Effect of restricted postweaning growth resulting from reduced floor and feeder-trough space on pig growth performance to slaughter weight in a wean-to-finish production system

The effect of reduced pig growth rate postweaning as a result of restricted floor space and feeder trough space on subsequent growth to slaughter was investigated in a wean-to-finish system. Crossbred pigs (n = 1,728) were used in a randomized block design with a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) floor space (high [0.630 m2/pig] vs. low floor space [0.315 m2/pig]), 2) feeder trough space (unrestricted [4 cm/pig] vs. restricted feeder trough space [2 cm/pig]), and 3) period of imposing floor- and feeder-trough-space treatments (12 vs. 14 wk postweaning). Growth performance was measured from weaning (5.5 +/- 0.01 kg of BW; 17 d of age) to slaughter (the end of wk 25 postweaning). From the end of the treatment period to the end of wk 25, pigs on all treatments had the same floor and feeder trough space. Pigs with low floor space had lower (P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed ratio than those with high floor space, and were therefore lighter (P < 0.05) at the end of the postweaning treatment period. Pigs given the restricted feeder trough space had lower (P < 0.05) ADFI, similar (P > 0.05) ADG, and higher (P < 0.01) gain:feed ratio than those with unrestricted feeder trough space during the treatment period. Pigs in the 14-wk treatment period had higher (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI, but lower gain:feed than those in the 12-wk treatment during that period. In the subsequent period, from the end of treatment to wk 25, there was an interaction (P < 0.05) between floor space and treatment period; the difference in ADG and gain:feed for pigs on low vs. high floor space was greater for the 14-wk than the 12-wk treatment period. However, low-floor-space pigs tended (P = 0.06) to be lighter than high-floor-space pigs at the end of wk 25 postweaning. Neither feeder trough space nor treatment period affected pig growth performance during the period from the end of treatment to wk 25. Carcass backfat and longissimus depths at the end of wk 25 were not influenced (P > 0.05) by treatment. In summary, pigs with restricted growth due to low floor space until either 12 or 14 wk postweaning had increased growth and feed efficiency in the subsequent period to wk 25 postweaning, with only a slight effect on BW and no effect on carcass measures.     

Impact of early postweaning growth rate as affected by diet complexity and space allocation on subsequent growth performance of pigs in a wean-to-finish production system

The objective was to evaluate the effect of restricted early postweaning growth rate due to diet complexity, pen space, or both on subsequent growth to market in a wean-to-finish system. Pigs (n = 1,728) were used in a randomized block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) diet complexity (Complex vs Simple) and 2) space allocation (Unrestricted vs Restricted). Treatments were imposed for the first 8 wk after weaning (period 1) and growth was measured from weaning (5.0 +/- 0.01 kg body weight; 15 d of age) to the end of wk 23 postweaning. The Simple diet was based on corn-soybean meal with minimal inclusion of milk products, processed cereals, and animal protein-based ingredients compared to the Complex diet. Floor and feeder-trough spaces were 0.63 m2 and 4 cm and 0.21 m2 and 2 cm per pig for Unrestricted and Restricted space treatments, respectively. From the end of wk 8 to end of wk 23 (period 2), pigs on all treatments had the same floor and feeder spaces and were fed common diets. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between diet and space treatments. In period 1, Simple diets resulted in similar average daily feed intake (ADFI; 639 vs 650 +/- 5.4 g; P > 0.05), but lower average daily gain (ADG; 408 vs 424 +/- 3.8 g; P < 0.01) and gain:feed ratio (0.64 vs 0.65 +/- 0.002; P < 0.001), and lighter body weight (2.8%; P < 0.01) compared to the Complex diets. In period 2, growth was not affected (P > 0.05) by previous diet complexity, and pig body weight was similar (114.4 vs 114.4 +/- 0.37 kg, P > 0.05) at the end of wk 23. In period 1, pigs with Restricted space had lower ADG (398 vs 434 +/- 3.8 g; P < 0.001), ADFI (621 vs 668 +/- 5.4 g; P < 0.001), and gain:feed ratio (0.64 vs 0.65 +/- 0.002; P < 0.01), and were lighter at the end of wk 8 (6.5%; P < 0.001) than those with Unrestricted space. However, in period 2, pigs with Restricted space had higher (P < 0.01) ADG (3%), ADFI (2%), and gain:feed ratio (3%) than those with Unrestricted space, and body weight was similar (114.5 vs 114.3 +/- 0.37 kg; P > 0.05) at end of wk 23. Carcass backfat and loin-eye depth at market body weight were influenced by neither diet nor space treatment. Using a simple diet program and restricted space allowance immediately postweaning resulted in a lower early growth rate, but had no impact on pig body weight or carcass measures at market.     

