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A note on the diets selected by boars given a choice between two foods of different protein concentrations from 44 to 103 kg live weight

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

I. Kyriazakis ,
G. C. Emmans  and
A. J. Taylor
I. Kyriazakis
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
G. C. Emmans
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
A. J. Taylor
Affiliation:
BOCM Silcock Ltd, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 2EQ
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Abstract

Ten Large White × Landrace boars at an initial live weight of 43 kg were given free access to two isoenergetic foods with 119 (L) and 222 (H) g crude protein (CP) per kg food as a choice, for 54 days. Six more similar boars were given access to food H only. The diet selected by the choice-fed pigs (measured as the proportion of food H per kg total food intake) changed systematically with time; the CP content of the selected diet fell from 193 in the first 7 days to 146 g CP per kg food in the last 7 days. The performance of the choicefed pigs, over the 54-day period, was as good as that of those given food H only: live-weight gain was 1101 v. 1069 g/day and food conversion efficiency 0·380 v. 0·374 g gain per g food respectively. However, the choice-feeding system allowed boars to reduce the protein content of their diet as they grew. It is suggested that it might be possible to give pigs a choice between two appropriate foods during the whole growing-fattening period instead of frequently changing the composition for their single food in order to try to meet their requirements.

Keywords

appetitefood preferencesgrowthpigsprotein intake
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 56 , Issue 1 , February 1993 , pp. 151 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

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