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Keywords

chromium propionate, finishing pig, stocking density

Abstract

A total of 256 pigs (Line 600 × 241, DNA Columbus, NE) were used in a 72-d trial to determine the effect of dietary chromium (chromium propionate; Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) and space allowance on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Pens were blocked by initial weight and randomly assigned to treatments with 8 pigs per pen and 8 pens per treatment. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of diet (control or added chromium, 200 ppb) and 2 space allowances (9.8 ft2 - normal and 6.8 ft2 – restricted). Adding chromium to the diet decreased (P = 0.044) ADG from d 56 to 72 and resulted in poorer (P = 0.021) F/G for the overall period. Space restriction decreased (P < 0.001) ADG and ADFI for all periods within the study and final BW, and HCW, but increased (P = 0.009) carcass yield and decreased (P = 0.003) backfat depth. These results indicate that chromium propionate did not improve performance when pigs were restricted in space.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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