Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T03:35:38.150Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effects of environmental temperature and method of feeding on the performance and carcass composition of bacon pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. W. Holme
Affiliation:
Unilever Research Laboratory, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedford
W. E. Coey
Affiliation:
Unilever Research Laboratory, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedford
Get access

Extract

A trial designed to investigate the effects of two environmental temperatures, three feeding regimes and the interactions between them is described. A temperature of 72° F. was better than one of 54° F. for bacon pigs between 40 lb. and 200 lb. weight. The higher temperature resulted in faster growth, more efficient feed conversion and increased length of carcass. Other carcass characteristics were not significantly altered. Ad libitum feeding resulted in faster growth and fatter carcasses than restricted feeding, but did not have a significant effect on efficiency of feed conversion. When feed intake was restricted, feeding pigs once daily or twice daily resulted in similar performance and carcass composition.

There was a significant interaction between environmental temperature and feeding method for average daily gain in that pigs fed ad libitum grew faster at the low temperature and pigs fed restricted amounts of feed grew faster at the high temperature. No other interaction reached significant levels.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1967

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council, 1963. Optimum Temperature for Pigs. Ann. Rep. Agric. Res. Coun. 1962–3, p. 16.Google Scholar
Bond, T. E., Heitman, H., & Kelly, C. F., 1963. Effect of increased air velocities on heat and moisture loss and growth of swine. Pap. Winter Meet. Amer. Soc. agric. Engrs. Chicago, Ill., Dec. 1963: No. 63–90.Google Scholar
Braude, R., Townsend, M. J., Harrington, G., & Rowell, J. G., 1963. A comparison of feeding growing pigs once or twice daily. J. agric. Sci., Camb., 60: 389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohn, C., 1963. Feeding frequency and body composition. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., 110: 395.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohn, C., Joseph, D., & Allweiss, M. D., 1962. Nutritional effects of feeding frequency. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr., 11: 356.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohn, C., Joseph, D., Bell, L., & Oler, L., 1963. Feeding frequency and protein metabolism. Amer. J. Physiol., 196: 965.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Culver, A. A., 1962. The relationship of environmental temperatures to body and skin temperature, respiration rate, feed intake and gain in swine. Diss. Abstr., 22: 2128.Google Scholar
Friend, D. W., & Cunningham, H. M., 1964. Effects of feeding frequency on metabolism, rate and efficiency of gain and on carcass quality of pigs. J. Nutr., 83: 251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gordon, W. A., 1962. Environmental studies in pig housing. I. Air velocity. Brit. Vet. J., 118: 171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, W. A., 1962a. Environmental studies in pig housing. II. Ventilation and its measurement. Brit. Vet. J., 118: 243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grosse, F., & Pfeiffer, H., 1963. Influence of environmental temperature on rate of gain, feed consumption and energy utilisation by the pig. Nutr. Abstr. Rev., 33: 1170.Google Scholar
Heitman, H., & Hughes, E. H., 1949. The effects of air temperature and relative humidity on the physiological well being of swine. J. Anim. Sci., 8: 171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heitman, H., Kelly, C. F., & Bond, T. E., 1958. Ambient air temperature and weight gain in swine. J. Anim. Sci., 17: 62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, A. H., Becker, D. E., Cox, J. L., Gehlbach, G. D., & Harmon, B. G., 1963. Some management and environmental factors affecting swine performance. J. Anim. Sci., 22: 1111.Google Scholar
Kalich, J., 1962. Housing temperature during winter fattening of pigs. Tierzüchter, 14: 171; in Anim. Breeding Abstr., 31: 1, abstr. no. 478.Google Scholar
Mangold, D. W., Hazen, T. E., Hays, V. W., & Speer, V. C., 1960. Effect of air temperature on performance of growing finishing pigs. J. Anim. Sci., 19: 1327 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Mount, L. E., 1963. Limits of heat production and loss in the newborn pig. Anim. Prod., 5: 223 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Mount, L. E., 1963a. The thermal insulation of the newborn pig. J. Physiol., 168: 698.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mount, L. E., 1964. A single instrument for the measurement of low air speeds, with special reference to pig housing. J. Anim. Sci., 63: 335.Google Scholar
Mel'nikov, S. V., & Struk, I. L., 1956. Frequency of feeding pigs during intensive fattening. Nutr. Abstr. Rev., 27: 591.Google Scholar
Pfeiffer, H., 1962. The influence on fattening performance and carcass yield of different pig breeds, of temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure. Kühn Archiv. 76: 377; in Anim. Breeding Abstr. 31: 3, Abstr. no. 2226.Google Scholar
Seymour, E. W., Speer, V. C., Hays, V. W., Mangold, D. W., & Hazen, T. E., 1964. Effects of dietary protein level and environmental temperature on performance and carcass quality of growing finishing swine. J. Anim. Sci., 23: 375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, C. V., 1962. Animal Comfort and Comfort Levels in Piggeries. Agric. Memor. Meteorol. Office Bracknell No. 56. Nov. 1962. Meteorol. Office. M.O. 7. Bracknell, Berks.Google Scholar
Sørenson, P. H., 1962. Influence of climatic environment on pig performance. In Nutrition of Pigs and Poultry, Proc. of Univ. Notts. Eighth Easter School in agric. Sci. 1961. Ed. Morgan, J. T. and Lewis, D., Butterworths, London, pp. 88103.Google Scholar