Effects of group size and floor space allowance on grouped sows: Aggression, stress, skin injuries, and reproductive performance1

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (10) ◽  
pp. 4953-4964 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Hemsworth ◽  
M. Rice ◽  
J. Nash ◽  
K. Giri ◽  
K. L. Butler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Skin Injuries ◽  
Floor Space

Effects of group-size-floor space allowance during the nursery phase of production on growth, physiology, and hematology in replacement gilts

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
S. R. Callahan ◽  
A. J. Cross ◽  
A. E. DeDecker ◽  
M. D. Lindemann ◽  
M. J. Estienne
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Growth Physiology ◽  
Floor Space

scholarly journals Effects of group size and floor-space allowance on growth performance and body components of wean-to-finish pigs in the tropical environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-232
Author(s):  
B. Okon ◽  
L. A. Ibom ◽  
O. A. Bassey ◽  
M. E. Abia
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Breeding Performance ◽  
Large White ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Floor Space ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Body Components ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Average Body

Ninety large white x landrace crossbred weaners pigs with average body weights of 10.00±0.05kg 42 days of age were randomly assigned to three floor-spaces of 4.40m2 , 5.50m2 and 6.60m2 with three group sizes of 8, 10 and 12 pigs, respectively. The feeding was done with weaner ration (20% CP, 3500 kcal/kg ME), finisher ration (16% CP, 3000Kcal/1kg ME) and water was given ad libitum. The average daily body gain (ADBGs and feed: gain ratio were 0.222kg, 0.208kg, 0.180kg and 8.42, 9.13, 9.72 for group size of 8, 10 and 12 pigs, respectively. Pigs in group sizes 8 and floor-space 4.40m2 were significantly (P<0.05) higher in daily weight gain, final body weight, feed intake and feed:gain ratio compared to the other group sizes 10 and 12, and floor-spaces 5.50m2 and 6.60m2 . Again, pigs in group size 8 and floor-space 4.40m2 were significantly (p<0.05) higher in final gain and percent (%) gain on body length (BDL), body circumference (BDC), heart girth (HEG), ham length (HAL) and height-at-withers (HAW) . Based on these results, group size and floor-space allowance could be of great scientific guide to pig farmers in designing and improving breeding performance as well as commercial pig rearing in the tropics. It is however, recommended that the research be carried out on a larger scale to cater for commercial pig farmers in the tropics.

scholarly journals Effects of group-size-floor space allowance during the nursery phase of production on future litter size and retention of sows through three parities1

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 299-306
Author(s):  
Stuart R Callahan ◽  
Amanda J Cross ◽  
Ashley E DeDecker ◽  
Merlin D Lindemann ◽  
Mark J Estienne
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Blood Chemistry ◽  
Abortion Rate ◽  
Linear Effect ◽  
Floor Space ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Breeding Herd ◽  
Kg Medium ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract We previously reported that reduced floor space allowance caused by increasing the number of gilts per pen decreased growth and affected blood chemistry and immunology. The current objective was to determine effects of nursery group-size-floor space allowance on future litter sizes and retention in the breeding herd through three parities in sows. A 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments was employed with 2,537 gilts classified as large (6.92 ± 0.06 kg), medium (5.60 ± 0.06 kg), or small (4.42 ± 0.06 kg), and placed in nursery pens of 14, 11, or 8 pigs to allow 0.15, 0.19, or 0.27 m2 floor space/pig, respectively. After the nursery and grow-finish periods, 1,453 gilts selected for breeding were relocated to one of 11 sow farms. Total litter size and pigs born alive increased (P &lt; 0.01) with increasing parity and total litter size was 12.94, 13.28, and 13.99 (SE = 0.13) and pigs born alive was 12.21, 12.64, and 13.23 (SE = 0.11) for Parities 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was a tendency (P = 0.08) for a quadratic relationship of group-size-floor space allowance and total litter size (13.39, 13.54, and 13.27 [SE = 0.13] for gilts allowed 0.15, 0.19, or 0.27 m2 floor space/pig, respectively). A linear effect of size of pig at weaning (P = 0.03) on pigs born dead was detected and was 0.64, 0.75, and 0.75, for small, medium, and large size pigs, respectively. There was no effect of group-size-floor space allowance on the percentages of gilts completing zero (P = 0.36), one (P = 0.35), two (P = 0.32), or three (P = 0.50) parities. In contrast, the percentage of small gilts that failed to complete one parity was greater (P &lt; 0.05) and the percentage completing one parity (P &lt; 0.05) was less than for either large or medium gilts. Abortion rate was greater (P &lt; 0.01) in gilts classified as small (2.51%) or medium (1.36%) at weaning compared with those classified as large (0.20%). Size at weaning did not affect the proportion of gilts completing two (P = 0.88) or three (P = 0.72) parities. Group-size-floor space allowance during the nursery phase of production did not have remarkable effects on future litter sizes or retention in sows. Likewise, size of pig at weaning did not affect litter size and pigs born alive. Compared with larger pigs, however, more pigs classified as small at weaning and entering the breeding herd did not complete a parity and displayed a greater abortion rate.

