Factors involved in the regulation of feed and energy intake of pigs
Highlights
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The ability of pigs to consume required nutrients for optimal performance is an important consideration in commercial pork production.
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Voluntary feed intake (VFI) or energy intake in the pigs is affected by dietary factors (such as energy concentration, protein levels and amino acid balance, and flavor) and non-dietary factors (animal gender and body weight, health status, feed processing, thermal environment and physical management).
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As producers continue to look for ways to manage high feed costs, a significant economic opportunity exists to achieve precisely feeding based on predictable VFI.
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Optimization of the dietary and non-dietary factors will be system dependent, and will rely heavily on gathering and interpreting information to make informed decision, which will ultimately make the pork production more efficient and competitive in the global protein production sector.