Large pig pens perform well compared to smaller pens
Is there a difference in feed intake? And can finishers achieve the same daily gain when housed in pens with 45 pigs compared to normal pens with 18 pigs?
This is currently being studied by SEGES Innovation, an independent research and development organisation within agriculture in Denmark. The preliminary results show that large pens measured in terms of productivity perform well compared to the smaller pens.
The preliminary results from a trial involving large groups show that the same feed conversion can be achieved in pens with both 18 and 45 finishers.
Previous studies showed that increasing group size can adversely impact daily gain and feed conversion. The studies were conducted with group sizes of 80-100 pigs, with a decrease in daily gain of approximately 40 grams and a drop in feed conversion of 0.1-0.15 Feed Unit finisher/kg). The hypothesis was that pigs in larger pens would achieve 50 grams lower daily gain, 0.1 percentage points lower meat percentage and 0.05 poorer feed conversion compared to pigs housed in traditional pens.
According to the preliminary results from the latest study, this does not indicate a difference in the production value per pig, but possibly a difference in the production value per pen space as pigs in larger pens grow at a slightly slower rate. Until now, daily gain has been 1,241 grams/day in small pens with 18 pigs and 1,216 grams/day in larger pens with 45 pigs. There was a higher feed intake among pigs in the smaller pens compared to pigs in the larger pens, i.e. 3.16 FU finisher per day and 3.09 FU finisher per day, which means that based on the preliminary figures, there is no difference in feed conversion, which is 2.54 FU finisher/kg daily gain in both groups. Finally, the meat percentage ended up at 58.9 and 59.1 respectively.
In addition to the fact that large pens can be used in a wide building, the cost of equipment can be reduced by increasing the size of pens. The impact of pen size on the time required for supervision and removal of pigs has yet to be determined. However, the process of removing pigs is expected to take longer in larger pens while the time spent on supervision will be the same.
About the study:
Project coordinator is Senior Scientist Torben Jensen from SEGES Innovation.
The preliminary results comprised 865 pigs in standard pens and 1621 pigs in pens with space for 45 pigs.
Penning weight was 29 and 28.7 kg.
The study is still underway and the statistical certainty of the figures is still being determined.