Space Allotment and Performance of Growing-Finishing Swine Raised in Confinement

Abstract

Two replicates of a 3 × 3 factorially-designed experiment involving 126 hogs are reported where space allotments of 5, 10 and 20 sq. ft. per hog and 3, 6 and 12 hogs per pen were compared. Hogs were self-fed in confinement in a large farrowing barn from 70 to 80 lb. to approximate market weight, and pens were cleaned by daily washdown. Statistically significant differences in rate of gain and feed conversion in favor of the greater space allowance per hog and in lowered feed consumption and feed conversion in favor of pens with more hogs were found. Live backfat probes at the conclusion of each replicate failed to demonstrate detectable differences in fatness due to any treatment. Activity checks indicated that the pigs with greater feed conversion tended to spend more time sleeping or resting and less time standing or walking. Time spent eating was not necessarily related to the amount of feed actually consumed. A field trial is reported comparing 9, 16 and 32 sq. ft. per pig which confirmed the above results in that pigs with more space tended to gain weight faster with greater feed conversion.