Growth is restricted in weaned pigs due to energy intake possibly because of restrictions in gut capacity. Energy intake and growth should increase when dietary energy concentrations increase, but recent findings do not support this. Weanling pig performance was not improved because feed intake declined and daily energy intake was constant. The interaction between daily energy intake and dietary energy concentration on tissue accretion and body weight gain were monitored. Three energy concentrations and feed restrictions were studied. Growth improved with feed intake but was not affected by dietary energy concentration. Increased deposition of lipids were noted when energy intake was increased through either higher energy concentration or increased feed intake. The NE system was not better at predicting weanling body composition or growth than the DE system. Weanling pig performance was not improved by higher dietary energy concentration.
Interaction of Net Energy Concentration and Feeding Level in Weaned Pigs (full article)