Effect of group size on pig performance in a wean-to-finish production system

Crossbred pigs (n = 1,400) were used to evaluate the effect of group size (25 vs 50 vs 100 pigs/pen) in a wean-to-finish production system on growth performance and carcass measures. Pigs were weaned at 17 d (range = 15 to 19) of age with a mean initial BW of 5.9 +/- 0.02 kg and taken to a final mean pen weight of 116 +/- 0.9 kg. A 10-phase dietary regimen was used, and pigs had free access to feed and water. Feeder-trough space (4.3 cm/pig) and floor-area allowance (0.68 m2/pig) were the same for all group sizes. Compared to groups of 25, pigs in groups of 50 and 100 animals were lighter (P < 0.001) at the end of wk 8 after weaning and had lower (3%, P < 0.01) ADG and gain:feed (G/F) but similar (P > 0.05) ADFI during the first 8 wk of the study. At the end of the study, pig weight and the coefficient of variation in pig weight within a pen were similar (P > 0.05) across group sizes. During the period from 8 wk after weaning to the end of the study, pigs in groups of 100 compared to 50 animals had greater (3%, P < 0.01) ADG, and pigs in groups of 25 were intermediate for ADG. Average daily feed intake during this period was similar (P > 0.05) for all group sizes; however, G/F was greater (3%, P < 0.01) for groups of 100 compared to 25 or 50 animals. For the overall study period, ADG, ADFI, and G/F from weaning to slaughter weight were similar across group sizes (P > 0.05; 655, 648, and 658 g; 1,759, 1,755, and 1,759 g; and 0.37, 0.37, and 0.37; for ADG, ADFI, and G/F, respectively, for groups of 25, 50, and 100 pigs, respectively). Mortality was similar (P > 0.05) across group sizes; however, morbidity (pigs removed due to poor health or injury) was higher in groups of 25 pigs compared to the other two group sizes (7.0, 3.5, and 3.9% for groups of 25, 50, and 100, respectively; P < 0.05). Group-size treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) carcass dressing percentage, backfat thickness, or loin-eye depth. In summary, growth performance from weaning to market weight was not affected by group size.     

Effects of double stocking and weighing frequency on pig performance in wean-to-finish production systems

Two studies were carried out in different wean-to-finish barns to determine the effects of double stocking on pig growth performance. In Study 1, pigs (n = 1,560) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: initial stocking treatment (Single [52 pigs/pen] vs Double [104 pigs/pen] stocked for 10 wk after weaning) and weighing frequency (High [12 times during the study] vs Low [3 times]) on pig performance from weaning (5.9+/-0.01 kg BW; 17 d of age) to harvest (114+/-0.67 kg BW). Floor and feeder space per pig were 0.650 m2 and 4 cm and 0.325 m2 and 2 cm for the single- and double-stocked treatments, respectively. In Study 2, pigs (n = 1,458) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate two initial stocking treatments (Single [27 pigs] vs Double [54 pigs] stocked for 10 wk after weaning) on pig performance from weaning (4.8+/-0.01 kg BW; 15 d of age) to harvest (24 wk after weaning). Floor and feeder space per pig were 0.640 m2 and 3.4 cm and 0.320 m2 and 1.7 cm for single- and double-stocked pens, respectively. In both studies, double-stocked pigs were split at the end of wk 10 into two equal-sized groups of similar mean BW and CV of BW, and one group was moved to a different pen in the same building. In Study 1, performance was not affected (P > 0.10) by frequency of weighing. For the first 10 wk after weaning, the Double compared to the Single treatment had lower ADG (7.7 and 7.9%, for Studies 1 and 2, respectively; P < 0.001) and lighter pigs at wk 10 (6.8 and 7.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). During the first 10 wk in Study 1, Double compared to the Single pigs had lower ADFI (7%; P < 0.001) but similar gain:feed (P > 0.10). From wk 11 to harvest, pigs on Double and Single treatments had similar (P > 0.10) ADG in both studies and, in Study 1, ADFI was unaffected by initial stocking treatment, but double-stocked pigs had greater gain:feed (4%, P < 0.01). Double-stocked pigs required an additional 2 d to reach a fixed harvest BW (P < 0.05) in Study 1 and were lighter (4%; P < 0.05) at 24 wk after weaning in Study 2. Carcass measures were similar (P > 0.10) for double- and single-stocked pigs. Double-stocked pigs that were moved at the end of 10 wk had growth performance similar (P > 0.10) to those that remained in the original pen. In summary, double stocking reduced growth rate to 10 wk after weaning but subsequently had no effect on growth rate and improved feed efficiency.     

