Improving growth performance of finisher pigs with high fat diets

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Collins ◽  
A. C. Philpotts ◽  
D. J. Henman

A total of 1296 pigs (Large White × Landrace) were selected at 16 weeks of age and used to investigate the effects of supplemental dietary fat concentration on finisher growth performance. Pigs were selected at an average weight of 64.0 kg and allocated to a 2 × 6 factorial experiment with the respective factors being sex (entire male and female) and supplemental dietary fat concentration (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6% added tallow). All pigs were offered the respective diets ad libitum from 16 weeks of age through to slaughter at 21 weeks of age. Over the entire 5-week period, feed : gain ratio improved linearly with increasing supplemental fat concentration (P < 0.001), reducing from 2.60 to 2.44 with an increase in dietary fat concentration from 1 to 6%. Improvements in daily gain were more pronounced during the initial 14-day feeding period, increasing linearly (P = 0.002) from 844 g/day (1% fat) to 942 g/day (6% fat). Carcass weight also improved linearly (P = 0.009), increasing from 74.1 kg (1% fat) to 75.8 kg (6% fat). A greater response was observed in the males, with an increase in supplemental fat concentration from 1 to 6% improving daily gain by 7%, reducing the feed: gain ratio from 2.55 to 2.31 and improving profit per pig by AU$4.17. The effects of increasing dietary fat concentration were more moderate in females, with potential profit increases of AU$1.47. These results suggest that adding up to 6% supplemental fat to finisher diets improves profit under Australian conditions, with the benefits greater in male than female pigs. The economic impact of such a feeding strategy will, however, depend on the pig’s genetic propensity for fat deposition and the pricing system in which the pigs are sold.

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Moore ◽  
F. R. Dunshea ◽  
B. P. Mullan ◽  
D. P. Hennessy ◽  
D. N. D'Souza

Sixty entire male pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc crossbred) were individually reared from 45 to 114 kg liveweight in a 2 by 3 factorial experiment to determine the interactive effects of sex (entire male pigs v. male pigs immunologically castrated using Improvac with vaccinations administered at 13 weeks of age and 5 weeks before slaughter) and a ractopamine feeding program (constantly fed 0 or 5 ppm ractopamine for 26 days before slaughter v. a step-up program where 5 ppm of ractopamine was fed for 14 days followed by 10 ppm ractopamine for the final 12 days before slaughter) on growth performance, carcass composition and pork quality. Following the second vaccination, immunocastrated pigs ate more (P < 0.001) and grew faster (P < 0.05) than entire male pigs without affecting feed conversion efficiency. Dietary ractopamine supplementation for the last 26 days before slaughter improved feed conversion ratio (P = 0.024) and daily gain (P = 0.046). Dietary ractopamine supplementation also increased carcass total tissue (P = 0.023) and total lean (P = 0.027) content without affecting the objective meat quality (P > 0.05) in both entire and immunocastrated male pigs. The effects of dietary ractopamine and immunocastration were additive, such that pigs that were immunocastrated and received ractopamine grew 18% faster than control entire males. However, a step-up program of ractopamine supplementation did not provide further improvements in growth performance and carcass composition when compared with constant 5 ppm ractopamine supplementation. These findings indicate that ractopamine supplementation improved growth performance in entire and immunocastrated male pigs, thereby offering a means of improving growth performance of entire males without detrimental effects on pork quality.


2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Collins ◽  
B. J. Leury ◽  
F. R. Dunshea

