Effects of restricted feed intake on finishing pigs weighing between 68 and 114 kilograms fed twice or 6 times daily1

Abstract

In a previous study with limit-fed gestating gilts, we observed that gilts fed 6 times/d had greater ADG than those fed the same amount over 2 feedings. To confirm these earlier responses, we used finishing pigs as a model in two 42-d trials and two 28-d trials to evaluate the effects of restricted feed intake and feeding frequency (2 vs. 6 times/d, floor fed) on pig performance between 68 and 114 kg. In all experiments, pigs (10/pen) were housed in 1.8 × 3.1 m pens with a half-solid, half-slatted concrete floor. Pigs were fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet formulated to 1.15% standardized ileal digestible Lys and 3,294 kcal of ME/kg. In Exp. 1 to 3, energy and Lys were supplied to pigs according to NRC (1998) calculations to target an ADG of 0.80 kg. In Exp. 4, the diet was supplied to pigs to target an ADG of 0.80 kg (low feed intake) or 0.95 kg (high feed intake) to determine if the amount of energy above the maintenance requirement and feeding frequency affected pig performance. Pigs were fed by dropping similar amounts of feed onto the solid concrete floor either 2 (0700 or 1400 h) or 6 times (3 meals within 2 h at the morning and afternoon feedings) per day with an Accu-Drop Feed Dispenser (AP Systems, Assumption, IL). In Exp. 1 and 2, pigs fed 6 times daily had increased (P < 0.02) ADG and G:F compared with pigs fed 2 times per day. Greater feeding frequency increased (P < 0.05) the duration of time spent feeding and standing and reduced the lying time. In Exp. 3, a third treatment was included to determine whether the improvements in performance were due to decreased feed wastage. This treatment was designed to minimize feed wastage by dropping feed closer to the floor for pigs fed 2 times per day. Pigs fed 6 times daily had improved (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F compared with pigs in either treatment fed 2 times per day. No difference (P > 0.05) in performance was observed between pigs fed 2 times per day when feed was dropped from the feed drop or by the modified method. In Exp. 4, increasing the feeding frequency from 2 to 6 times per day improved (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F for pigs fed the low feed intake and tended to increase (P < 0.06) ADG and improved (P < 0.05) G:F for pigs fed the high feed intake. In limit-feeding situations, increasing the frequency of feeding from 2 to 6 times per day improved pig performance, which confirmed our earlier findings in gestating gilts.

Effects of feeding frequency on meat quality traits and Longissimus muscle proteome in finishing pigs

“…The FA pigs had greater fat deposition and improved growth performance than meal‐fed pigs, which might be partly attributed to the increased feed intake of FA pigs. The greater fat deposition may be the main reason for the decrease in G:F. In addition, finishing pigs fed six meals per day had increased ADG compared with pigs fed two meals daily when pigs were restrictedly fed at same ADFI from 68 to 114 kg (Schneider et al., ), which confirms that increasing meal frequency had beneficial effects on growth performance of gilts (Schneider et al., ).…”

“…In agreement with these findings is the difference in protein synthesis and AA catabolism between pigs fed 2 or 12 meals per day (Le Naou et al., ). Furthermore, whether conflicting effects of meal frequency on growth performance and tissues deposition between pigs at different growth phase was caused by the changes in amino acid metabolism and protein turnover in response to meal frequency needs further investigations (Friend and Cunningham, ; Allee et al., ; Schneider et al., , ; Le Naou et al., ). This is because of the partition of digested nutrient used for lipid and protein deposition varied among pigs at different growth phase.…”

“…However, conflicting results of meal frequency on BW and fat gain in pigs were observed among previous studies (Friend and Cunningham, 1964;Allee et al, 1972;Schneider et al, 2011). While some experiments showed that increased meal frequency improved growth performance of pigs (Schneider et al, 2007(Schneider et al, , 2011, other works reported otherwise (Allee et al, 1972;Le Naou et al, 2014). However, Le Naou et al (2014) indicated that pigs fed twice daily had greater BW gain and feed efficiency than those fed 12 meals per day.…”

“…Feeding frequency has been considered as an important factor to affect body weight (BW) gain and fat deposition in animals and human (Schwarz et al., ; Chaix et al., ; Le Naou et al., ). Meal frequency impacts BW gain by regulating the partition and storage of energy (glycogen and lipids), rather than modulating the digestibility and absorption of nutrients in pigs (Leveille, ; Allee et al., ; Chastanet et al., ; Schneider et al., ). However, conflicting results of meal frequency on BW and fat gain in pigs were observed among previous studies (Friend and Cunningham, ; Allee et al., ; Schneider et al., ).…”

“…Meal frequency impacts BW gain by regulating the partition and storage of energy (glycogen and lipids), rather than modulating the digestibility and absorption of nutrients in pigs (Leveille, 1966;Allee et al, 1972;Chastanet et al, 2007;Schneider et al, 2011). However, conflicting results of meal frequency on BW and fat gain in pigs were observed among previous studies (Friend and Cunningham, 1964;Allee et al, 1972;Schneider et al, 2011). While some experiments showed that increased meal frequency improved growth performance of pigs (Schneider et al, 2007(Schneider et al, , 2011, other works reported otherwise (Allee et al, 1972;Le Naou et al, 2014).…”