Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nr4z6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-07T00:58:59.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Intake of nutrients from pasture by pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2007

S. A. Edwards
S. A. Edwards*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, King George VI Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NEl 7RU, UK
*
Corresponding author: Professor S. A. Edwards, fax +44 191 222 7811, sandra.edwards@ncl.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The domestic pig evolved from the omnivorous wild boar and has retained many natural foraging behaviour patterns. Although most modern commercial pigs are housed and fed concentrate diets, interest in the potential nutrient contribution from pasture has increased due to growth in outdoor and organic pig production systems. The energy requirements of outdoor pigs are increased by approximately 15% under Northern European conditions as a result of greater climatic energy demand and locomotory activity. The nutritional contribution made by pasture will depend on the availability, nutrient composition, grazing intake and digestive utilisation of herbage. Information on these topics is currently very sparse. Herbage availability is often low due to farm rotational policy or destructive foraging by the pigs. Herbage composition shows large varietal and seasonal differences, but the high fibre content reduces the efficiency of energy utilisation and may impair utilisation of other nutrients. Intake of grazed herbage varies widely between individuals, but is typically approximately 2.0 kg DM/d for dry sows fed restricted concentrate, and approximately 0.1 kg DM/d for growing pigs offered ad libitum concentrate. This intake can contribute 50% of the maintenance energy requirement and a high proportion of the amino acid, mineral and trace element requirements of dry sows, but <5% of requirements of growing pigs. Whilst the potential to increase nutrient intakes from grazing exists, this process requires better understanding of herbage intake and digestion, and development of better systems for paddock management.

Keywords

PigPasturelForaging behaviourNutrient intake
Type
Symposium on ‘Nutrition of farm animals outdoors’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , May 2003 , pp. 257 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

