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Evaluation of the choice-feeding system for growing and finishing pig production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

B. P. Gill ,
A. P. Sanchez-Serrano ,
P. R. English ,
M. Robledo  and
J. Roden
B. P. Gill
Affiliation:
The Scottish Agricultural College, 581 King Street, ABERDEEN AB9 IUD
A. P. Sanchez-Serrano
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Department of Agriculture, 581 King Street, ABERDEEN AB9 IUD
P. R. English
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Department of Agriculture, 581 King Street, ABERDEEN AB9 IUD
M. Robledo
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Department of Agriculture, 581 King Street, ABERDEEN AB9 IUD
J. Roden
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Department of Agriculture, 581 King Street, ABERDEEN AB9 IUD
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Extract

Growing pigs offered a choice of feeds differing in nutrient density (ideal protein and energy) may select a diet to meet individual requirements for optimum lean tissue growth rate. This has the potential for reducing the inefficiencies of nutrient under or over-supply associated with conventional single-diet feeding. The aim was to evaluate the scope for using the choice-feeding system in commercial growing and finishing pig production.

Seventy-two pigs were selected in 3 equal blocks at around 25 kg and housed in single-sex (gilts and boars) groups of six. They were offered least-cost formulated growing and finishing complete diets (Table 1) as a choice (C) from 25 to 95 kg or as in conventional single-diet (S) feeding in which a growing diet was fed from 25 to 50 kg and a finishing diet from 50 to 95 kg. Pigs were fed ad libitum and had unrestricted access to water. Pigs and residual feed were weighed weekly. Pigs were selected for slaughter in the week they approached 95 kg and measurements on chilled carcasses were made according to the method of Diestre and Kempster (1985).

Type
Pig Feeding and Nutrition
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1994 , March 1994 , pp. 34
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1994

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References

Diestre, A. and Kempster, A. J. 1985. The estimation of pig carcass composition from different measurements with special reference to classification and grading. Anim. Prod 41: 383–391.Google Scholar