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The effects of water to feed ratio on the digestibility, digestible energy and nitrogen retention of a grower ration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

J. Barber
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Land Use, Polytechnic South West, Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 6NQ
P.H. Brooks
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Land Use, Polytechnic South West, Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 6NQ
J.L. Carpenter
Affiliation:
Seale-Hayne Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Land Use, Polytechnic South West, Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 6NQ
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Extract

With the increase in the use of wet feeding systems, there has been a controversy over the optimum water to feed ratio to be used in these systems. Braude et al., (1967) showed that the feed conversion ratio was 20% higher for wet fed pigs compared to dry fed pigs. However, Forbes et al., (1968) found no significant difference in daily gain between wet and dry fed pigs.

Gill et al., (1987) conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of different water to feed ratios on the performance of growing pigs provided with an additional water supply. They showed that liveweight gain and feed conversion significantly improved (p < 0.05) as the water to feed ratio of the liquid feed was increased from 2:1 to 3.5:1.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate whether water to feed ratio effects digestibility, digestible energy and nitrogen retention.

Type
Pig Production
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1991

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References

Braude, R. and Rowell, J.G. (1967). Comparison of dry and wet feeding of growing pigs. Journal of Agricultural Science 68: 325 330.Google Scholar
Castle, E.J and Castle, M.E. (1956) The rate of passage of food through the alimentary tract of pigs Journal of Agricultural Science 47, 196 Google Scholar
Gill, B.P. Brooks, P.H and Carpenter, J.L. (1987) Voluntary water use by growing pigs offered liquid foods of differing water to meal ratios. Pig Housing and the environment Occ Publ. BSAO No 11. EdGoogle Scholar
Smith, A.T. Lawrence, T.L.J. Forbes, T.J. and Walker, N. (1968) The Utilisation of wet food by bacon pigs with special references to pipe line feeding Journal of Agricultural Science 71 : 145 151 Google Scholar