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Effects of floor area allowance on performance of growing pigs kept on fully slatted floors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

S. A. Edwards ,
A. W. Armsby  and
H. H. Spechter
S. A. Edwards
Affiliation:
ADAS, Terrington Experimental Husbandry Farm, Terrington St Clement, Kings Lynn PE34 4PW
A. W. Armsby
Affiliation:
ADAS, Terrington Experimental Husbandry Farm, Terrington St Clement, Kings Lynn PE34 4PW
H. H. Spechter
Affiliation:
AFRC Statistics Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden AL5 2JQ
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Abstract

The experiment compared four different space allowances for growing pigs housed on fully slatted floors. Space allowance (A m2) was defined in relation to live weight (M kg) of the pigs according to the equation A = kM0·67, using values for the constant (it) of 0·024, 0·027, 0·030 and 0·034. Six replicate pens of 12 pigs were housed on each treatment in a controlled environment building. Food was given ad libitum and from 34 kg until slaughter at 85 kg pigs were individually weighed each week and the pen size was adjusted according to the appropriate equation. Increasing space allowance increased live-weight gain (844, 862, 883, 897 (s.e.d. 14·4) g/day). Differences in killing-out proportion reduced the effect on final carcass weight (63·3, 63·9, 64·1, 64·5 (s.e.d 0·82) kg). Daily food intake was unaffected by treatment but food conversion ratio was significantly poorer at the lowest space allowance (2·70, 2·56, 2·60, 2·59 (s.e.d. 0·043) kg/kg). Economic analyses of the results indicated an adverse effect on profitability of space allowance less than that defined by the equation A(m2) = 0·027 M0·67 (kg). A minimum allowance defined by the equation A (m2) = 0·030 M0·67 is recommended in commercial practice for pigs in fully slatted housing.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 46 , Issue 3 , June 1988 , pp. 453 - 459
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

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