J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1961. 20:543-546.
© 1961 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Heitman, H.
Right arrow Articles by Bond, T. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Heitman, H., Jr.
Right arrow Articles by Bond, T. E.

Space Allotment and Performance of Growing-Finishing Swine Raised in Confinement1

Hubert Heitman, Jr.2, LeRoy Hahn3, C. F. Kelly2 and T. E. Bond3

University of California and United States Department of Agriculture, Davis

Abstract

Two replicates of a 3 x 3 factorially-designed experiment involving 126 hogs are reported where space allotments of 5, 10 and 20 sq. ft. per hog and 3, 6 and 12 hogs per pen were compared. Hogs were self-fed in confinement in a large farrowing barn from 70 to 80 lb. to approximate market weight, and pens were cleaned by daily washdown.

Statistically significant differences in rate of gain and feed conversion in favor of the greater space allowance per hog and in lowered feed consumption and feed conversion in favor of pens with more hogs were found. Live backfat probes at the conclusion of each replicate failed to demonstrate detectable differences in fatness due to any treatment. Activity checks indicated that the pigs with greater feed conversion tended to spend more time sleeping or resting and less time standing or walking. Time spent eating was not necessarily related to the amount of feed actually consumed.

A field trial is reported comparing 9, 16 and 32 sq. ft. per pig which confirmed the above results in that pigs with more space tended to gain weight faster with greater feed conversion.

Footnotes

1 This paper is one of a series from the cooperative project between the University of California and the United States Department of Agriculture.

2 Departments of Animal Husbandry and Agricultural Engineering, respectively.

3 Agricultural Engineers, Agricultural Engineering Research Division (ARS), U. S. Department of Agriculture.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1961 by the American Society of Animal Science.