Effectiveness of a pair-gain feeding strategy for individually fed, group-housed finishing pigs

Crossbred barrows (n = 48) and gilts (n = 12) were used to examine the effectiveness of a pair-gain feeding strategy for individually fed, group-housed barrows. In a pair-gain feeding strategy, barrows were individually restricted to a feeding level at which their growth was similar to the mean growth of gilts with ad libitum access to feed. The purposes of this feeding strategy were to have barrows and gilts reach slaughter weight at the same time and to improve carcass traits of the barrows. At 29.8 +/- .4 kg BW, barrows were assigned to either the pair-gain or the ad libitum treatment. All pigs had free access to feed until they reached 60 kg BW. The experimental period was from 60 to 110 kg BW. The 12 group-fed gilts and 24 individually fed barrows (12 per pen) were also given free access to feed throughout the experimental period. The remaining 24 barrows (12 per pen) were put on a pair-gain feeding strategy. In the pair-gain feeding strategy, the weekly feed allowance of each barrow was based on its measured BW and computed energy conversion ratio and on the mean growth of the gilts. The barrows in the pair-gain treatment grew at the same rate as gilts. The ad libitum intake barrows grew faster (P < .05) and had a poorer energy conversion ratio for production than the barrows in the pair-gain treatment. The total energy conversion ratio, backfat thickness, and lean meat percentage were similar (P > .10) for the two treatments. In conclusion, the pair-gain feeding strategy was effective in achieving similar growth between barrows and gilts. The total energy conversion ratio and carcass traits of the barrows, however, were not improved.