Feeding systems swine performance test

Abstract

Performance data of 120 Landrace boars tested in the Concórdia (SC) central test Stations were analyzed in 1976. The animals were tested under two feeding systems: "ad-libitum" and "controlled". Equal number of observations was available in both systems. The aim was to verify the performance differences between groups and probable influences on a breeding program. Phenotypic correlations between characteristics were estimated and data were compared in the growing (30 to 60 kg), finishing (60 to 100 kg) and whole (30 to 100 kg) periods. Animals tested under controlled feeding system (two times a day, according to the live weight) presented better performance, specially on feed efficiency. It was also observed that the feeding table, based on live weight, did not supply the requirements of the animals, whose performance was worse than that of the animals in "ad-libitum" system, during the growing period. Such a fact did not occur in the finishing period. Since the test results will be applied in she farms, where usually "ad-libitum" feed is used, none advantage was observed in the controlled feed. Moreover, controlled feeding system is more expensive than "ad-libitum" because more work is needed to conduct the test. It was observed however a greater correlation between feed efficiency and daily gain in the controlled feeding system.