Individually measured feed intake characteristics and growth performance of group-housed weanling pigs: effects of sex, initial body weight, and body weight distribution within groups

Feed intake characteristics of 192, 27-d-old weanling pigs housed in groups and given ad libitum access to feed and water were measured individually with the use of computerized feeding stations. The groups were either homogeneous or heterogeneous as to BW distribution; pigs of three defined initial BW classes were used (mean BW of 6.7, 7.9, or 9.3 kg). The effects of BW distribution, BW class, and sex were studied with regard to average performance traits, latency time (interval between weaning and first feed intake), initial feed intake (intake during the first 24 h following first feed intake), and daily increase in feed intake during the interval between first feed intake and the day on which energy intake met or exceeded 1.5 times the maintenance requirement. Homogeneous and heterogeneous groups had similar latency times, initial feed intakes, and daily increases in feed intake. For the period 0 to 34 d after weaning, ADFI and ADG were also similar for homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, but gain:feed ratio was greater (P < 0.05) in the homogeneous groups. Gilts had higher (P < 0.05) initial feed intakes than barrows and also had greater (P < 0.05) ADFI and ADG during the period 0 to 13 d after weaning. Pigs with average BW of 6.7 kg had higher (P < 0.05) initial feed intakes than their counterparts with average BW of 7.9 kg and 9.3 kg, but the daily increase in feed intake was similar for the three groups. The lighter pigs had more daily visits and a lower feed intake per visit and tended to have a shorter postweaning latency to the onset of feeding than the heavier pigs. This study indicates that the high variability in early feeding behavior among group-housed weanling pigs may be related to BW and sex.     

Effects of proportion of pigs removed from a group and subsequent floor space on growth performance of finishing pigs

The effects of the proportion of pigs removed from an established group and subsequent floor space on growth performance during the final 19 d of the finishing period were evaluated using 28 pens of mixed-sex crossbred pigs (mean initial BW = 113.4 +/- 0.57 kg; n = 1,456; approximately 52 pigs per pen). A randomized block design was used with four pig-removal treatments: 1) 0% of pigs removed [Control], 2) approximately 25% of pigs removed, 3) approximately 50% of pigs removed, and 4) approximately 50% of pigs removed and floor and feeder spaces/pig decreased to equal those of Control. A block consisted of four pens with the same number of pigs and sex ratio per pen and with similar initial BW. Pens within blocks were randomly allocated to treatment, and the heaviest animals were removed from Treatments 2, 3, and 4 at the start of the study. Group size and floor space/pig for Treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 52 and 0.65 m(2), 39 and 0.87 m(2), 26 and 1.30 m(2), and 26 and 0.65 m(2), respectively. Each pen contained a six-place feeder that provided 212 cm of total trough space; however, only three-places were accessible to pigs on Treatment 4. Compared with Controls, removing 25 or 50% of pigs resulted in increased (P < 0.001) ADG by 20.6 and 21.0%, ADFI by 10.8 and 7.9%, and G:F by 7.7 and 14.3%, respectively. Average daily gain by pigs on Treatment 4 (50% removal rate and decreased floor and feeder spaces) was greater (P < 0.05) than that of the Controls, but lower (P < 0.05) than that of Treatment 3 pigs (50% removal rate, no adjustment in floor or feeder spaces). No differences were observed among treatments for either morbidity or mortality. These results indicate that removing 25 or 50% of the heaviest pigs from groups of finishing pigs increased growth rate of the remaining pigs, and that the improved performance was only partly due to increased floor and feeder spaces.     

