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Influence of Three Different Feeding Levels During Growth and Gestation on Reproduction, Weight Gains and Carcass Quality in Swine

University of Wisconsin^,2 and United States Department of Agriculture^{,3, 4,}

Abstract

During a three-year period 90 weanling pigs were grown out at three levels of feed intake on pasture to provide information on carcass characteristics and reproductive phenomena.

Average daily gain, daily feed consumed, and feed efficiency calculated from the beginning of the pasture season to market weight (pooled for the three years) was 1.59, 5.29, 3.33; 1.38, 4.32, 3.13; and 1.23, 3.54, 2.88 for full-fed, two-thirds full-fed and one-third full-fed groups, respectively.

Carcass data were obtained on 54 of the pigs. Average carcass backfat and percent lean cuts were 1.72, 48.7; 1.73, 49.7; and 1.52, 51.4 for the full-fed, two-thirds full-fed and one-third full-fed lots, respectively. The differences for each trait were significantly different from each other, except for average carcass backfat on the full-fed and two-thirds full-fed groups. Loin eye area or carcass length was not significantly affected by level of feeding. Year had a significant effect on carcass length and percentage of lean cuts (P < 0.01).

Reproductive traits (litter size, birth weight, weaning weight and number of pigs weaned) were studied in 36 litters. None of these traits was significantly affected by feeding level; however, year had a significant effect on birth weight and weaning weight (P<0.01). The average gilt weight at farrowing was 480, 427 and 365 lb. for full-fed, two-thirds full-fed and one-third full-fed (P<0.01).

Level of nutrition and year interactions were not significantly different for any carcass or reproductive trait studied.

¹ Present address: Animal Husbandry Dept., Kansas State College, Manhattan.

² Madison, Department of Animal Husbandry, College of Agriculture.

³ LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Upper Mississippi Valley Soil Conservation Experiment Station, U.S.D.A., A.R.S., Soil and Water Conservation Research Division.

⁴ The assistance of Mr. E. L. Lemke, Farm Foreman, in the care and supervision of the animals is gratefully acknowledged.