Effect of dietary protein fluctuations and space allocation on performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs.
Two trials with growing-finishing pigs were conducted to evaluate the effects of fluctuating dietary CP levels and/or space allocation on performance and carcass traits. In Trial 1, three CP regimens were used with 216 growing-finishing pigs (mixed sex). Average initial and final weights of pigs were 31 and 103 kg, respectively. The CP regimens consisted of: 1) control (18% CP from wk 0 to 4; 15% CP from wk 4 to 12); 2) moderate CP variations (MCPV = 19.5% CP from wk 0 to 2, 16.5% CP from wk 2 to 6, 13.5% CP from wk 6 to 8, 16.5% CP from wk 8 to 10, 13.5% CP from wk 10 to 12); and 3) extreme CP variations (ECPV = 21% CP from wk 0 to 2, 15% CP from wk 2 to 4, 18% CP from wk 4 to 6, 12% CP from wk 6 to 8, 18% CP from wk 8 to 10, 12% CP from wk 10 to 12). Overall (wk 0 to 12), treatment differences were not observed (P > 0.05) for gain, feed intake, CP intake, gain:feed ratio, or gain/CP intake. Trial 2 involved 360 finishing pigs (mixed sex) in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (three dietary CP regimens, two floor space allowances). The diets consisted of: 1) control (16% CP from wk 0 to 4, 15% CP from wk 4 to 8; 14% CP from wk 8 to 12); 2) MCPV (17.5% CP from wk 0 to 2, 14.5% CP from wk 2 to 4, 16.5% CP from wk 4 to 6, 13.5% CP from wk 6 to 8, 15.5% CP from wk 8 to 10, 12.5% CP from wk 10 to 12); and 3) ECPV (19% CP from wk 0 to 2, 13% CP from wk 2 to 4, 18% CP from wk 4 to 6, 12% CP from wk 6 to 8, 17% CP from wk 8 to 10 wk, 11% CP from wk 10 to 12). Pigs were provided with either 1.12 m2 (uncrowded; five pigs/pen) or 0.56 m2 (crowded; 10 pigs/pen). Average initial weight was 49 kg and final weights were 126 kg (uncrowded) and 118 kg (crowded). Overall (0 to 12 wk), crowded pigs had lower (P < 0.05) ADG (822 vs. 916 g) and feed (as-fed) intakes (2,633 vs. 2,876 g) than uncrowded pigs. At the end of the 12-wk trial, a control vs. ECPV x space interaction (P < 0.05) occurred for weight gain, fat depth, and percentage of lean. Thus, uncrowded pigs fed ECPV gained faster (933 vs. 887 g) but had a lower percentage of lean (53.5 vs. 54.5) than controls, whereas crowded pigs on the ECPV regimen gained more slowly (812 vs. 842 g) but were leaner (54.8 vs. 54.6%) than those on the control CP regimen. Despite the wide dietary CP fluctuations, pigs in both trials consumed about the same quantity of CP during the 12-wk feeding periods. These data suggest that uncrowded pigs respond differently than crowded pigs to fluctuating levels of dietary CP.
Nutrition and Product Development, Kent Feeds, Inc., Muscatine, IA 52761, USA. michael_edmonds@kentfeeds.com
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D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003441:Crowding; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D004044:Dietary Proteins