光照对猪生产性能及生理节律的影响

光照作为重要环境参数之一,通过影响动物的生理节律调控动物生产。合理的光照环境可以促进猪的生长发育和性腺活动,提高生产性能和繁殖性能,增加猪场经济效益。本文综述了光照强度、光照周期及光照波长等方面对不同生理阶段猪的生产性能或繁殖性能影响的研究进展及光照影响动物生理节律的机制,以期为养猪生产的光照控制提供一定的理论依据和参考数据。     

Effects of energy intake and body weight on physical and chemical body composition in growing entire male pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine independent effects of BW and DE intake on body composition and the partitioning of retained body energy between lipid and protein in pigs with high lean tissue growth potentials and when energy intake limited whole-body protein deposition. In a preliminary N-balance experiment involving 20 entire male pigs at either 30 or 100 kg BW, it was established that whole-body protein deposition increased linearly (P < 0.05) with DE intake at both BW. These results indicate that DE intake controlled whole-body protein deposition and that these pigs did not achieve their maximum whole-body protein deposition when fed semi-ad libitum. In the main serial slaughter experiment, 56 pigs, with a BW of 15 kg, were assigned to one of four DE intake schemes and slaughtered at 40, 65, 90, or 115 kg BW. Within DE intake schemes, DE intake was increased linearly (P < 0.05) with BW, allowing for an assessment of effects of DE intake and slaughter BW on chemical and physical body composition (carcass, viscera, blood). Between 15 and 90 kg BW, average DE intake of 16.1, 20.9, 25.2, and 28.8 MJ/d supported average BW gains of 502, 731, 899, and 951 g/d, respectively. The proportion of whole-body protein present in the carcass increased with BW and decreased with DE intake (P < 0.05), whereas the distribution of whole-body lipid between carcass and viscera was not influenced by BW and DE intake. A mathematical relationship was developed to determine the relationship between DE intake at slaughter (MJ/d) and chemical body composition in these pigs: whole-body lipid-to-protein ratio = 1.236 - 0.056 x (DE intake) + 0.0013 x (DE intake)2, r2 = 0.71. The data suggests that absolute DE intake alone was an adequate predictor of chemical body composition in this population of entire male pigs over the BW and DE intake ranges that were evaluated, simplifying the characterization of this aspect of nutrition partitioning for growth in different pig populations.     

肥育猪饲粮中添加苜蓿草粉对其生产性能、消化率及血清指标的影响

本研究目的在于评价在玉米－豆粕型基础饲粮中添加苜蓿草粉对肥育猪的利用价值。选取体重约５０ｋｇ的杜×长×大三元杂交猪４０头,采用单因子完全随机设计,分为５个组,每组４个重复,分别在饲粮中添加不同比例的苜蓿草粉,依次为：０（对照组）,１０％（试验Ｉ组）,１５％（试验ＩＩ组）,２０％（试验ＩＩＩ组）,２０％＋０．１％纤维素酶（试验ＩＶ 组）,各组主要营养指标相同。测定肥育猪饲喂含不同水平苜蓿草粉饲粮后主要生产性能、消化率及血清中主要生化指标的变化。结果表明,１）试验ＩＩ、ＩＩＩ、ＩＶ 组平均日增重、采食量较对照组明显提高,而试验ＩＩ、ＩＶ 组的料肉比明显降低,因此,添加１５％的苜蓿草粉或２０％的苜蓿草粉＋０．１％ 纤维素酶有利于提高肥育猪的体重及饲料转化率。２）试验Ｉ、ＩＩ组和对照组相比,其干物质、粗蛋白质、粗灰分、中性洗涤纤维的表观消化率均不同程度提高;虽然试验ＩＩＩ、ＩＶ 组上述４项指标的表观消化率和对照组相近或稍高,但试验ＩＶ 组各主要指标优于试验ＩＩＩ组,说明添加１０％和１５％的苜蓿草粉有利于提高营养物质的表观消化率,苜蓿草粉添加至２０％时加纤维素酶对各项指标消化率有改进。３）肥育猪饲粮中添加苜蓿草粉,降低了其血液甘油三酯、胆固醇及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量,升高了高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量。试验证明,在肥育猪饲粮中添加１５％紫花苜蓿草粉对肥育猪生产性能、营养物质消化率及血清生化指标的改善有利,苜蓿草粉降低血液胆固醇的功能可能是其中皂苷的作用。     

Effects of body weight and feed intake level on basal ileal endogenous losses in growing pigs

