Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T22:55:05.312Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

High level cereal diets for the growing/finishing pig. IV. A comparison at two slaughter weights (120 and 200 lb) of diets containing high levels of maize, sorghum, wheat and barley

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. L. J. Lawrence
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Field Station, Neston, Wirral, Cheshire, L64 7TE

Summary:

Seventy-two (thirty-six hogs and thirty-six gilts) Large White type weaner pigs were individually and restrictedly fed four diets (as wet mashes) containing high levels (85% in the starter diets and 90% in the finisher diets) of either maize, sorghum, wheat or barley. Thirty-six pigs (nine per treatment) were slaughtered at 120 lb (54 kg approximately) live weight at the end of the period in which the starter diets were fed and the remaining thirty-six at 200 lb (90 kg approximately) live weight at the end of the period in which the finisher diets were fed.

In the starter period the growth rates and food conversion efficiencies of the pigs fed the barley- and wheat-based diets were similar but taken together were slightly superior to those of the pigs fed the maize- and sorghum-based diets. Based on determined digestible energy values the caloric efficiency of live-weight growth was significantly better for the barley-based diet than for all other diets. At a slaughter weight of 120 lb the killing out percentage of the pigs fed the maize diet was significantly higher than that of the pigs fed the barley and wheat diets. Iodine numbers of inner and outer backfats were significantly higher in pigs fed maize than in those fed sorghum and wheat and in those fed barley compared with those fed wheat. There were no other differences in carcass measurements or in the percentages of lean, fat and bone dissected from the carcasses. However, the pigs fed barley had (1) significantly smaller middle regions and (2) as percentages of the total tissue within the body, significantly less fat in the middle region but significantly more fat in the shoulder region, than did any of the other pigs.

In the finisher period the pigs fed the barley- and wheat-based diets grew significantly faster and converted their food and digestible energy of that food significantly more efficiently than did the pigs fed maize and sorghum. The caloric efficiency of live-weight gain was also significantly greater for the barley-fed pigs compared with those fed wheat. When slaughtered at 200 lb live weight, with the exception of backfat iodine numbers, where identical differences to those recorded at 120 lb were found, there were no significant differences in carcass measurements. On dissection the barley-fed pigs had significantly more lean and significantly less fat in the carcass than did any of the other pigs.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

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

Agricultural Research Council (1967). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock. No. 3. Pigs. London: Agricultural Research Council.Google Scholar
Berg, R. T.Richmond, R. J. (1969). Performance of Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire sired pigs fed two energy levels and slaughtered at 150, 200 and 250 pounds. III. Lean, fat and bone percentages, costs and returns per pound of lean meat. 48 th Annual Feeders Day, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Alberta, pp. 3742.Google Scholar
Blair, R., Dent, J. B., English, P. R.Raeburn, J. R. (1969). Protein, lysine and feed intake level effects on pig growth. I. Main Effects. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 72, 379400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowlanb, J. P. (1968). Influence of high and low energy diets on performance of three breeding groups of pigs marketed at three different weights. 47 th Annual Feeders Day, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Alberta, pp. 24.Google Scholar
Cooke, R., Lodge, G. A., , Pappas St, & Lewis, D. (1968). High nutrient concentration diets for growing pigs. Proc. 47th Meeting Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. In Anim. Prod. 10, 237.Google Scholar
Cole, D. J. A., Clent, E. G. & Luscombe, J. R. (1969). Single cereal diets for bacon pigs. I. The effects of diets based on barley, wheat, maize meal, flaked maize or sorghum on performance and carcass characteristics. Anim. Prod. 11, 325–35.Google Scholar
Henby, Y. (1968). Utilisation comparée des céréales comme seuls aliments du pore pendant la période de finition Ann. Zootechnie. 17, 183–97.Google Scholar
Lawrence, T. L. J. (1967). High level cereal diets for the growing/finishing pig. II. The effect of cereal preparation on the performance of pigs fed diets containing high levels of maize, sorghum and barley. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 69, 271–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawrence, T. L. J. (1968). High level cereal diets for the growing/finishing pig. III. A comparison with a control diet of diets containing high levels of maize, flaked maize, sorghum, wheat and barley. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 70, 287–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nehring, K., Hoffman, L. äSchiemann, R. (1963). Utilization of the energy of feedstuffs. 3. Utilization of the energy of concentrated foods by pigs. Arch. Tierernähr. 13, 147–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noland, P. R.scott, K. W. (1960). Effect of varying protein and energy intakes on growth and carcass quality of swine. J. Anim. Sci. 19, 6774.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, D. W., Morgan, J. T.Lewis, D. (1964). Protein and energy nutrition of the bacon pig. I. The effect of varying protein and energy levels in the diet of ‘growing’ pigs. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 62, 369–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, D. W.Lewis, D. (1964). Protein and energy nutrition of the bacon pig. II. The effect of varying the protein and energy levels in the diets of the ‘finishing’ pig. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 63, 185–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar