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dc.contributor.authorLynch, P Brendan*
dc.contributor.authorCahill, A.*
dc.contributor.authorLawlor, Peadar G*
dc.contributor.authorBoyle, Laura*
dc.contributor.authorO'Doherty, John V.*
dc.contributor.authorle Dividich, J.*
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-06T15:12:39Z
dc.date.available2016-04-06T15:12:39Z
dc.date.issued2006-03-01
dc.identifier.citationLynch, P.B., Cahill, A., Lawlor, P.G., et al., Studies on growth rates in pigs and the effect of birth weight, End of Project Report, Teagasc, 2006.en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11019/981
dc.descriptionEnd of project reporten_GB
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this study was to assess some environmental and management factors that affect growth performance on commercial pig units. In experiment 1, a survey was carried out on 22 pig units of known growth performance in south-west Ireland to compare management factors between those showing poor and good growth rates. Low growth rate appears to be due to the cumulative effect of a combination of factors. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine the effects of providing an additional feeder on performance of weaned piglets. No benefits were recorded. Feed consumed from the additional feeder was a replacement for feed that otherwise would have been consumed from the control hopper feeder. Experiment 3 was designed to determine if pig performance and efficiency of growth were affected by weight at birth and at weaning. Lightweight pigs showed inferior growth performance up to the finisher period. Although they compensated some of the inferior growth towards the time of slaughter, they never reached the weights of the heavy birth-weight animals. Males were either significantly heavier or tended to be heavier than females throughout. There was no significant difference between the sexes in the number of days to slaughter. Light and heavy pigs did not differ in the levels of IGF-1 in their blood plasma; however lightweight pigs had significantly lower IgG preweaning. Experiment 4 aimed to determine whether piglet birth weight influenced growth performance, plasma IGF-1 concentrations and muscle fibre characteristics at day 42 of life. At slaughter (Day 42) light birth weight pigs were significantly (P < 0.001) lighter. Plasma IGF-1 concentration was lower by 28% (P=0.06) in light pigs. Muscle fibre cross sectional area and total fibre number were not significantly different between groups. This study should be repeated with bigger numbers.en_GB
dc.language.isoenen_GB
dc.publisherTeagascen_GB
dc.relation.ispartofseriesEnd of Project Reports;
dc.subjectGrowth ratesen_GB
dc.subjectSwineen_GB
dc.subjectPigsen_GB
dc.subjectBirth weighten_GB
dc.titleStudies on growth rates in pigs and the effect of birth weighten_GB
dc.typeTechnical Reporten_GB
dc.identifier.rmis5220
dc.contributor.sponsorNational Development Programme
refterms.dateFOA2018-01-12T08:25:30Z


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