Effect of diet form and feeder adjustment on growth performance of nursery pigs (2012)

Authors

J E. Nemechek
E Fruge
E Hansen
Michael D. Tokach
Robert D. Goodband
Joel M. DeRouchey
Jim L. Nelssen
Steven S. Dritz

Keywords

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 13-026-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 1074; Swine; Diet form; Feeder adjustment; Pellet; Nursery pig

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feeder adjustment and diet form on growth performance of nursery pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 210 nursery pigs (PIC 1050 × 327, initially 26.2 lb BW) were used in a 21-d trial. In Exp. 2, a total of 1,005 nursery pigs (Fast × PIC sows × TR4 boars, initially 31.1 lb BW) were used in a 28-d trial. Treatments in both experiments were arranged as 2 × 3 factorials with main effects of feeder adjustment and diet form. The 2 feeder adjustments consisted of a narrow feeder adjustment (minimum gap opening of 0.50 in.) and a wide adjustment (minimum gap opening of 1.00 in.). The feeders were adjusted to the minimum gap setting, but the agitation plate could be moved upward to a maximum gap opening of 0.75 or 1.25 in, respectively. The 3 diet forms were meal, poor-quality pellets (70% pellets and 30% fines), and screened pellets with minimal fines. Pigs were weighed weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and F/G.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 2012

Recommended Citation

Nemechek, J E.; Fruge, E; Hansen, E; Tokach, Michael D.; Goodband, Robert D.; DeRouchey, Joel M.; Nelssen, Jim L.; and Dritz, Steven S. (2012) "Effect of diet form and feeder adjustment on growth performance of nursery pigs (2012)," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 10. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7083