Porcine somatotropin (pST) administered using a commercial delivery system improves growth performance of rapidly growing, group-housed finisher pigs

Abstract

Porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment of pigs consistently improves average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, most studies have been conducted with individually housed pigs, of unimproved genotype and over a lighter finisher phase than current practice. The present study was designed to determine whether a commercial pST (Reporcin) treatment regime would improve growth performance in heavy boars and gilts (initial weight 79 kg) of an improved genotype and housed under commercial conditions. The 2 × 2 factorial experiment involved 160, 19-week-old Large White × Landrace pigs (80 males and 80 females) in 20 pens of 8 pigs/pen. The respective factors were sex (boars and ..