Research Progress Report 104
March. 1964
Effect of Frequency of Feeding and Feed Restriction on Preformance and Carcass Characteristics of Growing-Finishing Pigs
R. A. Pickett, J. R. Foster and R. M. Peart Animal Sciences and Agricultural Engineering Departments
Summary
Pigs fed one, two or four times a day or which had access to a self-feeder, made similar gains from weaning to 120 pounds. Feed efficiency, however, was apparently improved by feeding two times per day.
Limiting feed intake to 5 pounds per day during the finishing period from 120 to 200 pounds resulted in significantly slower gains and poorer feed conversion while causing little change in the carcass characteristics.
On limited intake, twice a day feeding resulted in faster and more efficient gains than feeding one or four times a day.
Interval Feeding
Many automatic feeding systems allow for feeding pigs at various intervals. These systems are usually used primarily for limited feeding.
This experiment was designed to study the effect on pigs performance of full-feeding at various intervals from weaning to 120 pounds and then limiting feed intake to market weight.
Procedure
Fifty-six crossbred pigs were alloted to four treatments as follows:
1-	-One feeding per day
2-	-Two feedings per day
3-	-Four feedings per day
4-	-Self-feeder
To a weight of 120 pounds, pigs in lots 1, 2 and 3 were fed all they would clean up in one-half the time to their next feeding.
From 120 pounds to market weight, lots 1, 2 and 3 were limited to 5 pounds of feed per pig per day. All feeding was done outside on a concrete feeding floor.
The feeder used in lots 2 and 3 was an experimental model automatic dump tube feeder furnished by the New Holland Machine Company. It has an adjustable drive so that any feed rate, from about 2 to 42 pounds per minute, can be obtained. At the end of predetermined intervals the delivery tube revolved dropping feed out of its open top directly onto the floor. The number of these dumping cycles per feeding period can be pre-set. A counter was added for checking the number of dump cycles.
A diverter board was used to feed lots 2 and 3. It was set for lot 2 twice a day and the switches were operated manually to feed the desired amount. Then it was moved back into position for lot 3 and the time clock took con-
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • Agricultural Experiment Station • Lafayette, Indiana