Effect of mixing at weaning and nutrient density of the weaner diet on growth performance and welfare of pigs to slaughter

Porcine Health Management

Research

David Solà-Oriol¹  José Francisco Pérez¹  Francesc González-Solé¹  Peadar G. Lawlor²  Jordi Camp Montoro²  Laura A. Boyle²  Edgar Garcia Manzanilla³ 

[1] Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service (SNIBA), Department of Animal and Food Science, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain;Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Fermoy, Ireland;Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Fermoy, Ireland;School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, 4, Dublin, Ireland;

关键词: Behaviour;    Chronic aggression;    Compensatory growth;    Dominance hierarchy;    Feed competition;    Regrouping;    Skin lesions;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40813-023-00334-w

 received in 2023-05-23, accepted in 2023-08-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMixing pigs at weaning can compromise pig welfare and growth. Therefore, grouping littermates together may allow a diet nutrient and energy density reduction during the nursery period to reduce feed cost without affecting slaughter weight. This study investigated the combined effect of mixing and reducing dietary energy and nutrient density on growth performance, body lesions (BL), and behaviour in pigs from weaning to slaughter.ResultsForty-eight litters [554 pigs, 11–12 pigs/litter; Danish Duroc × (Large White × Landrace)] were included in the trial. At 28 days of age, pigs were weaned and housed in nursery rooms in litter groups (INTACT, n = 24) or mixed with other litters and grouped by weight to reduce within-pen pig weight variation (MIXED, n = 24). A dietary regimen meeting pigs’ nutritional requirements (CON) and a low-density dietary regimen (LOW; -10% energy and protein) completed a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (Mixing x Diet, n = 12). On day 74 of age, pigs moved to the grower-finisher accommodation without further mixing and all pigs received the CON dietary regimen. Mixing increased FCR by 4.0% during the nursery period (p = 0.003). Nursery pigs fed LOW experienced a growth retardation which was maintained until slaughter (-2.6 kg slaughter weight; p = 0.025). Initial differences in the coefficient of variation (CV) between MIXED (10.4%) and INTACT (17.6%; p < 0.001) pigs were reduced in CON pens but not in LOW pens (interaction p = 0.025) at the end of the nursery period. MIXED pigs had more fights and BL (p < 0.001) at weaning and showed more aggression (p = 0.003) after being moved to the grower-finisher rooms. At the end of the nursery period, MIXED pigs fed LOW showed the highest number of aggressive behaviours around the feeder (interaction; p = 0.003) and pigs fed LOW showed more damaging behaviour (p < 0.001).ConclusionsMixing animals at weaning had limited impact on growth performance but impaired welfare which was aggravated by energy and nutrient reduction in the nursery diet. Decreasing dietary nutrient density in the nursery stage retarded growth, which could not be compensated for during the growing-finishing period.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 4

Fig. 3

Fig. 3