Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feeder adjustment and diet form on growth performance of nursery pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 210 nursery pigs (PIC 1050 × 327, initially 26.2 lb BW) were used in a 21-d trial. In Exp. 2, a total of 1,005 nursery pigs (Fast × PIC sows × TR4 boars, initially 31.1 lb BW) were used in a 28-d trial. Treatments in both experiments were arranged as 2 × 3 factorials with main effects of feeder adjustment and diet form. The 2 feeder adjustments consisted of a narrow feeder adjustment (minimum gap opening of 0.50 in.) and a wide adjustment (minimum gap opening of 1.00 in.). The feeders were adjusted to the minimum gap setting, but the agitation plate could be moved upward to a maximum gap opening of 0.75 or 1.25 in, respectively. The 3 diet forms were meal, poor-quality pellets (70% pellets and 30% fines), and screened pellets with minimal fines. Pigs were weighed weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and F/G.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 15, 2012

Keywords: Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 13-026-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 1074, Swine, Diet form, Feeder adjustment, Pellet, Nursery pig

How to Cite:

Nemechek, J. E., Fruge, E., Hansen, E., Tokach, M. D., Goodband, R. D., DeRouchey, J. M., Nelssen, J. L. & Dritz, S. S., (2012) “Effect of diet form and feeder adjustment on growth performance of nursery pigs”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(10), 278-289. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7083