Interaction Between Pig Density and Dietary Energy on Performance and Returns
Dietary net energy and stocking density independently affect performance, feed utilization and profits in the finisher barn.
24 March 2016
2 minute read
By: When stocking density was increased, the performance of finishing pigs was reduced; however the income over feed cost (IOFC) was maximized when pigs were stocked at higher densities.
Furthermore, finishing pigs responded to increasing dietary energy by decreasing feed intake and improving growth rate, feed efficiency, caloric intake, caloric efficiency, and IOFC.
However, the dietary energy which maximized performance and economics did not vary with stocking density. Thus producers should optimize both of these factors separately when determining optimal production.
