Performance, chemical body composition, and energy balance of 70-kg pigs as affected by dietary restriction in young age

The study was carried out on 20 gilts from 15 to 70 kg. From 15 to 25 kg th e animals were fed a starter diet at three feeding levels: group C, 100; gr oup D1, 85; D2, 60% of intake. From 25 to 70 kg the animals were fed a grow er diet at the standard feeding lever. During restriction, the D1 and D2 pi gs grew slower than the C pigs (382, 240 vs 512 g/day) and reached 25 kg 8 and 23 days later, respectively. During realimentation, both D1 and D2 pigs utilized feed more efficiently and grew faster than controls. Overall perf ormance (15-70 kg) indicates that D1 pigs grew at similar rate and D2 signi ficantly slower than the C pigs (670, 677, 565 g/day) but both previously r estricted pigs utilized protein more efficiently. The D1 group showed a ful l compensatory response.