Abstract

CRIADO, J. Luis; CASTEL, J. Maria  and  DELGADO-PERTINEZ, Manuel. Effect of the food distribution system on the fattening of Iberian pig crossed with Duroc. Agrociencia [online]. 2009, vol.43, n.8, pp.791-801. ISSN 2521-9766.

Due to the intensifying of the breeding systems of the Iberian pig, an increase was observed in the implementation of feeding liquids, although there are few investigations that show their advantage on this breed. The aim of this investigation was to analyze, in technical and economical terms, the form of distribution of the fodder during the fattening of crossbred Iberian pigs with Durocs. One hundred and 156 pigs were used and three diets were tested: 1) standard feed in the form of flour, distributed in dry form ad libitum (PSAL); PSAL but dry rationed (PSR); PSAL rationed and as a liquid or soup (SO). The diets were supplied in three growth stages: from 35 to 50 kg of live weight, from 50 to 100 kg and from 100 kg until sacrifice. Although at the beginning of growth there were no significant differences, these appeared afterwards, and the weights of the pigs fed with PSAL were greater, while those fed with PSR were lowest. The conversion indexes were lower for SO (4.22) compared to PSR (4.37) and PSAL (4.72) for the entire period of growth. The most expensive diet was PSAL and the cheapest was SO. With the PSAL diet, pigs reached the commercial fattening weight (130 kg) three weeks earlier than with the SO diet, although with the latter, a lower weight variation coefficient was reached during the fattening period.

Keywords : Iberian Pig; liquid feed; growth; costs.