A growing-finishing trial using 72 crossbred gilts (19.7 kg initially)
was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of choice feeding in the
production of pigs. Six pens of three gilts were assigned to each of t
he following feeding systems: (1) conventional three-phase feeding (18
-16-14% crude protein; P3), (2) one-phase feeding (16%; P1), (3) three
-phase choice feeding (24-14, 22-12, 20-10%; C3) of two diets differin
g in protein level, and (4) one-phase choice feeding (24-10% throughou
t; C1). The three growth periods were 20-50, 50-70 and 70-105 kg live
weight. All diets were based on barley and soybean meal and contained
the same energy level (13.7 MJ DE kg(-1)). Choice feeding systems (C1
and C3) during the grower period (20-50 kg) increased (P < 0.05) feed
intake (1.52 vs. 1.33 kg d(-1)) and weight gain (801 vs. 731 g d(-1))
compared with those of phase feeding (P1 and P3). In the 50-105 kg gro
wth phase, feeding systems had no effect on pig growth performance. Fe
ed intake over the entire period (20-105 kg) was higher (P < 0.05) wit
h choice feeding (2.55 kg d(-1)) than with phase feeding (2.27). Dieta
ry protein intake increased (P < 0.05) by 18% in choice-fed pigs, and
more dietary protein was required (P < 0.05) for weight gain from choi
ce feeding than from phase feeding. There were no significant differen
ces in the protein content of the diets selected by C1 and C3 pigs for
any period or for the overall experiment. There were no significant e
ffects of feeding system on carcass traits, except that carcass dressi
ng percentage was highest(P < 0.05) for C3 pigs. These results suggest
that choice-fed pigs consumed more dietary protein and required more
protein for weight gain than pigs in a phase feeding system. Also, gro
wing-finishing pigs do not have the ability to select a protein intake
to meet their requirement for protein when they are provided a choice
of diets differing in protein content. There was no advantage to usin
g a three-phase choice feeding system rather than a singe-phase choice
system.