The effect of dietary energy content on the voluntary intake of pigs

Abstract

1. An experiment to investigate the effect of dietary energy concentration on the voluntary intake and growth of pigs from 27·2 to 118·0 kg. (60 to 260 lb.) live-weight is described and the results discussed.2. From 27·2 to 50·0 kg. live-weight energy intake was substantially restricted and growth retarded by diets of low energy concentration but from 50·0 to 118·0 kg. there was little difference between diets in either energy intake or growth because daily food intake of the low energy diets was increased.3. Effects of diet on carcass quality as measured by full dissection were small except that killing-out percentage was lower on one of the low energy diets.4. It is concluded that limited differences in the energy concentration and palatability of ingredients are unimportant in formulating pelleted diets for self-fed pigs.