Pig Stocking Density

Interaction between sex, stocking density and breed on the growth performance and behaviour of growing pigs

Chapter 2. Literature Review
2.1 Introduction Pig housing systems are expensive to construct and operate; therefore management strategies that maximize the output can have a marked economic influence (Wolter et al, 2002). Market place in the pork industry demands that pig producers should regularly amend their production practices in order to remain profitable, increase profits or minimize losses. One of the keys to maximize the output of the facility is to determine the appropriate stocking density. Increasing the stocking density is the most common way of increasing the output in commercial operations. However, as the stocking density increases the floor space allowance per pig is reduced which results in overcrowding, especially prior to the market. Pigs are very much sociable animals and their social behaviour is known to be heavily influenced by stocking density. Crowding of pigs can results in reduction of growth rate, animal welfare by increasing the prevalence of aggressive behaviours. Crowding of pigs can also affect the gain: feed ratio (G: F), carcass fat and other

Table 2: Effects of group size and sex on feeding behaviour of growing pigs
Trait Group size SEM Sex 2 4 8 12 Barrow Gilts
Number of feeder visits per day 20.6ab 22.4a 18.2c 19.4b 0.52 20.7a 19.6b
Feed intake per visit, g/pig 98.9ab 86.8c 101.8a 94.6b 2.67 93.7 97.3
Feeder occupation time per visit, min/pig 6.33ab 6.19b 6.71a 5.88b 0.166 6.26 6.30
Feeder occupation time per day, min/pig 123.2a 127.7a 112.1ab 99.0b 2.11 118.3a