Effects of Feed and Water Restriction and Receiving Diet Crude Protein on Feeder Pig Performance

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein level on feeder pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 239 commingled feeder pigs transported over 1,000 km were used in two trials. Pigs given access to feed and water (FW) at the market weighed more (P less than .0001) following marketing and transport than pigs given no feed and water (N) for the comparable 25-h market period (20.7 vs 19.6 kg). While FW pigs weighed less (P less than .02) than N pigs at the conclusion of the trials (93.9 vs 96.6 kg), there was no effect (P greater than .1) on overall average daily gain (.32 vs .35). There were no effects of receiving diets containing 12, 16 or 20% crude protein on daily gain, daily feed intake or feed efficiency for the overall growing-finishing period. Scour scores on d 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 post-arrival increased (P less than .01) with increased levels of protein in the receiving diets. In Exp. 2, a total of 360 crossbred feeder pigs was mixed and moved from a nursery to grower-finisher facilities in three trials, given feed and water access immediately (FWG) or denied access for 44 h (NG). At the end of the 44-h period, FWG pigs were heavier than NG pigs (P less than .0001; 18.3 vs 16.7 kg). There was no treatment effect on overall pig weight, daily gain or feed efficiency.