An experiment was carried out to determine the effects of feeding level, body weight, and time after surgery on basal ileal endogenous amino acid (AA) and N losses in growing pigs. Three pairs of littermate pigs were surgically prepared with ileo-rectal anastomoses. One pig in each pair was anastomosed at 38 kg BW, and the remaining pigs were anastomosed at 67 kg BW. Each pig received at different periods 50, 70, or 90 g of dry matter per kilogram of BW.75 of a protein-free diet according to a Latin square design involving three pigs starting at 45 kg BW and involving six pigs starting at 77 kg BW. For most AA, the time after surgery x feeding level interaction was significant. The basal endogenous losses (in g/d) increased linearly with feeding level at both BW. At the higher BW, the basal endogenous losses (in g/kg DMI) were constant regardless of feeding level, whereas at the lower BW they responded quadratically. At the low feeding level, the endogenous losses were higher than at the medium or high feeding level. We concluded that the basal endogenous losses are proportional to DMI when the feeding level is higher than 70 g/kg BW.75. The AA profile was not influenced by these three variables, but there was a large animal effect. These results suggest that, in digestibility trials, an assessment of the basal ileal endogenous AA losses must be performed on each pig to correct the apparent ileal AA digestibility data.     

日粮中添加乳清粉和膨化豆粕对断奶仔猪生产性能影响

选择30日龄断奶三元杂交仔猪(杜×长×大)64头。随机分成对照组、Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组,对照组饲以基础日粮,试验Ⅰ组日粮以膨化豆粕替代普通豆粕,试验Ⅱ组由3%的乳清粉替代3%的豆粕。试验Ⅲ组中膨化豆粕替代普通豆粕同时由3%的乳清粉替代3%的膨化豆粕。试验结果:对照组培育仔猪需46d,试验Ⅰ组(膨化豆粕组)培育仔猪需40d,试验Ⅱ组(乳清粉组)培育仔猪需43d,试验Ⅲ组(膨化豆粕+乳清粉组)培育仔猪需39d;平均日增重试验Ⅱ组显著高于对照组(P<0.05),试验Ⅰ、Ⅲ组极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),试验Ⅲ组极显著高于Ⅱ组(P<0.01)、显著高于试验Ⅰ组(P<0.05);饲料利用率试验Ⅲ组最高,对照组饲料利用率最差;腹泻率试验Ⅰ组下降了38.13%,试验Ⅱ组下降了34.63%,试验Ⅲ组下降了47.08%。结果表明利用膨化大豆或乳清粉等优质蛋白。调整日粮结构,可显著降低TI等抗营养因子和抗原物质的含量,减少腹泻率,提高生长性能。     

Effect of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial feed supplement on growth performance and pen cleaning characteristics of growing-finishing pigs

A direct-fed microbial (DFM) based on a combination of Bacillus organisms specifically selected to increase the manure decomposition process was evaluated to determine its efficacy for improving growth performance and manure dissolution time. Three experiments involving 336 crossbred barrows and gilts were conducted to determine the effect of the Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial on growth performance and pen cleaning time. In each experiment, 2 dietary treatments (0 and 0.05% DFM) were fed during the growing-finishing period throughout the experiment, such that the DFM provided 1.47 x 10(8) cfu of Bacillus organisms per gram of supplement. Data from the 3 experiments were combined for analysis, such that there were 28 pens representing each of the 2 treatments. Pigs were weighed and feed intake was determined at the initiation and termination of each phase (starter, grower, and finisher). At the end of Exp. 1 and 3, pen cleaning time was determined by measuring the time required for each pen to be scraped and washed with a high-pressure sprayer. Additionally, 2 solid manure mat samples weighing approximately 4 g each were collected from solid manure buildup in each pen (16 pens/treatment), and the time required to completely disperse each manure mat sample was determined. Gain:feed improved (P < 0.05) in pigs fed Bacillus compared with the control diet during the finisher phase and throughout the combined growing-finishing period. The time required to dissolve the manure mat was reduced (P < 0.01) in samples collected from pens containing pigs fed Bacillus compared with samples from control pens. An additional evaluation was conducted in a commercial swine production facility using statistical process control analysis. Statistical process control analysis determined that supplementation with Bacillus increased the expected mean for ADG and decreased the expected mean for death loss percentage. Supplementation with a DFM composed of specifically selected Bacillus organisms improved G:F and decreased the time required to disperse a swine manure mat sample in a controlled study conducted at swine research facilities. Furthermore, when evaluated in a commercial swine production facility, the Bacillus-based DFM improved ADG and reduced mortality of pigs during the growing-finishing period.     

