Choosing to house pigs at maximum stocking densities in indoor herds has no impact on pig performance, scientists have discovered.
Previous research has suggested higher stocking rates can have a negative effect on pigs’ growing rates over their lifetime.
But researchers have found that increasing the number of pigs in a pen does not impact growth or welfare, and could lead to more profitable pig farms.
In a study on a commercial pig unit, researchers at JMW Farms in Armagh, Northern Ireland, split entire males and females into four stocking densities ranging from 0.82m2 per pig to 0.69m2 – the maximum number allowed under welfare guidelines.
Pigs were brought in at about 38kg and fed ad lib grower diets to 70kg, before being switched to finisher diets at about 120kg. They were weighed every two weeks and feed intakes from each pen were recorded to calculate daily gain, feed intake and feed conversion.
“There was no statistical difference across the four stocking densities,” said Michael Connery of JMW Farms.
“Final weights across all of the groups were between 125 and 126kg, while average daily gain was just over 100g.
“There was also no difference to animal welfare across the density, showing farmers can stock pigs at higher rates without impacting on performance.”