Growth performance of pigs slaughtered at 110 kg or above 140 kg

Two trials were carried out in the research stations of ITP (trial 1) and EDE (trail 2) to quantify growth performances of group housed barrows and gilts over two fattening periods corresponding to production of French standard pigs (S, 14 weeks) or heavy (H, 20 weeks) ones. Barrows were fed ad libitum below 70 kg BW, 2.7 kg/d from 70 to 110 kg BW, and 2.9 kg/d thereafter in both trials. Gilts were fed ad libitum from 28 kg to slaughter in trial 1 and restrictively fed like barrows in trial 2. The H pigs were slaughtered at 151 and 142 kg BW in trials 1 and 2, respectively. Corresponding values were 112 and 110 kg BW for S pigs. Total FCR increased by 0.06 and 0.09 unit per additional 10 kg BW at slaughter in trials 1 and 2 on average, respectively. According to a factorial approach of nutrient requirements, a specific diet could be used above 110 kg (11% protein) and would allow a reduction of nitrogen output by heavy pigs.