on the 2:2:2 or 2:4 removal strategy. Total BW gain per pen was greater (P<0.05) for pens initially stocked at 0.65 m2 compared to pens initially stocked at 0.91 m2. Feed usage per pen was less (P<0.05) for pens initially stocked at 0.91 m2 compared to pens initially providing 0.65 m2 of floor space and on removal strategies. Feed usage per pen was less (P<0.05) for pigs on the 2:2:2 removal strategy compared to pigs on the 2:4 or the 6 removal strategy. In conclusion, increasing the floor space allowance or the time points at which pigs are removed from the pen improved the growth of pigs remaining in the pen.
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treatments |
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|
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Initial floor space, m2: |
0.91 |
0.65 |
0.65 |
0.65 |
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marketing strategy: |
none |
2:2:2 |
2:4 |
6 |
|
SEM |
d 0 to 117 |
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ADG, kg |
0.92 |
0.90 |
0.88 |
0.87 |
0.008 |
|
ADFI, kg |
2.58 |
2.40 |
2.39 |
2.39 |
0.022 |
|
G:F |
0.358 |
0.377 |
0.370 |
0.364 |
0.002 |
|
d 0 BW, kg |
36.4 |
36.3 |
36.3 |
36.3 |
0.32 |
|
Average BW at time of removal, kg |
144.8 |
132.3 |
134.9 |
136.6 |
0.87 |
|
Total BW gain, kg/pen |
1,603 |
2,032 |
2,077 |
2,083 |
27.4 |
|
Feed usage, kg/pen |
4,537 |
5,349 |
5,566 |
5,730 |
46.1 |
|
Keywords: finishing pig, stocking density, marketing