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In a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design, this study aimed to compare the lifetime performance of light (average of 7.1 kg), medium (average of 8.9 kg) or heavy (average of 10.4 kg) wean weight pigs when offered either a high (12 kg/pig) or low (6 kg/pig) allowance of starter diets post weaning and either a normal (DE 13.5 MJ/kg, total lysine 9.5 g/kg) or special (DE 14.5 MJ/kg, and total lysine 11 g/kg) finishing diet from 11 weeks of age. Over six time replicates, 720 pigs (Landrace × Large White) were randomly allocated at weaning (28 ± 2 days of age), into groups of 20 which were balanced for sex. These groups were split into two groups of ten at 10 weeks of age (transferred to finishing accommodation). The 20-week weight (88.9 kg), ADG (702 g/day) and ADFI (1841 g/day) between wean and 20 weeks of age was greater for heavy weight pigs ( P P 0.01, 39 g/day/kg) and growth rate/kg ( P 0.001, 14.8 g/day/kg) of light weight pigs was greater than that of heavy weight pigs (37.4 and 14.4 g/day/kg respectively). A high allowance of starter diets increased 10-week weight ( P P P P P 0.01 and P 0.01, 2091 g/day) when offered a normal finishing diet compared with a special finishing diet (1903 g/day). In conclusion, when the ‘nutrient density’ of the diet changed, in particular towards lower supplies, pig weight and growth rate were poorer. In addition light weight pigs at weaning were found to convert feed as efficiently as heavy weight pigs throughout their lifetime. Furthermore, their lifetime growth rate and feed intake on a ‘per kg of body weight’ basis was higher than that of heavy pigs. |
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