PSIV-15 - Effects of floor space allowance on the nursery pig

Abstract: Floor space in swine production systems is often a limiting factor for production as it is a fixed cost that can directly impact production economics. One method to reduce these fixed costs is to utilize this space more efficiently by reducing floor space per pig. However, very little current information is available on the impacts of reducing this floor space in nursery pigs with modern genetics. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the impact of three different floor space allowances on nursery pigs' growth performance and health. At weaning, 2,176 pigs (DNA 600 x 241) were randomly allotted to nursery pens and individually weighed. Pens were then randomly assigned to one of three space allowance treatments: 0.29 m2, 0.23 m2, and 0.19 m2 (28, 22, and 18 pigs per pen, respectively). Feed intake was monitored using the Gestal Evo, and pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water. For all morbidities and mortalities individual pig, date, and reason were recorded. After 6 weeks in the nursery, pigs were again individually weighed. Data were analyzed using Statistix 10 (Tallahassee, FL) with starting body weight as a covariate. Pigs housed in the 0.29 m2 pens tended to have a greater (P=0.098) body weight at the end of the nursery than pigs housed in both the 0.23 m2 and 0.19 m2 pens. Similarly, there was a tendency (P=0.062) for pigs housed in 0.29 m2 pens to have a higher average daily feed intake than those housed in 0.23 m2 and 0.19 m2 pens. There was no difference (P >0.05) between treatments for average daily gain or feed conversion ratio. Pigs treated with an injectable medication tended (P=0.07) to increase as pen space allowance decreased, with pigs in the 0.29 m2 pens receiving 0.5 treatments per pig and the 0.19 m2 pens receiving 1.82 treatments per pig. Mortality was significantly (P< 0.01) impacted by space allowance, with the 0.29 m2 pens having the lowest percentage of mortality at 0.64%. Based on these results, increasing floor space allowance for nursery pigs increased ending nursery weights, increased average daily feed intake, and decreased pig treatments and mortality.