References

Andersson, C & Lindberg, JE (1997a) Forages in diets for growing pigs. 1. Nutrient apparent digestibilities and partition of nutrient digestion in barley-based diets including lucerne and white-clover meal. Animal Science 65, 483–491CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andersson, C & Lindberg, JE (1997b) Forages in diets for growing pigs. 2. Nutrient apparent digestibilities and partition of nutrient digestion in barley-based diets including red clover and perennial ryegrass meal. Animal Science 65, 493–500CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bassler, A, Ciszuk, P & Sjelin, K (1999) Management of laying hens in mobile houses – a review of experiences In Ecological Animal Husbandry in the Nordic Countries, pp. 45–50 [Hermansen, JE, Lund, V, Thuen, E, editors]. Foulum, Denmark: Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming.Google Scholar
Black, JL, Campbell, RG, Williams, IH, James, KJ & Davies, GT (1986) Simulation of energy and amino acid utilisation in the pig. Research and Development in Agriculture 3, 121–145Google Scholar
Black, JL, Mullan, BP, Lorschy, ML & Giles, LR (1993) Lactation in the sow during heat stress. Livestock Production Science 35, 153–170CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boaz, TG (1962) The significance of level of protein in the nutrition of the pregnant sow. Veterinary Record 74, 1482–1489Google Scholar
Bornett, HLI & Edwards, SA (2002) Alternatives to nose ringing in outdoor sows: the provision of a special rooting area. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, p. 38. Penicuik, Lothian: British Society of Animal Science.Google Scholar
Braund, JP, Edwards, SA, Riddoch, I & Buckner, LJ (1998) Modification of foraging behaviour and pasture damage by dietary manipulation in outdoor sows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 56, 173–186CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, JME, Edwards, SA, Smith, WJ, Thompson, E & Duncan, J (1996) Welfare and production implications of teeth clipping and iron injection of piglets in outdoor systems in Scotland. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 27, 95–105CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buckner, LJ (1996) Physical and mathematical modelling of the energy requirements of the outdoor sow. PhD Thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Buckner, LJ, Edwards, SA & Bruce, JM (1998) Behaviour and shelter use by outdoor sows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 57, 69–80CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carlson, D, Johansen, FIN, Poulsen, HD & Jorgensen, H (1998) Fordoejelighed og udnyttelse af grovfoder til slagtesvin (Digestibility and utilisation of roughage for growing pigs) Forskning i Oekologisk Svineproduktion (Research in Ecological Pig Production) 13–17 Hermansen J Foulum, Denmark Danmarks JordbrugsforskningGoogle Scholar
Carlson, D, Laerke, HN, Poulsen, HD, & Jorgensen, H (1999) Roughages for growing pigs, with emphasis on chemical composition, ingestion and faecal digestibility. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica 49, 129–136CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chambers, J, Hardy, B & Pugh, O (1986) The use of an electronically controlled sow feeder to supply a compound feed as a balancer to sows grazing fodder beet. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, paper no. 121. Penicuik, Lothian: British Society of Animal Production.Google Scholar
Close, WH (1987) The influence of the thermal environment on the productivity of pigs In Pig Housing and the Environment. Occasional Publication of the British Society of Animal Production no. 11 9–24 [Smith, AT, Lawrence, TLJ, editors]. Edinburgh: British Society of Animal ProductionGoogle Scholar
Close, WH (1989) The influence of the thermal environment on the voluntary food intake of pigs. In The Voluntary Food Intake of Pigs. Occasional Publication of the British Society of Animal Production no. 13 87–96 [Forbes, JM, Varley, MA and Lawrence, TLJ, editors]. Edinburgh: British Society of Animal ProductionGoogle Scholar
Close, WH (1990) Nutrition of outdoor pigs. In Outdoor Pigs pp. 61–84 [Stark, BA, Machin, DH and Wilkinson, JM, editors]. Marlow, Bucks.: Chalcombe PublicationsGoogle Scholar
Close, WH & Poornan, PK (1993) Outdoor pigs – their nutrient requirements, appetite and environmental responses. In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition, pp. 175–196 [Haresign, W, Cole, DJA, editors]. Nottingham: Nottingham University PressGoogle Scholar
Crowther, C (1934) Pig Breeding Annual no. 14.Google Scholar
Danielsen, V, Lydehoj Hansen, L, Moller, F, Bejerholm, C & Nielsen, S (1999) Production results and sensory meat quality of pigs fed different amounts of concentrate and ad lib. Clover grass or clover grass silage. In Ecological Animal Husbandry in the Nordic Countries pp. 79–86 [Hermansen, JE, Lund, V and Thuen, E, editors]. Foulum, Denmark: Danish Research Centre for Organic FarmingGoogle Scholar
Davidson, HR (1930) The value of grazing for fattening pigs. Scottish Journal of Agriculture XIII, 3Google Scholar
Dierick, NA, Vervaeke, IJ, Demeyer, DI & Decuypere, JA (1989) Approach to the energetic importance of fibre digestion in pigs. 1. Importance of fermentation in the overall energy supply. Animal Feed Science and Technology 23, 141–167CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dobao, MT, Rodriganez, J, Silio, L & Toro, MA (1988) Iberian pig production in Spain. Pig News and Information 9, 277–282Google Scholar
Edge, HL, Bornett, H, Newton, EJ & Edwards, SA (2002) Overground enrichment–a possible alternative to nose ringing in outdoor pigs? Proceedings of the 36th International Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Egmond aan Zee (In the Press).Google Scholar
Edwards, SA (1994) Outdoor pig production: the European perspective. Pig News and Information 15, 111N – 112NGoogle Scholar
Edwards, SA, Atkinson, KA & Lawrence, AB (1993) The effect of food level and type on behaviour of outdoor sows. Proceedings of the 3rd Joint Meeting of the International Congress on Applied Ethology, pp. 501–503 [Nichelmann, M, Wierenga, HK and Braun, S, editors]. Berlin: Humboldt University PressGoogle Scholar
