Unrestricted whey for fattening pigs

Abstract

1. Results are reported from two experiments in a series to determine the optimal amount of meal to be fed in conjunction with unrestricted whey for fattening pigs.2. In both experiments, one carried out during the summer and the other during the winter season, the same four treatments were given. The control pigs received meal ad. lib up to a maximum of 6½ lb./ head daily. Pigs on the other three treatments received whey ad lib., and either 3 lb., or 3 lb. reduced at two different stages to 2 lb. of meal per head daily. There were ten pens of nine pigs on each treatment, involving a total of 360 pigs. Comprehensive carcass measurements were made on all pigs.3. The data obtained showed that satisfactory results could be obtained by feeding a daily allowance of 3 lb./pig of a proprietary sow and weaner meal throughout the fattening period, in conjunction with unrestricted whey. Where the utilization of as much whey and as little meal as possible was required, it was shown that a reduction from 3 to 2 lb. meal/pig/day by the 13th week of life could be made without adverse effects, apart from an increase of approximately 12 days in the time taken to reach bacon weights.4. Carcass grading results of all whey-fed pigs were reasonably satisfactory, but both the carcass grading and general performance of the control animals was not good. Possible reasons for this were discussed.5. Data concerning the pattern of food consumption over 14-day periods throughout the experiments were presented. Pigs given 3 lb. of meal/day throughout, or 3 lb. reduced to 2 lb./day, consumed up to approximately 3¼–3½ or 3¾–4 gal. of whey/day respectively.

Protein supplementation of rations based o whey for growing pigs

“…Pigs fed 2-!-lb meal daily grew on average 10% faster than those receiving only 1-!-lb meal, and in this respect the results agreed with those reported by other workers relating to the effect of the level of meal feeding on the growth performance of pigs fed diets containing whey (Braude et al 1957;Dunkin unpubl. data).…”

“…by the ratio of meal to whey. Because of the relative protein contents (both quantitative and qualitative) of cereals and whey, and the fact that the growth performance of pigs improves as the allowance of meal supplement increases (Braude, Mitchell, Clarke, Cray, Franke, and Sedgwick 1957;Dunkin unpub!. data), the requirement of supplementary protein is likely to be higher as the amount of meal fed increases.…”

Lactose utilisation by the growing pig

“…In general the results show that whey-fed pigs may be slightly less fat than all-meal-fed pigs, but these results may have arisen from the slower live weight gains reported in the whey-fed groups after approximately 150 Ib live weight. The differences were mainly associated with a reduced back-fat thickness and increased length, but no differences in eye muscle area were reported (Braude, Clarke, Mitchell, Cray, Franke, and Sedgwick 1957;Braude, Mitchell, Cray, Franke, and Sedgwick 1959a). In experiments conducted by this group of workers, involving different levels of meal supplementation and where all treatment groups received whey ad Lib., no significant differences in carcass characteristics have been reported Sedgwick 1958, 1959b;Mitchell and Sedgwick 1963).…”

The effect of changes in feeding patterns on the performance of pigs

“…Pigs at the lowest water intake, but having access to additional sources of water, did augment their intake, on the average by about I Ib/day, their total intake of water being 2-5 lb/lb feed. Pigs with free access to water drank on the average 2.5 Ib/lb feed (Braude, Clarke, Mitchell, Cray, Franke & Sedgwick, 1957). Bowland (1965) found no adverse effects when water was restricted to 1.5 Ib/lb feed.…”