A comparison of cubes and meal for growing and fattening pigs

Abstract

SUMMARY1. Thirty-six Large White fattening pigs, eight to nine weeks old at the beginning of the trial, were used to study the effects of cubing pig rations.2. There were three treatments, meal, cubes and cubes reground to meal.3. Pigs fed on cubes had significantly higher growth rates (by 0·09 ± 0·03 lb. per day or 7·1%) than those fed on meal.4. Food conversion was significantly lower, by 0·18 ± 0·05 lb. feed per pound gain, for cube-fed pigs. The saving in feed was 5·1% for the complete fattening period, this difference being statistically significant (P < 0·001).5. No significant differences between treatments were recorded for any of the carcass measurements.6. Meal-fed pigs had significantly lower dressing-out percentages than those fed cubes.7. There were no significant differences in performance between pigs fed on cubes and ground cubes.