The Effects of Dietary Feather Meal Concentration and Space Allocation on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Barrows

Authors

Kuo-Wei Ssu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mike Brumm, University of NebraskaFollow
Phillip S. Miller, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Robert L. Fischer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

January 2000

Comments

Published in 2000 Nebraska Swine Report, compiled by Rodger Johnson, Professor, Department of Animal Science. Prepared by the staff in Animal Science and cooperating Departments for use in Extension, Teaching and Research programs. Published by Cooperative Extension Division, Agricultural Research Division, and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Swine reports website: www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/swine/pigpdf.htm

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary feather meal (FM, 0 and 20% ) and space allocation (8.3 [UC] and 6.2 [C] ft²/ pig) on growth and carcass characteristics of barrows. Control barrows (0% FM and UC) had 10% higher ADFI than gilts (0 % FM and UC), but only 2.6% greater ADG. Crowded barrows fed 20% FM diet from 165 lb to slaughter had decreased ADG and ADFI compared to control barrows. Crowded barrows fed a diet with no FM had a 4.9% reduction in ADFI compared to control barrows, and crowded barrows fed 20% FM diet had an ADFI (8.3% reduction compared to control barrows) similar to gilts. Gilts had improved feed efficiency compared to barrows. Control barrows reached market weight 7 days earlier than gilts, crowded barrows, and crowded barrows fed a 20% FM diet. Control barrows and gilts had similar average daily lean gain while crowded barrows fed 20% FM from 165 lb to slaughter had a decreased average daily lean gain. Gilts had less backfat and larger loin eye area than barrows on all treatments. Gilts also had a higher primal cut percentage and carcass lean percentage than barrows. Crowded barrows had a higher dressing percentage than uncrowded barrows. The combination of crowding and feeding feather meal reduced growth of barrows to a rate similar to gilts, but the improvements in backfat and carcass lean percentage observed previously by feeding feather meal to barrows were not observed in this study. Increasing stocking density is an effective method to decrease growth rate of barrows.