Effect of a Controlled Environment on the Performance of (1) Heavy and Light Weight Pigs and (2) Barrows and Gilts

The trend in swine housing during recent years has been toward controlled environment buildings. These buildings generally contain slotted or partially slotted floors. Labor requirements in structures of this type are apt to be less than with conventional type buildings. Also of concern to the pork producer is the performance of growing-finishing pigs in these buildings compared to the performance in less costly structures. The purpose of the experiment reported herein was to study the performance of heavy and light weight pigs and also of barrows and gilts allotted separately when housed in different environmental conditions during December, January, and February