Abstract

SULBARAN, Luis; ARAQUE, Humberto; GONZALEZ, Carlos  and  MORA, Franklin. Perfomance of pigs born and finishing in four different housing systems. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2009, vol.19, n.1, pp.49-54. ISSN 0798-2259.

An experiment with 46 pigs from crossbred sows (Landrace x Yorshire) was done to determine the effect of four housing systems: outdoor (OD), deep bedding (DB), pens (LP) and cages (LC) on performance of pigs born and finishing in each. A completely randomized design was used whose treatments were shaped by the types of housing. Six repetitions in OD, LP and LC and 5 in DB, for a total of 23 experimental units (female and male castrated for site). were made. Found differences (P< 0.05) in all the variables assessed in the period born-weaning: Birth weight, weaning, increased (IW) and the average daily gain (ADG). At initiation, the final weight (FW) and IW showed difference (P< 0.05), while the ADG was similar (P> 0.01) in all housing. In growth phase effect (P< 0.05) was found in all variables evaluated: FW, IW, feed intake (FI), ADG and feed conversion (FC). In the finishing phase, the housing had effect (P<0.05) on the FW, IW, FI and ADG, while the FC showed no difference. In the evaluation integral of growing-finishing phase it were differences observed (P< 0.05) in FI and FC while the IW, ADG and the carcass quality did not follow the same behavior (P> 0.05). It concludes that the performance of pigs weaning and initiation are similar in traditional and alternative housing, but during the growth phase is difficult in the alternative lower IW and less efficiency in the FC. However, at the finishing phase the differences between the housing it minimizing both performance and the carcass quality is equivalent regardless of the housing system.

Keywords : Housing; performance of pigs; carcass quality.