Effect of advancing the supply of finisher diet on growth performances and carcass and pork quality of heavy barrows and gilts

Abstract

A total of 120 Duroc × (Large White × Landrace) pigs, 50% barrows and 50% gilts, with 54.1 ± 0.14 kg BW and 103 ± 3 days of age, were used to study the effect of advancing the shift to a standard finisher feed from 100 to 90 and 80 kg BW on production performances and carcass and pork quality. Each of the six treatments (two sexes × three BWs at time of feeding shift) was replicated four times and the experimental unit was the pen (with five pigs for growth performance and carcass variables and three pigs for pork and fat traits). The grower (163 g CP and 9.5 g total Lys/kg) and the finisher diets (152 g CP and 7.9 g total Lys/kg) were based on maize, barley and vegetal protein concentrates, contained 13.39 MJ metabolizable energy/kg and were offered ad libitum through the trial. Pigs intended for dry-cured product elaboration were slaughtered at 170 ± 3 days of age as average (124 and 115 kg BW for barrows and gilts, respectively). For the overall period, barrows ate more feed (P < 0.001) and grew faster (P = 0.03) than gilts. No effect of feed shift was observed on growth performances, although the average daily CP intake (P = 0.01) and feeding costs (P = 0.04) were reduced by advancing the transition to the finisher feed. Carcasses from barrows were heavier (P < 0.001) and had wider backfat depth (P < 0.001) than those from gilts but no significant differences were observed in the meat chemical composition. The feed change schedule did not modify carcass or meat traits. It is concluded that an early shift to the finisher feed (at 80 kg BW instead of 100 kg BW) might be an interesting strategy in pigs intended for dry-cured products because, although it neither increased body fatness nor improved pork quality, CP intake and feeding costs were reduced without impairment of growth performances. Results were similar for barrows and gilts.

Effect of Immunocastration and Diet on Growth Performance, Serum Metabolites and Sex Hormones, Reproductive Organ Development and Carcass Quality of Heavy Gilts

“…These results imply that increasing the dietary energy in gilts destined for Teruel ham from 76 to 134 kg BW could compensate pig farmers, depending on the price of fat sources. Additionally, in this period and in these types of gilts, the application of a diet with low CP and AA contents would reduce feeding cost, because this diet is cheaper, without penalizing growth performance, as well as contributing to reduced nitrogen losses to the environment [30]. When the period of administration of the experimental diets was broader (around 30-115 kg BW), several authors [31][32][33] found no effect of increase dietary energy on ADG and ADFI.…”

A new approach to sustainable pork production through the use of innovations in feeding

“…Diet balancing was calculated on the basis of current recommendations for highly productive animals; it was regulated on the basis of age, sex, and live weight [15].…”

“…The importance of studying the fatty acid composition is noted in many scientific studies [15][16][17][18]. Studies of the chemical composition and physical parameters of the pork fat are presented in table 7.…”

Effect of Castration Type and Diet on Growth Performance, Serum Sex Hormones and Metabolites, and Carcass Quality of Heavy Male Pigs

“…The results obtained with the experimental diets would imply that the increase in 0.15 Mcal of net energy/kg in the diet, from 80 to 137 kg BW, in barrows intended for Teruel dry-cured ham elaboration, could be beneficial for pig farmers, depending on the price of fat sources. In addition, in this period and in this type of animals, a reduction in 2% of CP and 0.10% of standardized ileal digestible lysine would decrease feeding costs, increase the profits of pig farmers and reduce nitrogen losses to the environment [31].…”