RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE OF DENSITY FROM PEN ON GROWTH PARAMETERS RECORDED AT PIGS THAT ARE USED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BACON

C. Radu, G. Hoha, I. Pagu, C.E. Nistor, B. Păsărin

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of density from pen on the production performance registered in a pig breeding unit for bacon. The biological material consisted of xYorkshire Landrace x Duroc triracial Metis (LYD) divided into two batches: L1 - 21 animals per pen and L2 - 26 animals per pen. The following parameters were observed: the dynamics of weight gain, average daily gain, feed consumption during growth and fattening period, the feed conversion index and the actual losses and their causes. The dynamics of the body weight shows a superiority of the batch: L1 (99, 4 kg) to batch L2 (97.8 kg), which represents a difference of 1.63%. Also in the case of other studied parameters (the average daily weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion) the batch that was formed from 21 specimens/pen (L1) registered high performances in comparison with batch L2 (26 specimens/pen). The results that were obtained confirm the fact that the density of the pens influences the productive performances of the pigs. On the basis of the data we recommend that the pigs are kept in effectives of 20-21 specimens per pen in order to obtain better productive and economic results

Key words: pigs, density, body weight, feed consumption