University of Illinois researchers Bradley Wolter (L) and Dr. Mike Ellis.

Research to determine the ideal way to manage pigs in wean-to-finish facilities

Whether or not pigs can be raised in a single building from weaning through finishing has pretty much been answered over the last few years. With the proper equipment and environmental controls, they indeed can be. But, there are still plenty of questions about the ideal way to manage pigs in wean-to-finish facilities.

Hopefully, a new study launched by University of Illinois (UI) researchers will help determine such things as the ideal number of pigs per wean-to-finish pen, whether overfilling - the practice of placing extra pigs in a wean-to-finish pen while pigs are small and then moving them to a finishing pen when they get larger — is beneficial and options for sorting pigs for minimal performance variations.

"We haven't had the data available to be able to suggest the best way to manage these systems," says Dr. Mike Ellis, a UI professor of swine management who is lead researcher in the project. The first phase of the three-year study funded by the UI was recently conducted at a United Feeds, Inc. research facility in Frankfort, IN. This trial examined three different group sizes. 25-, 50- and 100-head, to determine if management and performance advantages exist within a particular group size. The data is currently being evaluated.

The next phase of the Illinois study will be conducted simultaneously at three different commercial operations in Illinois and will also look at various group sizes. "We know we've got to test any of the management components (such as group size) across a wide range of facilities in order to draw conclusions," says Ellis.

Future phases of the study may look at whether group size impacts floor space requirements. "As group size increases, the amount of free or unused space also increases, so we may be able to reduce the total floor space per pig," says Bradley Wolter, a Ul graduate student who is coordinating the research.

The impact of over-filling will also be studied, according to Wolter. In addition, the researchers are also interested in studying the relationship between diet and performance uniformity and various options for lowering heating costs.

But Ellis says the Ul team is leaving itself open to pursue answers as new issues axe identified. "It is likely that the results we find at one stage will dictate where we go with the rest of the study," says Ellis. Other researchers involved in the study are Dr. Stan Curtis, Ul professor of animal science, and Dr. Gilbert Hollis, UI extension nutritionist. Results will be published as they become available.