Two hundred and forty pigs (120 entire boars and 120 gilts) were selected in three replicates of 40 boars and 40 gilts and housed in pens of 20 pigs of the same sex. Pigs were allocated to a 2 by 2 factorial experiment, with the respective factors being sex (entire male or female) and age at weaning (13 or 21 days). Pigs within each replicate were weaned on the same day, with the pigs’ farrowing date differing by ~8 days for the two weaning ages. Pigs were offered ad libitum access to feed for the entire experimental period. Eight randomly selected pigs from each pen were tagged as focus animals. These animals underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning six times from weaning through to slaughter to measure changes in body composition. The animals weaned at 13 days of age were lighter at weaning (4.68 ± 1.16 and 6.84 ± 1.34 kg, respectively, for the animals weaned at 13 and 21 days, P < 0.001). During the first 4 days after weaning pigs weaned at 21 days of age consumed more feed (72.1 v. 30.9 g/day, P < 0.001) and gained faster (35.0 v. –63.0 g/day, P = 0.042) than those weaned at 13 days. The pigs weaned at 13 days did, however, ‘catch up’ to be the same weight as those weaned at 21 days by 53 days of age (17.4 and 17.8 kg, respectively, P = 0.33). Daily gain from birth to 146 days of age did not differ across treatments (610, 597, 640, 657 g/day, respectively, for the gilts weaned at 13 days, gilts weaned at 21 days, boars weaned at 13 days and boars weaned at 21 days, P = 0.31). DXA analyses indicated that the animals weaned at 13 days had a greater percentage of lean tissue at 119 days of age (78.4 and 76.8%, respectively, P = 0.039) although this was not maintained through to slaughter. There were no treatment effects on the percentage of adipose tissue from 90 to 146 days of age, although the DXA estimated adipose tissue mass was greater at 146 days of age in the animals weaned at 21 days (13.8 and 15.2 kg, respectively, for the animals weaned at 13 and 21 days of age, P = 0.023, s.e.d. 0.60). These data suggest that weaning age predominately influences growth immediately after weaning, and does not have a major influence on lifetime growth performance or body composition at commercial slaughter weights.


Author(s):  
V. Sravanthi ◽  
D. Suresh Babu ◽  
A. Anitha ◽  
P. Asha Latha

The behavioural pattern and growth performance of three groups of LWY piglets weaned at different ages was studied for six months. The first, second and third groups were weaned at 25, 40 and 56 days, respectively. The playing and huddling behavior was more in group 1 piglets. While fighting, standing, locomotion and tail biting behavior was more in group 2 piglets. Whereas the lying behavior was more in group 3 piglets. There was a significant difference (P is less than 0.01) among the three groups of piglets for all behavioral patterns. The post weaning weight (kg) gains reached 56.63 ± 0.41, 65.03 ± 0.36 and 63.09 ± 0.38 Kg for group 1, group 2 and group 3 respectively, at the end of study period. A significant difference (P is less than 0.01) was observed among the three groups for all the fortnightly interval body weights. The mean average daily gain for group 1, 2 and 3 was 0.33, 0.38 and 0.36 respectively. Significant difference (P is less than 0.01) had been observed between the groups for average daily gain. The present study had suggested that early weaning at 40days age was more advantageous than 25 days age and conventional 56days weaning age.


1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Varley ◽  
Alison Maitland ◽  
Alison Towle

ABSTRACTSixty Landrace × Large White piglets were removed from their mothers at birth and allocated to one of five treatments. Treatment A piglets were controls and did not receive any form of passive immunity after birth. Treatment B piglets were given by intraperitoneal injection 20 ml equine serum derived from horses previously hyperimmunized against porcine pathogens. Treatment C piglets received the same equine serum given orally. Treatment D piglets were given 20 ml pooled pig plasma by intraperitoneal injection. Treatment E piglets received the same pig plasma given orally. All piglets were reared to 2 weeks of age in an artificial-rearing device and were automatically fed a liquid diet every hour. Overall survival to 2 weeks of age was 90% (54/60) but treatment did not affect survival. The overall survival after 6 weeks of age was 47% (22/47) deaths being due to a variety of systemic disorders. Overall daily gain to 2 weeks of age was 143 g/day and the food/gain ratio was 0·88. Treatment did not affect performance. The concentrations of immunoglobulin class G (IgG) in the blood were measured at 42, 49 and 56 days of age. There were no differences between the treatment groups in IgG concentrations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie A. l'Anson ◽  
Mingan Choct ◽  
Peter H. Brooks

