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Industry Partners
Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Evaluation of the optimal space allowance for nursery pigs
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre, Production, Welfare by admin on May 5, 2017
2 studies were preformed to determine the effects of space allowance and group size on:
- Piglet growth and feed efficiency
- Behaviour and welfare
2.Compare the effects of controlled studies (Phase 1) and commercial trials (Phase 2)
- In grow-finish pigs a k value (space allowance coefficient) of 0.0335 is recommended below which productivity (ADG) decreases
- Relatively little is known about the effects of space allowance in nursery pigs
PHASE 1
-Lower space allowances resulted in pigs feeding more frequently and for a shorter duration, but did not have an obvious impact on growth or welfare
-Pigs at higher space allowances had higher cortisol levels, possibly as a result of higher activity levels
-Overlying was greatest at nursery entry and reduced over time
–No clear effect of density on growth
–Seasonal effects
-limited effects found in PSC trials
–Some effects of space on behaviour
–Effects of group size on behaviour
PHASE 2
- Commercial trials show density effects on growth and behaviour
- General agreement with Code values
- ADG reduced at lower space allowances