EFFECT - OF OUT OF FEED EVENTS
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effect of out-of-feed events (OFE) on finishing pig growth performance.
HYPOTHESIS:
Growth performance of finishing pigs will be negatively effected by multiple out-of-feed events during the finishing period.
THE EXPERIMENT:
1,476 pigs were divided into three groups and housed in pens of 26.
CONTROL - OFE - NONE
BI WEEKLY - OFE - EVER TWO WEEKS
WEEKLY - OFE - WEEKLY
OFE were controlled through the complete removal of feed from the feeders by vacuuming out affected feeders. The OFE was targeted to last 24 hours.
MEASUREMENTS:
Total pend weights were recorded at the beginning and weekly until the end of the trial.
Feed was mixed, weighed and delivered by an electronic feed system.
Carcass data was collected by Tyson Fresh Meats Logansport, In.
THE EFFECT:
WEIGHT, LBS:
| LIVE START WT | LIVE END WT | CARCASS WT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONTROL | 150.1 | 281.6 | 216.9 |
| BI WEEKLY | 149.9 | 277.8 | 213.4 |
| WEEKLY | 149.9 | 273.9 | 210.2 |
PERFORMANCE:
| ADG | FE | ADFI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONTROL | 2.01 | 3.02 | 6.08 |
| BI WEEKLY | 1.97 | 3.06 | 6.01 |
| WEEKLY | 1.89 | 3.09 | 5.83 |
WEIGHT, LBS:
| FEED | IOFC* | INCOME | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONTROL | 64.15 | 168.52 | 232.78 |
| BI WEEKLY | 63.40 | 165.33 | 228.68 |
| WEEKLY | 63.30 | 161.59 | 224.96 |
Research provided by United Animal Health Research
