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The influence of nutrition in early life on growth and development of the pig 2. Effects of rearing method and feeding level on growth and development to 75 kg
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
Abstract
1. Fifty-seven piglets were used to study the effects of rearing pigs on the sow or artificially on a low or high level of feeding between 1·8 and 6·5 kg live weight and either a low or high level of feeding between 6·5 and 20 kg live weight on growth and development to 75 kg live weight.
2. The artificially reared pigs fed at the higher level grew more rapidly (P < 0·05) and were fatter (P < 0·05) at 6·5 kg live weight than their more restrictedly fed counterparts. The pigs reared on the sow grew at the same rate as the artificially reared pigs fed at the low level but at 6·5 kg live weight were as fat as the artificially reared pigs fed at the higher level.
3. Between 6·5 and 20 kg live weight the artificially reared pigs previously fed at the lower level grew more rapidly (P < 0·05) than their more liberally fed counterparts which in turn, grew at a faster rate (P < 0·05) than pigs previously reared on the sow. However, nutrition prior to 6·5 kg live weight had no influence on performance or body composition subsequent to 20 kg live weight.
4. Raising the level of feeding between 6·5 and 20 kg live weight increased growth rate (P < 0·05) and body fat content at the latter weight (P < 0·05). However, subsequent to 20 kg live weight, the pigs previously fed at the lower level exhibited more rapid and efficient growth (P < 0·05) and at 75 kg live weight were leaner (P < 0·05) than those fed more generously between 6·5 and 20 kg.
5. At 6·5 kg live weight the pigs reared on the sow contained less deoxyribonucleic acid (P < 0·05) in the m. adductor than pigs from either of the two artificially reared groups. Muscle deoxyribonucleic acid at 20 and 75 kg live weight was unaffected by nutrition before 6·5 kg live weight or level of feeding between 6·5 and 20 kg live weight.
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- Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983
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