GROWING AND FATTENING OF PIGS IN RELATION TO TEMPERATURE OF HOUSING AND FEEDING LEVEL

Climatic and housing conditions in the fattening of pigs are discussed in relation to heat requirements and feeding level. Increase in feeding level will allow pigs to meet their thermal heat requirement at lower ambient temperatures. From fattening trials reported in the literature, mean feed intake, rate of gain, feed conversion, backfat thickness and lean meat to fat ratio have been computed at temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 °C. Feed intake was lowest at 25 °C. Rate of gain was maximal and feed conversion (ratio feed intake: liveweight gain) was minimal at about 20 °C. At computed similar intakes of feed, rate of gain decreased with 15 g/°C below 20 °C. Backfat thickness was as a mean decreased in the cold, as was lean meat to fat ratio. Optimum feeding level for feed conversion may be increased to above 80% of ad libitum intake.