Effects of mixing on the growth performance of finishing pigs and factors affecting the response to mixing

Ochoa Zaragoza, Luis Enrique

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/46731 Copy

Description

Title

Effects of mixing on the growth performance of finishing pigs and factors affecting the response to mixing

Author(s)

Ochoa Zaragoza, Luis Enrique

Issue Date

2014-01-16T18:00:36Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Ellis, Michael

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Ellis, Michael

Committee Member(s)

• McKeith, Floyd K.
• Shipley, Clifford
• Ibargüengoytia, José Antonio Cuarón
• Peterson, Beau

Department of Study

Animal Sciences

Discipline

Animal Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Pigs
• Mixing
• Growth Performance

Abstract

Five studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of mixing finishing pigs on growth performance and morbidity and mortality. Study 1 evaluated the effect of gender and of time of mixing (at either wk 9, 11, 13, 15, or 17 post-weaning) from 33.4 to 130.0 kg BW. The results of this study suggested that pigs can be mixed as late as week 17 post-weaning without affecting overall growth performance, carcass characteristics, or morbidity and mortality levels. Study 2 evaluated the effect of gender and of frequency of mixing during the marketing phase of the finishing period on the growth rate, carcass characteristics, and morbidity and mortality levels. This study showed no effect of gender or frequency of mixing (i.e., Not-mixed vs. Mixed Once vs. Mixed Twice) on morbidity and mortality levels. However, overall ADG was lower for pigs mixed twice than for those not mixed or mixed once. Studies 3 and 4 evaluated the effect of gender and BW (i.e., Light vs. Medium vs. Heavy BW) at mixing at the start of the finishing phase on growth performance and morbidity and mortality. In both studies, mixing had no effect on the growth performance of Light pigs. Mixing reduced the growth performance of Medium pigs on Study 3 but not in Study 4. Moreover, Mixing reduced the growth performance of Heavy pigs in both studies. The results of Studies 3 and 4 suggested that Mixing can have a short-term effect on the growth performance pigs, and that this effect may be influenced by other factors such as BW of pigs, but that no major long-term effect of mixing should be expected for growth performance and morbidity and mortality levels. Study 5 evaluated the effect of mixing pigs twice during the finishing phase on growth performance, and behavior (feeding and activity patterns, and aggression). The results of this study suggest that mixing pigs in the finishing period can increase the level of aggression for a short period of time, with no impact on overall growth performance or feeding patterns.

Graduation Semester

2013-12

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Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2013 Luis Enrique Ochoa Zaragoza

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