Comparison of six different levels of feeding for fattening pigs

Abstract

1. Sixty Large White pigs in ten blocks of six litter-mates were individually fed on six different planes of feeding. Three groups were fed according to live weight and according to three different scales, and in the other three groups the pigs were given as much food as they would eat in 30 min. at two feeds daily up to a maximum of 7·0, 6·5 and 6·0 lb./day respectively. All pigs received the same meal mixtures.2. Although the groups being fed according to the various scales took slightly longer to reach bacon weight, they utilized their food more efficiently than the groups fed on the ‘to appetite’ systems. Thus the pigs fed according to the scale shown in Table 1, but up to a daily maximum of 6½ lb. meal/pig, required about 35 lb. less meal to reach bacon weight than those pigs fed ‘to appetite’ up to a maximum of 7 lb. meal/day. The saving in food costs at present-day prices was approximately 10s. per pig.3. The percentages of grade A carcasses were very high in all groups, but there was a marked tendency for the ‘to appetite’ fed groups to have thicker midback and loin fats, the latter being reflected in the poorer commercial grading results.4. The importance of interpreting the results in the light of the influence of the strain of pig, environment and type of diet fed on the question of plane of feeding, was emphasised.