The influence of nutrition in early life on growth and development of the pig 3. Effects of energy intake prior and subsequent to 10 kg on growth and development to 30 kg live weight

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. Forty-two piglets were used to study the effects of a low, medium or high level of energy intake (1·0, 1·4 and 1·9 MJ gross energy per kg W0·75per day respectively) from 1·8 to 10 kg live weight and a low or high level of energy intake (1·4 and 1·8 MJ digestible energy per kg W075 per day respectively) subsequent to 10 kg live weight on growth performance, body composition and the cellularity of muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue to 30 kg live weight. During both live-weight periods all pigs received the same daily intake of crude protein.2. Raising energy intake in the period prior to 10 kg live weight increased (P< 0·-05) growth rate, body fat content and fat cell size but reduced food conversion efficiency, body protein and water (P< 0·05) and muscle deoxyribonucleic acid. These effects on body composition and muscle deoxyribonucleic acid at 10 kg live weight were still evident at 30 kg live weight.3. Subsequent to 10 kg live weight, pigs previously given the lowest energy intake deposited protein and fat at a faster rate and exhibited more rapid and efficient growth (P< 0·05) than pigs previously given the high energy intake.4. At 30 kg live weight pigs given the two higher levels of energy intake before 10 kg live weight contained less deoxyribonucleic acid (P< 0·05) in subcutaneous adipose tissue and had larger (P< 0·05) fat cells than those given the lowest energy intake before 10 kg live weight.5. The effects of energy intake subsequent to 10 kg live weight on growth performance, body composition and the cellularity of muscle and adipose tissue were qualitatively the same as those for the period 1·8 to 10 kg live weight.