Seventy-two individually housed, entire male (Large White × Landrace) weaner pigs (28 days; 7.4 ± 0.4 kg) were used in a 26-day feeding trial. The pigs were allocated to one of six treatments in a 3 by 2 factorial design. The factors were (1) steeping duration of liquid feed [0 (dry control diet), 1 or 24 h], and (2) enzyme supplementation (0 or 300 ppm xylanase). The basal diet was wheat-based (65%) and was formulated to be marginally adequate for pigs of this age, containing 14.5 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg and 0.85 g available lysine/MJ DE. Feeding pigs liquid diets steeped for 1 h increased feed intake (61 g/day; s.e.d. 17; P < 0.05) and daily gain (70 g/day; s.e.d. 17; P < 0.05) and improved feed conversion ratio (1.16 versus 1.22; s.e.d. 0.03; P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed dry diets. Performance was not further improved by steeping for 24 h. The addition of xylanase to the diets had no positive effect on any of the performance measures and was associated with a significant (40 g/day; s.e.d. 14; P < 0.05) reduction in feed intake. These results provide no support for supplementing liquid diets for weaner pig diets with xylanase.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
R. Stupka ◽  
J. Čítek ◽  
K. Vehovský ◽  
K. Zadinová ◽  
M. Okrouhlá ◽  
...  

The study objective was to evaluate the effect of immunocastration in the period between the first and second vaccinations and subsequently between the second vaccination and slaughter on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality, and boar taint, and compare results in immunocastrated males (IC), uncastrated boars (UCM), surgically castrated barrows (CM), and gilts (FE). The study included 70 pigs of the Duroc × (Large White × Landrace) crossbreed. Upon the overall assessment of the selected fattening indicators (average daily gain, feed intake), significant differences between CM and the other groups were demonstrated. Meanwhile, no significant differences were found between the IC, UCM, and FE groups. In this test, immunocastrates showed no negative effect from the second vaccination in relation to those carcass value indicators evaluated in comparison with UCM and FE. CM showed adversely lower carcass value parameters compared the other groups. No significant differences in pH, meat colour, drip loss, shear force, and intramuscular fat were found. The values of these indicators obtained for IC converged with those measured in UCM and FE. It was demonstrated that immunocastration prevented the occurrence of undesired boar taint. Androstenone decreased by 77% and skatole by 71% in IC as compared to UCM.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 529-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
X.Z. Wu ◽  
Y. Yang ◽  
H.-T. Liu ◽  
Z.-Y. Yue ◽  
X.-H. Gao ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to determine whether nutrient digestibility and growth performance of mink were affected by different dietary copper levels. Ninety-six 60-day-old healthy female minks were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups with 12 animals in each group and fed a diet supplemented with either 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 mg/kg copper as CuSO<sub>4 </sub>&times; 5H<sub>2</sub>O, respectively. Our data showed that body weight and average daily gain increased (linear and quadratic, P &lt; 0.05) as Cu increased in the diet, the highest body weight and average daily gain were seen in the Cu32 group. Feed : gain ratio responded in a linear (P = 0.0025) fashion with increasing level of Cu, the lowest feed : gain ratio was seen in the Cu64 group. Digestibility of ether extract responded in a linear (P = 0.0190) fashion with increasing level of Cu. There were no differences in apparent digestibility of dry matter, CP, and gross energy among groups (P &gt; 0.05). N retention linearly (P = 0.0363) responded to increasing levels of Cu. Glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase increased (linear and quadratic, P &lt; 0.05) as Cu increased in the diet; the highest glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were seen in the Cu256 group. Total protein of the minks was similar among the treatments, however, albumin in serum responded in a linear (P = 0.0370) and quadratic (P = 0.0049) fashion with increasing level of Cu. The activity of ceruloplasmin responded in a linear (P = 0.0001) and quadratic (P = 0.0203) fashion with increasing level of Cu. The activity of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase responded in a linear (P = 0.0010) fashion with increasing level of Cu. Our results indicate that supplemental Cu plays an important role in the growth performance of mink, helping young female mink digest and efficiently utilize added dietary fat. &nbsp;


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L. Seshoka ◽  
P.J. Fourie ◽  
A.T. Kanengoni ◽  
I.M.M. Malebana ◽  
R.S. Thomas ◽  
...  

