A study of water allowances for the bacon pig

Abstract

The results of two experiments, involving 72 individually fed pigs during a growing period between about 40 and 200 lb. live-weight, indicated that a water allowance of 1½ lb. per 1 lb. meal in place of 2½ lb. water had little effect on the performance of the pigs or on carcass measurements. With unrestricted water there were considerable differences in intakes between experiments but these were without significant effects on the criteria studied, when compared with the respective fixed water to feed ratios.In the first experiment, but not in the second, a dietary supplement of penicillin was associated with a reduced voluntary intake of water. The penicillin was without overall effect on performance or carcass composition, but was associated with a significant growth response up to 100 lb. live-weight in the first experiment.In both experiments females were less fat than castrates, as indicated by significantly different carcass densities and by some linear measurements.