Space allowance for pigs raised in concrete flored pens and in metalic cages

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out at the "Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Suínos e Aves", Concórdia, SC, Brazil. The objective was to examine the performance of post-weaned pigs raised concrete floored pens and iron cages with different stocking rates. Groups of six, eight and ten pigs in each pen with partially slotted floor were used in the experiment I. The space allowance was 0.242, 0.182 and 0.145 m² per pig. The pigs were placed in groups of seven, nine and eleven in each cage in the experiment II, and the space allowance was 0.240, 0.186 and 0.152 m² per pig. Four hundred and eight Landrace and Landrace x Large White crossbreed pigs of both sexes were used during a period of five weeks. The performance results indicated that the space allowance of 0.242 m² (six pigs per pen); 0.240 m² (seven pigs per cage); 0.182 m² (eight pigs per pen) and 0.186 m² (nine pigs per cage) can be recommended for post-weaned pigs varying in weight from 8 to 25 kg. The winter period had a significant effect on performance of the pigs in the pen, but had no effect on the performance of the pigs in the cages. The best economic results correspond to the space allowance of 0.242 m² per pig in pen.