Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T01:02:17.435Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Recent trends in pig production: the importance of intake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

J. E. Riley
J. E. Riley*
Affiliation:
MAFF Great Westminster House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AE
Get access

Abstract

The UK pig industry has shown an ability to respond quickly to changing market requirements and improving efficiency of pig meat production. Rapid genetic improvement in breeding stock, particularly in carcass quality and growth traits, together with the adoption of new production strategies, have been the main factors. These changes have had major implications for the way pigs are fed at all stages of the production cycles. Market forces have resulted in a pig population with reduced fat reserves and low appetite. Food intake is a limiting factor at several stages of the production cycle including post weaning, in the case of early-weaned piglets, and the management of young lactating sows. Knowledge of the daily nutrient requirements of the individual animal far exceeds the ability to ensure that those requirements are satisfied by feeding systems in commercial use. Manipulation of food intake to achieve optimum profit is the weakest link in the UK producers' knowledge.

Type
Research Article
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 13: The Voluntary Food Intake of Pigs , 1989 , pp. 1 - 5
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1989

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

Agricultural Research Council. 1981. The Nutrient Requirements of Pigs. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough.Google Scholar
Chambers, J., Hardy, B. and Pugh, O. 1986. The use of an electronically controlled sow feeder to supply balancer compound to sows grazing fodder beet. Animal Production 42: 468–469 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Dagorn, J., Saulnier, J. and Greau, P. 1984. Variation in litter size between the first and second litters. Journées de la Recherche Porcine en France 16: 51–60.Google Scholar
Danish National Committee for Pig Breeding and Production. 1986. In Svineavl og-Produktion 1986.Google Scholar
Edwards, S. A. and Riley, J. E. 1986. The application of the electronic identification and computerized feed dispensing system in dry sow housing. Pig News and Information 7: 295–298.Google Scholar
Ellis, M., Smith, W. C. and Laird, R. 1979. Correlated responses in feed intake to selection for economy of production and carcass lean content in Large White pigs. Animal Production 28: 424 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Fowler, V. R. 1983. Do pigs get enough to eat? Pig Farming Suppl., 11 1983.Google Scholar
Fowler, V. R., McWilliam, R. and Aitken, R. 1987. Voluntary feed intake of boars, castrates and gilts given diets of different nutrient density. Animal Production 32: 357 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Goodman, S. V. and Edwards, S. A. 1987. Effect of lactational and post-weaning feeding on the reproductive performance of primiparous sows. Animal Production 44: 464 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Hansen, L. L., Hagelsø, A. M. and Marsden, A. 1982. Behavioural results and performance of bacon pigs fed ad libitum from one or several self-feeders. Applied Animal Ethology 8: 307–333.Google Scholar
King, R. H., Williams, I. H. and Barker, J. 1984. The effect of diet during lactation on the reproductive performance of first litter sows. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 15: 412.Google Scholar
Kornegay, E. T. and Notter, D. R. 1984. Effects of floor space and number of pigs per pen on performance. Pig News and Information 5: 23–33.Google Scholar
Lee, P. A. and Hill, R. 1983. Voluntary food intake of growing pigs given diets containing rapeseed meal, from different types and varieties of rape, as the only protein supplement. British Journal of Nutrition 50: 661–671.Google Scholar
Lightfoot, A. L., Armsby, A. W. and Widdows, C. F. 1986. Methods of feeding growing pigs to maximize food intake. Animal Production 42: 470–471 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Lightfoot, A. L., Miller, B. G. and Spechter, H. H. 1987. The effect of pre-weaning diet on post-weaning health and performance of 3-week weaned pigs. Animal Production 44: 490 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission. 1986, 1987 and 1988. Pig Yearbook. Meat and Livestock Commission, Bletchley.Google Scholar
Mitchell, W. S. and Carlisle, L. B. 1985. Maize silage and fodder beet for outdoor sows. Animal Production 40: 544 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Walker, A. G. and Overton, D. C. 1988. Comparison of the performance of finishing pigs fed ad libitum from either conventional or single-place feeders. In The Voluntary Food Intake of Pigs (ed. Forbes, J. M., Varley, M. A. and Lawrence, T. L. J.), pp. 121–122. Occasional Publication, British Society of Animal Production, No. 13.Google Scholar
Whittemore, C. T., Franklin, M. F. and Pearce, B. S. 1980. Fat changes in breeding sows. Animal Production 31: 183–190.Google Scholar