Further studies on unrestricted whey for fattening pigs including the effect of omitting antibiotic from the diet during the later stages of fattening

Abstract

1. Results are reported of an experiment with fattening pigs carried out under commercial conditions, to obtain further information on the comparison of all-meal feeding with meal plus unrestricted amounts of whey. In addition, the effect of omitting the antibiotic, oxytetracycline, from the diet during the latter half of the fattening period was investigated.2. There were four treatments. (i) Meal only ad lib. up to a daily maximum of 6 lb./pig, with oxytetracycline included in the diet for the whole fattening period. (ii) As (i) but oxytetracycline included in the diet only up to an average pen live weight of 130 lb. (iii) 3 lb. meal reduced to 2 lb./pig/day by 13 weeks of age plus unrestricted amounts of whey with oxytetracycline included in the basal meal for the whole fattening period. (iv) As (iii) but oxytetracycline included in the diet only up to an average pen live weight of 130 lb.There were five pens of nine group-fed pigs on each treatment, involving a total of 180 pigs. The pigs were on experiment from approximately 8 weeks of age to bacon weight. Comprehensive carcass measurements were made on all pigs.3. The meal plus whey-fed pigs grew significantly slower and utilized their food significantly less efficiently than those fed meal only. They also had a significantly lower dressing percentage, but longer and less fat carcasses than the all-meal fed animals. The results are discussed in relation to those obtained in earlier experiments completed under similar conditions at the Cow and Gate farm.4. Comparison of the efficiency of food utilization results of the all-meal and meal plus whey-fed pigs showed that 1 gal. of whey replaced approximately 0·7 lb. of meal.5. The results showed that omission of antibiotic from the diet of either the all-meal or meal plus whey-fed pigs after they reached 130 lb. live weight, had no significant effect on growth rate, efficiency of food utilization or any carcass measurements of the pigs.We wish to thank the Director of Messrs C. and G. Prideaux, Ltd., Bacon Curers, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, for permission to take carcass measurements of the experimental pigs, and we are greatly indebted to Messrs K. Lawrence and P. Prideaux who most conscientiously took these measurements.