Resource Use Efficiency of Pig Production Raised with and Without Open Area During Summer Season

Abstract

 A total of 20 piglets (10 castrated males and 10 females) at 3 months of age with initial body weight of 18.94 ± 1.04 Kg were randomly subjected to minimum limit of floor area recommendations of housing standards (IS: 3916-1966) range of 0.9-1.8 square meter for weaner to finisher pigs. In treatments Tc, pigs were provided with only 0.9 m² covered floor area per pig without access to open area and in To with covered floor area of 0.9 m² plus additional equal open floor area (total 1.8 m² per pig). Result showed that resource use efficiency in terms of saving of 90 % space, 41.23 % labor and 22.05 % water per pig in Tc were significantly (p < 0.01) better than To. However, production cost per kg live weight in To was 5.38 % higher than Tc.