Season specific feed formulations for ameliorating climate stress in grower pigs reared under subtropical eastern Himalayan region

Abstract

Thermal stress is an emerging issue for pig producers in tropical and sub-tropical Eastern Himalayan region. Thus, season specific feed was proposed to be formulated for amelioration thermal stress. Feeding experiment were conducted for both summer stress (May-August) and winter stress (November-February) in grower pigs (75% Hampshire and 25% Niang Megha). Forty-eight piglets for each experiment were selected and distributed by completely randomized design for these two experiments. The seasonal specific feed as well as standard feed were formulated and provided to the piglets as per the standard procedures. Blood cortisol was measured as indicator of stress, besides the body weight gain, average daily gain and feed conservation efficiency in the pigs. Results indicated that the grower pigs fed with summer specific feed had significantly (P<0.05) lower heat stress, higher body weight gain and better feed conversion ratio as compared to grower pigs fed with standard diet during summer season. Similarly, feeding of winter specific feed has significantly (P<0.05) lowered the cortisol level, improved the body weight gain and better feed conversion ratio in grower pigs. The study concluded that the feeding of season specific diet reduced thermal stress and improved body weight gain in growing pigs. Thus, season specific feed formulations are suggested as one of the strategies to alleviate thermal stress in the region under changing climate condition.