The impact of slaughter weight and sex on the carbon footprint of pig feed intake

Autor: C. De Cuyper, A. Van den Broeke, V. Van linden, F. Leen, M. Aluwé, J. Van Meensel, S. Millet
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Animal, Vol 18, Iss 4, Pp 101119- (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1751-7311
DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101119
Popis: The impact of pork production on global livestock’s greenhouse gas emissions is substantial. Understanding the factors influencing these emissions is crucial in achieving a more sustainable pig husbandry. In two independent experiments, the impact of slaughter weight on the carbon footprint (CFP) of pig feed intake (CFPFI) was evaluated for growing-finishing pigs of different sexes (entire males (EM), barrows (BA), immunocastrates (IC) and gilts (GI)). In experiment 1 118 animals were raised individually in experimental conditions. In experiment 2 384 animals were housed in group (four pigs per pen), in controlled commercial farm circumstances. All animals were fed ad libitum in a three-phase feeding regime and slaughtered at different BW, ranging from 110 to 148 kg (experiment 1) and from 99 to 138 kg (experiment 2). When only the fattening period was considered, the CFPFI was expressed per kg carcass growth. When the production of piglets was also taken into account, the CFPFI was calculated per kg carcass weight. For all sexes, the heavier the pig, the higher the CFPFI per kg carcass growth (P
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