Variance of body weights and daily weight gains of weaner pigs housed at various stocking densities in confinement

Abstract Body weight and gain data from eight studies conducted with weaner pigs to determine the relationship between stocking density and performance were used to evaluate the effect of various stocking densities on several factors which measure variation within pens. The initial weight of the pigs ranged from 5·7 to 8·3 kg and final weight ranged from 17·7 to 32·1 kg. There were 244 pens of pigs with floor space ranging from 0·11 to 0·28 m 2 per pig. Average daily gain and body weight were depressed as stocking density increased. Natural logarithms of variance, coefficients of variation and ranges of average daily gains and body weights were not increased by stocking density. Body weights and daily gains appeared equally effective in measuring variance of weaner pigs housed at various densities. These results indicate that increasing stocking density within the range of densities tested does not cause a greater variation in body-weight gains.