Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Joel M. DeRouchey / Five experiments using a total of 4,470 pigs were used to determine the effects of dietary Cu and Zn source and finishing pig space allowance. Experiment 1 evaluated increasing dietary Zn from Zn hydroxychloride or ZnSO4 for finishing pigs. Increasing dietary Zn up to 100 mg/kg Zn maximized ADG and HCW with the greatest response observed during the last 37 d period when ractopamine was included in the diet. Pigs fed diets with Zn hydroxychloride had greater HCW compared to those fed ZnSO4. Experiment 2 evaluated increasing dietary Cu from either CuSO4 or a 50:50 blend of CuSO4:Cu-AA for finishing pigs. Pigs fed Cu from CuSO4 alone consumed more feed and tended to have poorer feed efficiency than those fed a 50:50 blend of Cu from CuSO4:Cu-AA. Pigs fed a 50:50 blend of CuSO4:Cu-AA had improved HCW G:F but ADG was unchanged on a live and HCW basis. Experiments 3 and 4 evaluated increasing dietary Cu from tri-basic copper chloride or a Cu-chelate for nursery pigs. In Exp. 3, increasing Cu from Cu-chelate to 150 mg/kg Cu increased ADG and ending BW. Increasing Cu to 150 mg/kg Cu increased ADFI and improved G:F. Pigs fed Cu from Cu-chelate had greater ADG, ADFI and ending BW than those fed Cu from tri-basic copper chloride. In Exp. 4, increasing Cu to 225 mg/kg Cu increased ADG and ending BW. Because ADFI was unchanged, G:F tended to be improved as Cu level increased. There were no differences detected between Cu sources for growth performance. Experiment 5 was conducted to determine the effects of increasing space allowance by pig removal or gate adjustment during the finishing period. Pigs provided 0.91 m2 had increased ADG compared with those allowed 0.63 m2 with pigs from pens provided increased space intermediate. Pigs provided 0.91 m2 had increased ADFI compared with pigs allowed 0.63 m2 and those where a pig was removed; however, pigs from pens where the gate was adjusted were intermediate. As pigs grew to the minimum predicted space requirement and were subsequently allowed more space, performance was greater than those initially provided 0.61 m2 but less than those allowed 0.91 m2.

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The aim of this study was to find out about the Swedish pig farmers strategies to keep up with the competition against the import of pork from Denmark and at the same time be able to satisfy the pigs need of acting out their natural behavior. This study is based on in-depth interviews with the company "MinFarm" and eight Swedish pork producers. The result of the study was several different strategies for the Swedish pork producers to maintain in the competition against the imported meat and farmers opinions about animal welfare. One of the pork producers pointed out that it is not possible to create a completely natural environment because the pigs live in stables. The concept about animal welfare is not easy to define but pigs that are healthy, gets its social needs satisfied and doesn't suffer from any diseases has a better life and higher welfare than animals who does not live under those conditions. For the farmers to make it worth the extra cost of the higher welfare, customers must be willing to prioritize the animal’s welfare and be willing to pay the extra money that will provide for the production. At present, it is not possible to have an effective meat production and high economic viability while ensuring animal welfare. To secure the Swedish meat production financial compensation will be needed for higher welfare. The market for locally produced products might be limited as it doesn't involve all kind of customers.

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