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Effects of Mixing Pigs during the Growing-Finishing Period¹

The Pennsylvania State University University Park 16802

Abstract

Two experiments using 198 pigs were carried out to evaluate the effects of mixing pigs from different litters and/or pens after weaning. The variables measured were daily gain, feed conversion, and feed consumption. In addition, the interaction of mixing pigs with types of housing and with feeding management was studied. The types of housing were a closed, partially slotted building and a solid floored, bedded building with outside pens. Feeding management consisted of full feeding continuously or limited feeding for 10 days followed by full feeding. The pigs were penned in groups of either six or eight pigs per pen resulting in two densities of pigs per pen.

The pigs that were mixed, in combination with initial limited feeding and penned in higher densities, had slower growth rates and lower feed intakes than the pigs kept as litter groups under the same conditions. The pigs that were mixed but full-fed continuously did not differ in performance from pigs kept as a litter group during the growing-finishing period without regard to the pen densities used.

¹ Approved by the Director, The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, No. 4584 of the Journal Series. Approved 11/21/73.

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