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This study investigates the effects of space allowance, mixing, and phase feeding on the performance of grower-finisher pigs. Three trials were conducted. In Trial 1 and Trial 2, 345 pigs/trial were moved to finisher stage at 11 weeks of age and assigned to two space allowances: 0.96 (n = 15 pens; 10 pigs/pen) and 0.78 (n = 15; 13 pigs/pen) m2/pig. Mixing was applied to 5 pens of each space allowance leading to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (space allowance × Mixing). For phase feeding, 2 diets with 0.95 and 0.82 g SID Lys/MJ NE were applied to 5 pens of each space allowance (not mixed) leading to another 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (space allowance × phase feeding). In Trial 3, 230 pigs were moved to the grower-finisher stage at 11 weeks of age, mixed, and assigned to 4 treatments (space allowance × phase feeding; n = 5 pens). Data were analyzed using general linear mixed models.
Space allowance did not affect performance. Non-mixed pigs were 5.40 (Trial 1) and 5.25 (Trial 2) kg heavier than mixed pigs at 21 weeks of age. Phase feeding reduced performance of pigs by 3.45 (Trial 1) and 4.05 (Trial 2) kg at 21 weeks of age.
In conclusion, mixing and reducing SID Lys:NE ratio from 0.95 to 0.82 g/MJ at 15–16 weeks of age, have a more marked impact on performance than reducing space allowance from 0.96 to 0.78 m2/pig.
Camp Montoro J, Pessoa J, Solà-Oriol D, Muns R, Gasa J, Manzanilla EG. Effect of Phase Feeding, Space Allowance and Mixing on Productive Performance of Grower-Finisher Pigs. Animals. 2022; 12(3):390. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030390
