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A note on the effect of temperature on the performance of early-weaned pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

K. J. McCracken ,
B. J. Caldwell  and
N. Walker
K. J. McCracken
Affiliation:
Agricultural and Food Chemistry Research Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Queen's University, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
B. J. Caldwell
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Animal Production, Queen's University, Belfast
N. Walker
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down
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Abstract

Two temperature regimes were compared in relation to the growth and feed conversion ratio of groups of cage-reared pigs between 10 and 38 days of age. The treatments were: 27°C at 10 days reducing by 1°C every 4 days to 20°C at 38 days; and 27°C at 10 days reducing by 1°C daily to 20°C at 17 days and then remaining constant. Twelve replicates using 244 pigs were completed, the group size varying between 9 and 12 pigs. The mean growth rates on the two temperature regimes were respectively 234 and 243 g/day, and in both cases feed conversion ratio (kg DM/kg gain) averaged 1·03. It is concluded that temperatures lower than those currently recommended for pigs weaned at 14 to 16 days into controlled-environment houses would support satisfactory performance with direct savings in heating costs under winter conditions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , December 1979 , pp. 423 - 426
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

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References

REFERENCES

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