Dietary net energy and stocking density independently affect performance, feed utilization and profits in the finisher barn. The objective of this experiment was to assess the interactions of stocking density and dietary energy, and determine how these interactions affect net income. When stocking density was increased, the performance of finishing pigs was reduced; however the income over feed cost (IOFC) was maximized when pigs were stocked at higher densities. Furthermore, finishing pigs responded to increasing dietary energy by decreasing feed intake and improving growth rate, feed efficiency, caloric intake, caloric efficiency, and IOFC. However, the dietary energy which maximized performance and economics did not vary with stocking density. Th us producers should optimize both of these factors separately when determining optimal production.
The Interaction Between Pig Density and Dietary Energy on Performance (View pdf)
