Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T06:51:50.432Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The response of growing pigs to a choice of diets differing in protein content

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. M. V. Bradford  and
R. M. Gous
M. M. V. Bradford
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Poultry Science, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
R. M. Gous
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Poultry Science, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Get access

Abstract

An experiment was designed to test whether pigs can differentiate between two foods differing in their protein content. A control food (160 g protein per kg food) and six choice-feeding treatments, in which the diets differed only in their protein concentrations, were used in the experiment. Pigs were given the following choices of protein: 220 v. 180; 220 v. 140; 220 v. 100; 180 v. 140; 180 v. 100 and 140 v. 100 g protein per kg food. Group data were collected on 240 Landrace × Large White pigs during the growing phase (30 to 90 kg), all pigs used being of similar genetic background. A 2 × 7 factorial design was replicated twice, with 10 pigs per pen, and with barrows and gilts being penned separately. Food bins for the choice-feeding treatments were placed side-by-side and an 8-day training period, in which the pigs were allowed access to only one of the two foods on alternate days, was used at the beginning of the trial to allow them to learn the position, taste and physiological effect of each of the two foods. All pigs were weighed weekly, as was the amount of food consumed in each pen. The conclusion reached was that growing pigs were able to differentiate successfully between two foods on the basis of their protein content and to change the selected diet to match their changing requirement for dietary protein. As a result, there was a significant reduction in food intake (P < 0·001) and in the P2 backfat thickness (P < 0·01) and the food conversion ratio was significantly improved (P < 0·001) compared with the control treatment.

Keywords

dietary proteinfood preferencespigs
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 52 , Issue 1 , February 1991 , pp. 185 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

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

Cunha, T. J. 1977. Swine Feeding and Nutrition. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Devilat, J., Pond, W. G. and Miller, P. D. 1970. Dietary amino acid balance in growing-finishing pigs: effect on diet preference and performance. Journal of Animal Science 30: 536–543.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmans, G. C. 1979. Free-choice feeding of laying poultry. In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition — 1978 (ed. Haresign, W. and Lewis, D.), pp. 31–39. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmans, G. C. and Fisher, C. 1986. Problems in nutritional theory. In Nutrient Requirements of Poultry and Nutritional Research (ed. Fisher, C. and Boorman, K. N.), pp. 1–39. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Ferguson, N. S. 1989. An approach to modelling feed intake, body composition and nutrient requirements in growing pigs. M.Sc.Agric Thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Google Scholar
Fuller, M. F. 1985. Sex differences in the nutrition and growth of pigs. In Recent Developments in Pig Nutrition (ed. Cole, D. J. A. and Haresign, W.), pp. 177–189. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuller, M. F. and Chamberlain, A. G. 1983. Protein requirements of pigs. In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition — 1982 (ed. Haresign, W.), pp. 175–186. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Henry, Y. 1968. Libre consommation de principes energetiques et azotes chez le rat et chez le pore selon a l nature de la source azotee, sa concentration dans le regime et le mode de presentation. Annales de la Nutrition de VAlimentation 22: 121–140.Google Scholar
Henry, Y. 1985. Dietary factors involved in feed intake regulation in growing pigs: a review. Livestock Production Science 12: 339–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, C. W. and Close, W. H. 1985. The influence of climatic variables on energy metabolism and associated aspects of productivity in the pig. In Recent Developments in Pig Nutrition (ed. Cole, D. J. A. and Haresign, W.), pp. 18–40. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, B. O. 1984. The principles underlying choice feeding behaviour in fowls — with special reference to production experiments. World's Poultry Science Journal 40: 141–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawes Agricultural Trust. 1984. Genstat V Mark 4.04B. Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire.Google Scholar
Kyriazakis, I. 1989. Growth, feed intake and diet selection in pigs: theory and experiments. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Edinburgh.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kyriazakis, I., Emmans, G. C. and Whittemore, C. T. 1988. The effect of a prior experience of foods on the diets selected by growing pigs. Animal Production 46: 523 (Abstr.).Google Scholar