Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T15:11:59.105Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of three stocking rates of pigs housed in identical-sized pens on performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

K. G. Mitchell ,
H. D. Keal  and
R. J. Pittman
K. G. Mitchell
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
H. D. Keal
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
R. J. Pittman
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
Get access

Abstract

A feeding experiment was carried out to assess the effect on performance of three stocking rates in identical-sized pens with pigs growing from 25 to 60 kg live weight. Groups of 8,10 and 12 pigs per pen, 300 pigs in total, were used with lying plus exercise space allowances of 0·61, 0·49 and 0·41 m2 per pig respectively and an additional dunging area in each pen of 2·7 m2. There were no significant differences in rate of growth, food: gain ratio, days to slaughter or carcass backfat measurements. With 12 pigs per pen, the pigs tended to be dirtier and cleaning out of pens was more difficult. It was concluded that under the conditions prevailing a group size of 10 pigs gave the stocking rate of choice.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , August 1983 , pp. 41 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barber, R. S., Braude, R., Mitchell, K. G. and Pittman, R. J. 1972. Effect of level of feed intake on the performance and carcass composition of growing pigs. Anim. Prod. 14: 199–208.Google Scholar
Farm Animal Welfare Council. 1981. Draft revision of welfare codes of pigs. Circulated for comment by the UK Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in July 1981 prior to Parliamentary approval.Google Scholar
Gehlbach, G. D., Becker, D. E., Cox, J. L., Harmon, B. G. and Jensen, A. H. 1966. Effects of floor space allowance and number per group on performance of growing-finishing swine. J. Anim. Sci. 25: 386–391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petersen, U. 1976. Effect of number of pigs per pen and of individual versus group keeping on performance and carcass quality. Zuchtungskunde 48: 56–65.Google Scholar