Application of a Model of Animals’ Growth to Study Slowly Growing Pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate a problem in pig farming by applying results of pigs’ growth modelling. The problem this study deals with is a large amount of variation in weight between animals within groups with growing-finishing pigs with strongly negative effect of slowly growing pigs on farm efficiency. The target is to find out a breeding scheme, which can eliminate the slowly growing phenotype from commercial farms.

This study was carried out by applying a mathematical model. The model is species-specific; it was built to analyse growth of pigs. In the study, the model has not been developed, it was published elsewhere. The model’s results are used to clarify some aspects of pigs’ growth under industrial conditions. The model implies that in the pig, there are three growth phenotypes that have distinct growth performances. In the study, a main theme is variation in weight between growth phenotypes in pigs.

The results of the study suggest that the slowly growing pigs have a certain growth phenotype. A method to identify the phenotype, and a breading scheme to eliminate the slowly growing phenotype from commercial farms are suggested.