Effect of feed form and heat processing on the growth performance of growing and finishing pigs

摘要

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different feed processing methods (pelleting and/or expansion) and feed physical form on the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs submitted to quantitative feed control. Commercial hybrid boars (n=200), with 22 kg initial body weight were distributed in a randomized complete block design with 5 treatments and 8 replicate pens of 5 pigs each. Treatments consisted of a mash feed, pelleted feed, expanded-pelleted feed, expanded-mash feed, and mash feed with previously expanded corn and soybean meal. Daily feed intake, average body weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were calculated at 63, 98, 128, 157, and 185 d. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, and when significant, treatment means were compared by orthogonal contrasts. No differences were detected for daily feed intake. However, from 63 to 128 d, the pigs fed processed diets showed improvements (P < 0.05) for average daily gain (2.9%), body weight (1.9%), and feed conversion (2.9%) compared with those fed the unprocessed mash diet. Growth performance variables evaluated for the cumulative periods of 63 to 157 and 63 to 185 d were not influenced by the treatments. It was concluded that feed processing positively influences growth performance of growing pigs (63 to 128 d) submitted to controlled feeding programs.