In this experiment, the effects were evaluated of various dietary inclusion levels of avocado oil cake (AOC) silage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics in pigs. A mixture of 70% AOC, 25% wheat bran, and 5% sugarcane molasses was ensiled in 200 L drums for 90 days. It was then incorporated at 0%, 3% and 5% in the experimental diets. Twenty-seven Large White cross Landrace (LW x LR) weaner pigs, with an average live weight of 22 kg, were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to the three experimental diets (9 pigs/diet). Pigs were weighed individually each week throughout the trial. Daily feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rates (FCRs) were recorded. A nutrient digestibility study was carried out on completion of the growth trial. At the end of the experiment, pigs were fasted for twelve hours and weighed to determine the final weight. The pigs were then slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected and analysed. The growth performance of pigs was not affected by diet, irrespective of fibre levels in the AOC silage. However, the addition of 3% AOC silage improved the digestibility of fibre fractions. The weights of the cold carcass, chops, and backfat thickness were reduced with AOC silage addition.


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-106
Author(s):  
J. Park ◽  
C.P. Campbell ◽  
E.J. Squires ◽  
C.F.M. de Lange ◽  
I.B. Mandell

Entire male (EM) pigs (152; ∼30 kg body weight) were used to examine immunocastration using Improvest and feeding ractopamine on growth performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acid composition. Timing for administering second dose of Improvest compared dosing at 4 and 8 wk pre-slaughter. A factorial arrangement evaluated two genotypes [Large Whites and Duroc crossbreds (Durocs)] by five management regimens (EM fed control diet, EM fed ractopamine, second dose Improvest 4 wk pre-slaughter, second dose Improvest 8 wk pre-slaughter, second dose Improvest 4 wk pre-slaughter plus ractopamine). Average daily gain and gain to feed (G:F) were generally greater (P ≤ 0.01) in Durocs. Immunocastration increased (P < 0.01) dry matter intake (DMI); feeding ractopamine decreased (P < 0.02) DMI and increased (P < 0.03) G:F. Immunocastration decreased (P < 0.04) carcass and lean yields; feeding ractopamine increased (P < 0.04) carcass weights, lean yield, muscling, and longissimus shear force while decreasing (P < 0.01) backfats. Immunocastration did not affect loin pH, color, drip loss, and shear force. Timing for second Improvest dose did not affect most growth performance, carcass, and meat quality traits except for greater (P < 0.02) backfats when administering dose 8 wk pre-slaughter. Effects of immunocastration and (or) feeding ractopamine were relatively consistent in both genotypes evaluated.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Lopez-Bote ◽  
M. Sanz ◽  
B. Isabel ◽  
P. Perez de Ayala ◽  
A. Flores

The effect of increasing the energy concentration of growing-finishing pig diets through inclusion of lard on performance, carcass and meat composition and lipid susceptibility to peroxidation was studied. A total of 720 Landrace × Large White male and female pigs (equal number of entire males and females) were used. Experimental diets were formulated to have a low (3000 kcal ME kg−1) or high (3200 kcal ME kg−1) energy level, but in all cases to have a constant lysine:ME ratio. This was achieved using a low (6.8 g kg−1) and a high (49.3 g kg−1) level of dietary lard inclusion. Gilts had lower daily gain (P < 0.0001) and worse feed conversion efficiency (P < 0.0001) than entire males. Susceptibility to oxidation was not affected by sex. Fat concentration in pig diets equilibrated in metabolizable energy and protein did not modify average gain, but reduced feed intake (P < 0.02), improved the gain:feed ratio (P < 0.0001), increased dressing percentage (P < 0.02) and produced higher carcass weight (P < 0.01). Carcass backfat and lean percentage were not affected by dietary treatment. A reduction in the proportion of (n-3) fatty acids in phospholipids (P < 0.03), a higher (n-6):(n-3) ratio (P < 0.01) and a lower susceptibility of muscle homogenates to oxidation was found in animals receiving higher levels of dietary lard (P < 0.01). Key words: Pig, boar, diet, lard, lipid oxidation


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