Edwards, SA, Jamieson, W, Riddoch, I & Watson, CA (1998) Effect of nose ringing and dietary modification in outdoor pig production on temporal changes in soil nitrogen status. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, p. 42. Penicuik, Lothian: British Society of Animal Science.Google Scholar
Edwards, SA, & Zanella, A (1996) Producao de suinos ao ar livre na Europa: bem-estar e consideracoes ambientais. [Pig production in outdoor systems in Europe: production, welfare and environmental considerations]. A Hora Veterinara 92, 86–93Google Scholar
Ellis, JCB (1937) The Feeding of Farm Livestock London: Crosby Lockwood and SonGoogle Scholar
Ewbank, R (1974) The influence of diet on general activity in fattening pigs. Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society, Lyons 3, 64Google Scholar
Ewing, WN (1997) The Feeds Directory. Heather, Leics.: Context PublicationsGoogle Scholar
Frame, J, Charlton, JFL & Laidlaw, AS (1998) Temperate Forage Legumes. Wallingford, Oxon: CAB InternationalGoogle Scholar
Gannon, MA (1996) The energy balance of pigs outdoors. PhD Thesis, University of Nottingham.Google Scholar
Graves, HB (1984) Behaviour and ecology of wild and feral swine (Sus scrofd). Journal of Animal Science 58, 482–492CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gustafsson, M, Jensen, P, de Jong, FH & Schuurman, T (1999) Domestication effects on foraging strategies in pigs (Sus scrofd). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 62, 305–317CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guy, JH, Chadwick, JP & Rowlinson, P (1994) The effect of housing system on the welfare and productivity of two genotypes of finishing pigs. Pig News and Information 15, 131N – 133NGoogle Scholar
Horrell, RI, A'Ness, PJA, Edwards, SA & Eddison, J (2001) The use of nose rings in pigs: consequences for rooting, other functional activities and welfare. Animal Welfare 10, 3–22CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambert, RJ, Ellis, M, Rowlinson, P & Saville, CA (1983) Influence of housing/feeding system on sow behaviour. Animal Production 36, 532Google Scholar
Lindberg, JE & Cortova, Z (1995) The effect of increasing inclusion of lucerne leaf meal in a barley-based diet on the partition of digestion and on nutrient utilisation in pigs. Animal Feed Science Technology 56, 11–20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mauget, R (1981) Behavioural and reproductive strategies in wild forms of Sus scrofa (European wild boar and feral pigs) In The Welfare of Pigs pp. 3–13 [Sybesma, W, editors]. The Hague: Martinus NijhoffCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mowat, D, Watson, CA, Mayes, RW, Kelly, H, Browning, H & Edwards, SA (2001) Herbage intake of growing pigs in an outdoor organic production system. In Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, p. 169. Penicuik, Lothian: British Society of Animal ScienceGoogle Scholar
Nappan Experimental Farm (1964) Sows Fed with Grass. Nappan, NS: Department of AgricultureGoogle Scholar
National Research Council (1998) Nutrient Requirements of Swine. Washington, DC: National Academy PressGoogle Scholar
Noblet, J, & Le Goff, G (2001) Effect of dietary fibre on the energy value of feeds for pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology 90, 35–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noblet, J, Shi, XS & Dubois, S (1993) Energy cost of standing activity in sows. Livestock Production Science 34, 127–136CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petley, MP & Bayley, HS (1988) Exercise and post exercise energy expenditure in growing pigs. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 66, 721–730CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riart, GR (2002) Some aspects of outdoor pig production in Argentina. PhD Thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Rivera Ferre, MG, Edwards, SA, Mayes, RW, Riddoch, I & Hovell, FdeB (2001) The effects of season and level of concentrate on the voluntary intake and digestibility of herbage by outdoor sows. Animal Science 72, 501–510CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, CJ & Williams, WT (1983) Ingestion of earthworms, Pontoscolex corethrurus, by village pigs, Sus scrofa papuensis, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Applied Animal Ethology 11, 131–139CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schoenherr, WD, Stahley, TS, & Cromwell, GL (1989) The effects of dietary fat or fibre addition on yield and composition of milk from sows housed in a warm or hot environment. Journal of Animal Science 67, 482–495CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sehested, J, Soegaard, K, Danielsen, V & Kristensen, VF (1999) Mixed grazing with sows and heifers: effects on animal performance and pasture. In Ecological Animal Husbandry in the Nordic Countries, pp. 35–39 [Hermansen, JE, Lund, V, Thuen, E, editors]. Foulum, Denmark: Danish Research Centre for Organic FarmingGoogle Scholar
Sheppard, A (1996) The Structure of Pig Production in England and Wales. Special Studies in Agricultural Economics, Report no. 33, Exeter, Devon: University of Exeter.Google Scholar
Stephen, TG (1976) A preliminary evaluation of the value of grass and grass pulp to non-lactating sows. MSc Thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Stolba, A & Wood-Gush, DGM (1989) The behaviour of pigs in a semi-natural environment. Animal Production 48, 419–425Google Scholar
Tsaras, LN, Kyriazakis, I & Emmans, GC (1998) The prediction of the voluntary food intake of pigs on poor quality foods. Animal Science 66, 713–723CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Underwood, EJ & Suttle, NF (1999) The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock. Wallingford, Oxon: CABI InternationalCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vestergaard, E-M, Danielsen, V & Larsen, AE (1995) Utilisation of dried grass meal by young growing pigs and sows. Proceedings of the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, Prague, paper N2b. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Wageningen Pers.Google Scholar
Webb, AJ (1989) Genetics of food intake in the pig. In The Voluntary Food Intake of Pigs. Occasional Publication of the British Society of Animal Production no. 13 41–50 [Forbes, JM, Varley, MA and Lawrence, TLJ editors]. Edinburgh British Society of Animal ProductionGoogle Scholar