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Growth, Carcass, Blood and Fat Studies with Pigs Fed Once or Five Times Daily¹

Canada Department of Agriculture, Nappan, Nova Scotia

Abstract

In each of two experiments, pigs were fed five times daily the amount of diet consumed to appetite in 30 min. once daily by pairmates. The effect of feeding frequency on weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass quality was determined in the first experiment with 14 pairs of barrows fed a barley-fishmeal type diet. A preliminary study of serum cholesterol levels was conducted with six pairs of barrows. The second experiment involved 10 triads each of barrows and gilts fed a corn-soybean type diet. The barley-type diet was fed once daily as a feed comparison only. An analysis of the fatty acid composition of depot fat was additional to gain, carcass quality and cholesterol determinations.

In Experiment 1, the average gain in carcass weight was 32.7 kg. for both groups of barrows. The l. dorsi area was significantly (P<.05) larger, and the minimum thickness of fat overlying the muscle area was less (P<.001) for pigs fed once daily ("single-feeders") than for those fed five times daily ("multiple-feeders"). The thickness of shoulder fat was less (P<.001) and chemical analysis showed a lower (P<.05) fat content in the carcass of the "single-feeders". Serum cholesterol levels were higher in the afternoon than in the morning; the difference being significant (P<.01) for pigs fed once daily. The level in the afternoon was higher (P<.05) for the "single-" than for the "multiple-feeders".

In Experiment 2, compared with their corn-fed mates, barrows fed the barley-type diet had a higher (P<.001) percent yield of trimmed cuts and less backfat (P<.001) while gilts had a larger (P<.001) area of l. dorsi muscle. Both sexes had a lower (Pl. dorsi.01) percent of carcass fat and higher percentage of protein. The yield of trimmed cuts from pigs fed the corn-type diet once daily was higher (P<.01), and the l. dorsi area 6.5% larger with less (P<.001) fat covering than the "multiple-feeders". Gilts fed five times daily apparently stored more protein than the "single-feeders" but the ratio of carcass fat to protein was greater.

Serum cholesterol levels followed similar trends to those in Experiment 1. With once daily feeding, higher (P<.01) cholesterol levels were obtained with corn-type than with the barley-type diet. Levels for gilts were higher (P<.05) than for barrows. The proportion of oleic was lower (P<.01) in the fat of pigs fed five times daily. Significantly lower proportions of saturated and higher proportions of unsaturated acids indicated a softer depot fat in the corn-fed pigs and also in gilts compared with barrows.

¹ Presented in part at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science. East Lansing, Michigan. August 1–5, 1965.

² Contribution No. 197. Division of Animal Science. Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Nappan, Nova Scotia.

³ The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of R. M. Grant, R. V. Brown, D. J. Gallagher, R. T. Ripley and J. G. Allen in various aspects of this work. The cooperation of Canada Department of Agriculture, Production and Marketing Branch, Livestock Division, Moncton, New Brunswick and of Swift Canadian Co. Ltd., Moncton, New Brunswick is gratefully acknowledged.