Abstract A total of 2,160 pigs (initially 24.8 ± 0.97 kg) and 962 pigs (initially 26.5 ± 0.37 kg) were used in 2 experiments to compare diet blending with phase feeding on growth performance and profitability. Pigs were housed in mixed-gender pens with 20 and 26 pens per treatment in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Pens were assigned to treatment in a randomized complete block design and blocked by initial body weight. In Exp. 1, pens were assigned to treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial comparing feeding strategy (phase feeding vs. diet blending) and standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys (90 or 100% of requirement estimates). Phase-fed pigs were fed diets in 5 phases. For diet blending, low and high SID Lys diets were blended daily to achieve 90 or 100% of SID Lys requirements. Overall average daily gain (ADG) was not influenced by feeding strategy, but diet blending decreased (P = .002) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and increased (P .001) gain to feed ratio (G: F). Hot carcass weight (HCW), fat depth, and loin depth were not affected; however, diet blending tended to reduce (P = .074) carcass yield and increased (P = .094) percentage lean. There was a tendency for greater (P = .066) income over feed cost (IOFC) with phase feeding under low ingredient prices, but diet blending had lower (P = .049) feed cost/kg gain under high prices. Lysine level did not affect overall growth performance, but pigs fed the 90% SID Lys diets had lower (P .001) feed cost. In Exp. 2, two feeding strategies were compared. Phase-fed pigs were provided with diets in 3 phases until 114 kg with a common diet thereafter. Pigs fed the diet blending strategy used 2 of 3 diets mixed daily to follow the requirement estimate curve until 114 kg, then fed a common diet from 114 kg to market. Overall ADG was not influenced by feeding strategy, but diet blending decreased (P = .017) overall ADFI. Diet blending increased G: F (P = .019) from 26 to 114 kg, but not overall. In the experimental period, IOFC was unaffected by treatment, though feed cost per pig tended to be reduced (P ≤ .096) with blended diets. In conclusion, phase feeding and diet blending supported similar growth and carcass traits. Although IOFC was generally unaffected, diet blending reduced feed usage and feed cost/kg gain compared to phase feeding.
Navales et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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