TY - JOUR
T1 - Group size and floor-space allowance can affect weanling-pig performance
AU - Wolter, B. F.
AU - Ellis, M.
AU - Curtis, S. E.
AU - Parr, E. N.
AU - Webel, D. M.
PY - 2000/8
Y1 - 2000/8
N2 - Crossbred weanling piglets (n = 1,920; mean initial BW, 5.3 ± .7 kg) were used in two 9-wk trials employing a randomized block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine effects of group size (20 [Small = S] or 100 [Large = L] pigs/ pen) and floor-space allowance (calculated requirement [CR] or calculated requirement less 50% of estimated "free space" [CR-50]) on growth performance. Free space was estimated for each group size. From wk 1 through 4 after weaning, S and L groups at CR were allowed a floor space of .17 m2/pig, and at CR-50, S and L groups were allowed .15 m2/pig and .13 m2/pig, respectively. From wk 5 through 9 after weaning, all CR treatment pigs were provided a floor space of .38 m2/pig, and for the CR-50 treatment, S and L pigs were allowed .32 m2/pig and .28 m2/pig, respectively. Piglets had free access to feed and water. Feeder-trough space per pig was the same for both group sizes. Feed-intake data were collected for only wk 1 through 4. Group size by floor-space allowance interactions (P < .05) were found for gain/feed ratio (G/F) for wk 1 and wk 2 through 4, but not for wk 1 through 4. Piglets in L groups were lighter (P < .001) at the end of wk 1, 4, and 9 by 2, 4, and 5%, respectively, and had lower ADG (6%; P < .001) throughout the trial than S piglets. During wk 1 through 4, feed intake was lower (7%, P < .001) in L piglets than in S piglets, but G/F was similar (P > .05). Piglets in CR groups had greater ADG (5%; P < .01) throughout the trial, with a greater G/F (P < .05) for wk 1 through 4, and were heavier (P < .01) than those in CR-50 groups at the end of wk 4 (3%) and 9 (4%). Pigs in L groups had a greater within-pen coefficient of variation in BW at the end of wk 9 than pigs in S groups. Large groups and reduced floor-space allowance reduced piglet growth performance in the nursery.
AB - Crossbred weanling piglets (n = 1,920; mean initial BW, 5.3 ± .7 kg) were used in two 9-wk trials employing a randomized block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine effects of group size (20 [Small = S] or 100 [Large = L] pigs/ pen) and floor-space allowance (calculated requirement [CR] or calculated requirement less 50% of estimated "free space" [CR-50]) on growth performance. Free space was estimated for each group size. From wk 1 through 4 after weaning, S and L groups at CR were allowed a floor space of .17 m2/pig, and at CR-50, S and L groups were allowed .15 m2/pig and .13 m2/pig, respectively. From wk 5 through 9 after weaning, all CR treatment pigs were provided a floor space of .38 m2/pig, and for the CR-50 treatment, S and L pigs were allowed .32 m2/pig and .28 m2/pig, respectively. Piglets had free access to feed and water. Feeder-trough space per pig was the same for both group sizes. Feed-intake data were collected for only wk 1 through 4. Group size by floor-space allowance interactions (P < .05) were found for gain/feed ratio (G/F) for wk 1 and wk 2 through 4, but not for wk 1 through 4. Piglets in L groups were lighter (P < .001) at the end of wk 1, 4, and 9 by 2, 4, and 5%, respectively, and had lower ADG (6%; P < .001) throughout the trial than S piglets. During wk 1 through 4, feed intake was lower (7%, P < .001) in L piglets than in S piglets, but G/F was similar (P > .05). Piglets in CR groups had greater ADG (5%; P < .01) throughout the trial, with a greater G/F (P < .05) for wk 1 through 4, and were heavier (P < .01) than those in CR-50 groups at the end of wk 4 (3%) and 9 (4%). Pigs in L groups had a greater within-pen coefficient of variation in BW at the end of wk 9 than pigs in S groups. Large groups and reduced floor-space allowance reduced piglet growth performance in the nursery.
KW - Floor Space
KW - Group Size
KW - Pigs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034242724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034242724&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2527/2000.7882062x
DO - 10.2527/2000.7882062x
M3 - Article
C2 - 10947088
AN - SCOPUS:0034242724
SN - 0021-8812
VL - 78
SP - 2062
EP - 2067
JO - Journal of animal science
JF - Journal of animal science
IS - 8
ER -