Feed-conversion ratio of finisher pigs in the USA.
Although the feed-conversion ratio is recognized as a prominent indicator of profitability for pork producers, only 212 (50.7%) of 418 producers who were asked the feed-conversion ratio for finisher pigs provided a response during the USA National Animal Health Monitoring System 1995 National Swine Study. Of these, 126 (59.4%) producers furnished a feed-conversion ratio which they characterized as having been calculated from records, while 86 (40.6%) gave a response that they characterized as estimated or guessed. Feed-conversion ratios ranged from 2.18 to 5.91 kg of feed fed for each kg of live-body weight gained during the grower/finisher phase, with a mean of 3.28 and a standard deviation of 0.52. Stepwise regression revealed the following management factors to be associated with improved feed-conversion ratios: > or = 3 different rations fed during the grower/finisher phase (P < 0.01); no rations mixed on the farm (P < 0.05); and not giving chlortetracycline in feed or water as a disease preventive or growth promotant (P < 0.01). In addition, operations where > or = 3000 pigs entered the grower/finisher-production phase during the six-month period prior to interview had a better mean feed-conversion ratio than operations where < 3000 pigs entered the grower/finisher phase (P < 0.01).
Losinger
W C
WC
USA Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA. williard.c.losinger@usda.gov
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture