EFFECT OF STOCKING DENSITY IN GROWING PIGS II. FEED INTAKE AND FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY

A study was carried out to find out the relationship between floor space per pig and feed intake and feed conversion efficiency of growing pigs. Average monthly feed conversion efficiency in all the stocking density groups increased from first month to second month and then gradually decreased to the fifth month. When the feed conversion efficiency was taken as a whole, it was found to be highest at 0.5 m' floor space per pig (3.746 ± 0.667) and lowest (3.960 ± 0.864} at 1 m2 per pig. The animals at floor space of 0.75 m2 per pig were showing a feed conversion efficiency between that of the other two groups (3.798 ± 0.744). From the experimental result it could be observed that the feed conversion efficiency of those animals having a floor space as per ISI specification (1 m2/pig) was less than the one where the floor space was reduced to the extent of 50 per cent. The results showed anon-significant effect of stocking density on feed intake