Effects of farrowing system on behavior and growth performance of growing-finishing pigs

A study was conducted to compare growth performance and behaviors of group-farrowed pigs with those of confinement-farrowed pigs. A total of 216 pigs (8 wk of age) were used, with an equal number of group-farrowed or confinement-farrowed pigs from 1 farrowing batch. Group-farrowed pigs were farrowed in bedded, individual pens and mingled into a group of 8 litters at 12 (±1.3) d of age. Pigs were weaned at 33 (±1.3) d and remained in the farrowing room until 8 wk of age. Confinement-farrowed pigs were farrowed in farrowing crates. At weaning (32 ± 2.0 d of age), confinement-farrowed pigs were mixed and moved to pens of 9 pigs in a confinement nursery and remained there until 8 wk of age. At 8 wk of age, pigs from the 2 housing systems were allocated to 24 pens of 9 pigs in a confinement growing-finishing barn, with 12 pens from each of the housing systems. Within farrowing system, pigs from different groups or pens were mixed upon entering the growing-finishing barn. Individual BW was recorded at allotment (wk 0) to the growing-finishing barn and every 2 wk thereafter for 14 wk. Feed intake and G:F were monitored on a pen basis every 2 wk between wk 0 and 14 of the study period. Behaviors of pigs were video recorded in 6 pens of each housing treatment for 24 h on the day of mixing (d 0), d 7, and d 14 after mixing in the finisher barn. The video recordings were scanned at 5-min intervals to calculate behavioral time budgets for lying, standing, eating, drinking, and belly nosing. Data were analyzed using the Proc Mixed model of SAS with repeated measures. Compared with confinement-farrowed pigs, group-farrowed pigs spent more time lying (85.7 vs. 82.7%; SE = 0.75; P < 0.001) and belly nosing (0.05 vs. 0.02%; P < 0.05) and less time standing (5.8 vs. 7.5%; SE = 0.49; P < 0.01) and eating (7.3 vs. 9.3%; SE = 0.40; P < 0.001). The difference in behavioral time budgets was associated with differences in performance of pigs from the 2 housing systems. Group-farrowed pigs exhibited greater ADG (866 vs. 814 g; SE = 10.3; P < 0.01) for the initial 2 wk after mixing, less ADFI (2,004 vs. 2,188 g; SE = 42.5; P < 0.05), and improved G:F (0.431 vs. 0.393; SE = 0.0078; P < 0.01) for the entire 14-wk study period compared with confinement-farrowed pigs. These results suggest that group-farrowed pigs were more efficient than confinement-farrowed pigs in utilizing dietary energy for BW gain by lying more and standing and eating less during the growing and finishing period.     

吡啶甲酸铬对生长猪生产性能和组织中铬残留的影响

选用96头体重(24.67±0.36)kg,公母各半达兰猪,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复6头。对照组饲喂基础日粮,3个试验组分别添加200、400μg/kg和800μg/kg吡啶甲酸铬(以铬计)。另外,选用8头体重(24.98±0.56)kg达兰猪,随机分为2组,添加1600μg/kg和3200μg/kg吡啶甲酸铬(以铬计),试验期28d。结果表明,添加200～800μg/kg吡啶甲酸铬对猪平均日增重和饲料转化效率无显著影响(P>0.05),但可提高饲料采食量,800μg/kg处理组的采食量显著高于其他3个处理组(P=0.01)。添加200～3200μg/kg吡啶甲酸铬猪组织中铬残留量为0.08～0.35mg/kg。     

添加苜蓿草粉对育肥猪生产性能和肉品质的影响

本研究旨在通过为期3个月的舍内连续饲喂试验,探讨在饲粮中添加苜蓿(Medicago sativa)草粉对育肥猪生产性能和肉品质的影响。试验选取60kg左右、胎次相近、体重相近、健康状况良好的杜×长×大育肥猪160头,公母各半。本试验共设置5个处理,即对照组和试验1、2、3、4组,每组4个重复,每个重复8头猪。饲粮中苜蓿草粉水平依次为0、5%、10%、15%和20%。结果表明,1)10%苜蓿草粉添加量显著(P0.05)提高了育肥猪的末重,且10%和15%苜蓿草粉添加量显著(P0.05)提高了育肥猪的日增重,显著(P0.05)降低了育肥猪的料重比。2)当苜蓿草粉添加量为10%、15%和20%时,猪眼肌面积显著(P0.05)高于其他各处理,当苜蓿草粉添加量为5%、10%和15%时,育肥猪肌内脂肪含量显著(P0.05)高于其他各处理,但是各苜蓿草粉添加量对猪肉的pH、系水率、熟肉率等指标均无显著影响(P0.05)。综合认为,苜蓿草粉添加量对育肥猪的生产性能和肉品质有一定的改善,其中10%的添加量效果最好。     

