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The effect of three stocking rates of pigs housed in identical-sized pens on performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

K. G. Mitchell ,
H. D. Keal  and
R. J. Pittman
K. G. Mitchell
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
H. D. Keal
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
R. J. Pittman
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
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Abstract

A feeding experiment was carried out to assess the effect on performance of three stocking rates in identical-sized pens with pigs growing from 25 to 60 kg live weight. Groups of 8,10 and 12 pigs per pen, 300 pigs in total, were used with lying plus exercise space allowances of 0·61, 0·49 and 0·41 m2 per pig respectively and an additional dunging area in each pen of 2·7 m2. There were no significant differences in rate of growth, food: gain ratio, days to slaughter or carcass backfat measurements. With 12 pigs per pen, the pigs tended to be dirtier and cleaning out of pens was more difficult. It was concluded that under the conditions prevailing a group size of 10 pigs gave the stocking rate of choice.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , August 1983 , pp. 41 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983

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References

REFERENCES

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