Stocking Density for the Research on Growing-Finishing Pigs

Francisco  F. Peñalba,; Anthony Jose  M. Tamayo,; Elmer  P. Baure,; Alarico  L. Olitres,

Stocking Density for the Research on Growing-Finishing Pigs

Francisco F. Peñalba | Anthony Jose M. Tamayo | Elmer P. Baure | Alarico L. Olitres

Abstract:

Forty-two weanling pigs were reared from starter to finishing period in three same-size pens (13 '3" x 6'2") with different pig density per pen. The three pens correspond to three treatments, I, II and III, with four pigs, two pigs and one pig per pen, respectively, replicated six times for each treatment.
The initial weights of the pigs at the start of the experiments were not statistically different. At the end of the whole experiments (from starter to finisher), the pigs in Treatments I, II and III weighed 82.40 kg, 82.08 and 80.50 kg, respectively, with the corresponding weight gains of 59.78 kg, 57.88 and 55.32 kg. The average daily gains (ADG) of the pigs in Treatments I, II and III were 0.75 kg, 0.72 and 0.69 kg, respectively, with the corresponding feed efficiency (FE) of 2.80 kg, 2.89 and 3.41 kg.

During the starter stage, the final weights of the pigs in Treatments I, II and III were 45.27 kg, 45.88 and 49.00 kg, respectively, with the corresponding weight gains of 22.65 kg, 22.67 and 23.82 kg. The ADGs for this period of Treatments I, II and III were 0.76 kg, 0.76 and 0.79 kg, respectively, with the corresponding FE of 2.00 kg, 2.10 and 2.46 kg. The FEs of the pigs in Treatments I and II were significantly better than that of those in Treatment III.

During the grower stage, the values of the parameters measured on pigs in the three treatments did not differ significantly among treatments. From growing to finishing stage, the pigs in Treatments I, II and III, after 20 days finishing period, gained only 14.71 kg, 15.08 and 11.08 kg, respectively, with the corresponding FE of 3.52 kg, 3.83 and 5.18 kg. Again, the FEs of the pigs in Treatments I and II were significantly better than that of those in Treatment III.

Based on this study, the use of one pig per pen as a replicate in an experiment is least desired.