Efficiency of Feed Utilization in Swine: A Review of Research and Current Applications

摘要

A review of research on the efficiency of feed utilization in swine during the growing-finishing period is presented. The major conclusions include the following: Efficiency (E), expressed either as units of feed consumed (F) per unit of gain in weight (G), F/G, or as G/F, should be measured either from a starting age or starting weight of the pig to a standard final weight. Gain in weight should reflect body growth of lean tissue. Feed intake should reflect a standard diet or diet ingredients, such as protein or energy content or total digestible nutrients. Lean-type pigs are more efficient in feed utilization than fat-type pigs. Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters are presented. Alternative approaches to improve E are discussed.