The Effects of Group Sizes on Behaviors, Meat Characteristics and Growth Performance of Growing and Finishing Pigs Under Tropical Conditions in Thailand
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Abstract
The objectives of this study was to evaluate the effect of group size on growth performance of growing and finishing pigs under tropical conditions in Thailand. The group sizes were 4, 8, and 12 pigs per pen, providing a floor allowance of 1.50, 0.75, and 0.51 m2/pig, respectively. The pigs that were reared in a group size of 12 pigs per pen ate, drank, walked, mouth piped, rooted the floor, rooted the pipe and pawed more significantly often (P<0.05) than did the pigs that were reared in group sizes of 4 and 8 pigs per pen. These feeding behaviors and the high temperature of Thailand caused high rectal and skin temperatures, which were the highest in the group size of 12 pigs per pen. Moreover, the high temperature and the increased group size may cause heat stress, which would decrease the average daily gain (ADG). The largest group size of 12 pigs per pen presented the lowest ADG in both growing and finishing phases, which significantly differed (P<0.05) compared to the group sizes of 4 and 8 pigs per pen. In addition, the high temperature and the feeding frequency in the group sizes of 8 and 12 pigs per pen provided a better back fat thickness that was significantly less than that of the group size of 4 pigs per pen (P<0.05). So the appropriate group sizes and floor allowance for feeding growing and finishing pig were 8 pigs per pen or 0.75 m2 due to the high rate of ADG and the thinner back fat thickness (P < 0.05)
Keywords: Group Size, Growing and Finishing Pigs, Growth Performance
References
Armstrong, D. V. (1994). Heat stress interaction with shade and cooling. Journal of Dairy Science, 77, 2044-2050.
Bellego, L. E., Van, I., Milgen, J., & Noblet, J. (2002). Effect of high temperature and low-protein diets on the performance of growing-finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 80(3), 691–701.
Boggs, D. L., & Merkel, A. R. (1993). Live animal carcass evaluation and selection manual (4th ed.). Kendal/Hunt Pub. Co: Dubuque.
Bull, R. P., Harrison, P. C., Skowski, G. L. R., & Gonyou, H. W. (1997). Preferenceamong cooling systems by Gilts under heat stress. Journal of Animal Science, 75, 2078-2083.
Caldara, F. R., Moi, M., Santo, L. S. A., meida, I. C. L., Paz, R. G., Garcianääs, I. A., & Ernandes, A. R. M. (2013). Carcass Characteristics and Qualitative Attributes of Pork from Imunocastrated. Journal of
Animal Science, 26, 1630-1636.
Froning, G. W., Bagabji, A. S., & Mater, F. B. (1978). The effect of preslaughter temperature, stress, stuggle and anesthetization on color and textural characteristics of turkey muscle. Journal of Poultry Science, 57, 630-633.
Gonyou, H. W., & Strickl, W. R. (1998). Effects of floor area allowance and group size on the productivity of growing/finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 76, 1326-1330.
Harapin, I. L., Bedrica, V., Hahn, B. S., & Gracner, D. (2003). Hematological and biochemical values in blood of wild boar (susserofaferus). Journal of VeterinarskiArhiv, 73(6), 333-343.
Hyun, Y., & Ellis, M. (2002). Effect of group size and feeder type on growth performance and feeding patterns in finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 80, 568-574.
Harold, W. G., & Stricklin, W. R. (1998). Effects of floor area allowance and group size on the productivity of growing /Finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 76, 1326-1330.
Kiefer, C., Meignen, B. C. G., Sanches, J. F., & Carrijo, A. S. (2009). Resposta de suínos em crescimento man tidos em diferentes temperaturas. Archivos de Zootecnia, 58(221), 1-11.
National Research Council. (1994) Nutrient requirements of swine (9th ed.). Washiugton, D.C.: National Research Press.
Pfeiffer, H., & Falkenberg, H. (1972). MasseamLendenlspiegelzurobjektivenErmittlungderSchlachtlkorperzusam mensetzungbeiSchwein. Journal of Tierzucht, 26, 466-467.
Quiniou, N., & Noblet, J. (1999). Influence of Highambient temperatures on performance of multiparous lactating sows. Journal of Animal Science, 77, 2124-2134.
Reodecha, C., Ingkaninun, P., & Kunavongkrit, A. (2000). Swine Research Status in Thailand (1958-2000). Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
SAS Institute. (1999). SAS/STAT@ uger’s Guide v”9. Cary, North Carolina: SaSInstituleInc.
Schmolke, S. A., Li, Y. Z., & Gonyou, H. W. (2003). Effect of group size on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 81, 874-878.
Sripromma, J. (1984). EinflussderFütterungsintensitätundderKörpermasseaufdieSchlachtkörperQualitätbeim Schwein. Dissertation, Hohemheim University, Stuttgard, Germany.
Sawangtub, J. R. (1996). Principle of livestock. Buriram: Animal science program, Faculty of Agricultural Technology Buriram Rajabhat University.
Steel, R. G. D., & Torrie, J. H. (1980). Principle and procedure of statistics. New York: McGraw-Hill Book company.
Somparn, P. P. (2016). Natural Behaviour : Pig and Chicken Welfare. Journal of Science and Technology, 24, 87-101.
Tantasuparuk, W., Lundeheim, N. D., Kunavongkrit, A. M., & Einarsson, A. S. (2000). Reproductive performance of purebred Landrace and Yorkshire sows in Thailand with special reference to seasonal influence and parity number. Journal of Theriogenology, 54, 481-496.
Trezona, M. B. P., Mullan, M. D., Antuono, R. H., & Williamsi, I. (2004). The causes of seasonal variation in back fat thickness of pigs in Western Australia. Australia Journal of Agricultural Research, 55, 273-277.
Wolter, B. F., Ellis, M., Curtis, S. E., Augspurger, N. R., Hamilton. D. N., Parr, E. N., & Webel, D. M. (2001). Effect of group size on pig performance in a wean-to-finish production system. Journal of Animal Science, 79, 1067-1073.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.