scholarly journals 17 Effects of birth traits, physical or fenceline boar exposure and group size on pubertal measures and lifetime fertility of replacement gilts

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
Robert V Knox ◽  
Ashley Daniel ◽  
Jenny Patterson ◽  
Lidia S Arend ◽  
George Foxcroft
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Delayed Puberty ◽  
Floor Space ◽  
Birth Records ◽  
And Control ◽  
Farrowing Rate

Abstract In experiment 1, prepubertal gilts with (n = 264) and without (n = 43) birth records received Fenceline (FBE) or Physical (PBE) Boar Exposure (BE) in a Boar Exposure Area (BEAR). At 185 d of age, gilts (13/pen) received BE for 15 min/d for 3 wk. At the start of Week 3, anestrual gilts received PG600 or no-PG600 (Control). At estrus, females were moved into stalls and inseminated at 2nd heat. Gilts born in larger litters were lighter (r = -0.26) while heavier pigs grew faster to puberty (r = 0.25). PBE increased estrus in Week 1 (38%) over FBE (28%). In Week 3, PBE-PG600 increased estrus (79.9%) compared with PBE- Control (36.2%), while FBE-PG600 and Control did not differ (52.7 vs. 42.5%). By 6 wk, estrus tended to be greater (P < 0.08) for PBE (91.2%) than FBE (83.2%). Reduced fertility associated with: 1) small birth litter; 2) heaviest birthweight; 3) slower growth rate; 4) delayed puberty and age at 1st service; and 5) abnormal estrus interval. Experiment 2 tested the pubertal response to PBE or FBE with 10 or 20 gilts/pen. Gilts (n = 180) at 168 d with 1.8 m2 floor space received BE once/d for 15 min for 1–3 wk. At the start of Week 3, anestrual gilts received PG600. Estrus in Week 1 (7.3%) did not differ, but a BE x Pen effect occurred in Week 2 (estrus range: 15–34%). In Week 3, PG600 increased estrus (P < 0.03) in Pens of 10 (83.7%) compared to Pens of 20 (64.1%). BE method had no effect and Pens of 10 had greater estrus (P = 0.05) than Pens of 20 (88.3 vs 75.8%). These results indicated that use of PBE, a BEAR, smaller group size, and PG600 can be used in combinations to enhance puberty induction. Birth and pubertal measures influenced service and farrowing rate, litter size, and age at removal.

Effect of Floor Space Allotment and Animal Group Size on Beef Cattle Performance

1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 0450-0451 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Morrison ◽  
G. P. Lofgreen ◽  
Michael Prokop
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Animal Group ◽  
Floor Space ◽  
Cattle Performance

GROUP SIZE AND FLOOR-SPACE ALLOWANCE AFFECT THE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF A FOUR-WEEK NURSERY SYSTEM FOR WEANLING PIGS

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. F. Wolter ◽  
M. Ellis ◽  
S. E. Curtis ◽  
G. D. Schnitkey ◽  
E. N. Parr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Weanling Pigs ◽  
Floor Space

Group size and floor-space allowance can affect weanling-pig performance.

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 2062 ◽  
Author(s):  
B F Wolter ◽  
M Ellis ◽  
S E Curtis ◽  
E N Parr ◽  
D M Webel
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Floor Space ◽  
Pig Performance
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