不同绿色预混料对商品肉猪生产性能的影响

选择体重 15kg左右的杜×长×本三元杂交仔猪 12 0头 ,分为 3组 ,每组设 5个重复 ,每重复 8头猪进行试验 ,以观察不同绿色预混料对商品肉猪生产性能的影响。各组基础日粮完全相同 ,对照组饲喂含有药物添加剂的商品性预混料 ,2个试验组分别饲喂不含药物添加剂的自配预混料。试验结果表明 ,2个试验组的平均日增重明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而料重比和腹泻率明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,肌肉pH值及肌内脂肪含量无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,试验 2组与对照组相比 ,肌肉总色素含量明显提高 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,滴水损失明显下降 (P <0 .0 5 )。     

圈舍卫生状况及日粮色氨酸对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响

卫生状况的改变会影响动物色氨酸的代谢．可能会导致色氨酸供应不足。本试验旨在研究轻度炎症与色氨酸对动物生长性能、色氨酸代谢、血浆氨基酸浓度、血浆球蛋白、谷胱甘肽浓度等方面的影响。试验显示脏乱圈舍环境不仅可造成断奶仔猪轻度炎症反应．还会引起仔猪对色氨酸代谢的改变，表明充足的色氨酸有益于断奶仔猪生长．     

Regrouping of pigs by body weight at weaning does not affect growth performance,carcass quality or uniformity at slaughter of heavy weight pigs

We studied the influence of pen uniformity at weaning (7.5 ± 0.6 kg vs. 7.5 ± 1.2 kg body weight (BW ± SD)) and sex on growth performance during the nursery (7.5 to 27.3 kg BW) and the fattening (27.1 to 130.5 kg BW) phases and carcass quality of barrows and castrated females (CF). During the nursery phase, pigs from the more uniform pens had lower feed efficiency (P = 0.05) than pigs from the less uniform pens. Also, barrows had higher average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P < 0.05) and average daily gain (P < 0.001) and better feed efficiency (P < 0.001) than CF. During the fattening phase, initial pen uniformity did not affect growth performance of the pigs but barrows tended (P = 0.08) to have higher ADFI and worse feed efficiency than CF. Trimmed primal cut yield tended to be higher for the more uniform pigs and better for barrows than for CF (P = 0.09). It is concluded that regrouping of the pigs at weaning according to uniformity of BW did not affect growth performance or carcass quality of the pigs at slaughter. Castrated females might be used as an alternative to barrows for the production of carcasses destined to the dry‐cured industry.     

Effects of space allocations and energy levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing and finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of different space allocations and different dietary metabolizable energy (ME) levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing and finishing pigs. In experiment 1, a total of 84 growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an initial body weight (BW) of 27.10 ± 1.60 kg were used in a 5‐week trial. Pigs were blocked based on initial BW into a 2 × 2 factorial design with the following factors: (i) 0.60 or 0.80 m²/pig space allocations; and (ii) 3,400 or 3,550 kcal/kg ME of diets. In experiment 2, a total of 84 finishing pigs with an initial BW of 67.43 ± 1.97 kg were used in a 10‐week trial. Pigs were allotted based on initial BW into a 2 × 2 factorial design with the following factors: (i) 0.81 or 1.08 m²/pig space allocations; and (ii) 3,300 or 3,450 kcal/kg ME of diet. In experiment 1, high ME diet improved gain‐to‐feed ratio (G:F) in pigs with low space allocation but not in pigs in high space allocation (p < .05). Additionally, high ME diet increased apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nitrogen in low space allocation but decreased ATTD of nitrogen in high space allocation (p < .05). In experiment 2, high ME diet improved average daily gain (ADG) and G:F in early‐finishing pigs with low space allocation but not in pigs with high space allocation (p < .05). In conclusion, the provision of high ME diets was not enough to overcome the reduction in growth performance due to low space allocation but can improve feed efficiency in growing pigs and daily gain and feed efficiency early‐finishing pigs.