PSV-3 Effects of space allowance and marketing strategy on growth performance of pigs raised to heavy market weights

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Abstract A total of 976 pigs (PIC 327×L42, initially 22 ± 1.5 kg BW) were used in a 160-d study to determine the influence of space allowance and marketing strategy on performance of pigs raised to heavy market weights (165 kg). Pens were blocked by location and allotted to 1 of 6 treatments with 8 pens/treatment. The first four treatments reduced space allowance/pig via initial pen stocking density: 14 pigs/pen (1.20 m2/pig), 17 pigs/pen (0.98 m2/pig), 20 pigs/pen (0.84 m2/pig), or 23 pigs/pen (0.73 m2/pig). The fifth treatment began with 25 pigs/pen (0.67 m2/pig) and the heaviest 3 pigs/pen were removed on d 93, then on d 122 pens were marketed to a common inventory of 20 pigs/pen, and on d 147 marketed to a common pen inventory of 17 pigs/pen. The sixth treatment began with 23 pigs/pen (0.73 m2/pig) and were marketed to a common inventory of 20 pigs/pen on d 108 and marketed to a common inventory of 17 pigs/pen on d 147. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX with pen as the experimental unit. Overall (d 0 to 160) ADG, ADFI, and final BW decreased (linear, P < 0.001) and G:F increased (quadratic, P = 0.042) as space allowance decreased. When comparing treatments with multiple marketing events (treatments 5 and 6) to treatment 4, there was no evidence for differences (P > 0.05) for overall ADG or ADFI; however, overall G:F was improved (P < 0.05) for pigs initially stocked at 0.67 m2/pig and marketed four times compared to both treatments that initially allowed 0.73 m2/pig, regardless of marketing structure. These results indicate that decreasing space allowance of heavy weight pigs reduces growth, feed intake and final BW, although use of multiple marketing events prior to final marketing may allow for increased number of pigs marketed/pen while balancing reduced growth performance often associated with increased stocking density. http://www.conferenceharvester.com/