Strategies for Reducing Within-Group Variation in Slaughter Weight of Pigs

This report evaluates the effectiveness of different regrouping strategies on reducing within-group variation in slaughter weight and carcass weight of pigs. The study investigates whether forming uniform weight groups at weaning (4 weeks of age) or at the start of the finishing period (10 weeks of age) can achieve this objective. The results indicate that while forming uniform weight groups at 10 weeks significantly reduces within-group range in slaughter weight, doing so at weaning does not yield similar benefits. Additionally, regrouping at 10 weeks increases aggressive behavior among pigs but does not significantly impact overall production performance. The report suggests that future research should focus on minimizing growth variability during the growing phase to enhance the effectiveness of forming uniform weight groups at weaning. The findings highlight the complexities of managing pig growth and behavior in farming practices, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of grouping strategies to optimize both animal welfare and production efficiency.