Meta-analysis between conventional and daily feeding systems in the feeding of growing and finishing pigs
Precision feeding, pig performance, systematic review
The study aimed to review the literature on pig rearing in different feeding strategies. Scientific knowledge about precision feeding has grown significantly, generating much information that needs to be integrated into farms consistently. The hypothesis proposed in the research is that the precision feeding system can bring benefits in the production of pigs through the adequate supply of nutrients (without excess or lack), without impairing the performance and muscle deposition of the animals, resulting in greater sustainability in pig farming. In addition, the proposal can also present a reduction in production costs related to feeding compared to conventional phased systems. With the aim of optimizing knowledge in precision feeding, a systematic review was carried out, comparing precision feeding and conventional feeding by phases during the growth and finishing of pigs. A total of 45 studies were retrieved from the search. However, after the deletion of articles that did not fulfill the criteria for inclusion, only six studies (published between 2016 and 2019) remained to perform the systematic review. The online database “Web of Science” was used to search relevant publications of growth performance and lysine intake of growing pigs using precision feeding strategies. The keywords used to perform each search were: (“swine” or “pig” or “pigs”) and (“precision feeding” or “precision nutrition”) and (“conventional phase feeding”). Precision feeding emphasizes on nutrient use efficiency during the growing and finishing period and has shown promise for reducing nutrient excretion into the environment. Implementing of this new system also proved to be an important key in reducing pig feed costs. However, there is a limited number of in vivo studies in practical breeding conditions, demonstrating an important field to be explored by new professionals in the area. The precision feeding system showed the potential to reduce nutrients ingested by the animals in all feeding phases without impairing performance and body composition. The precision feeding system showed the potential to reduce nutrients consumed by the pigs during all phases, without impairing performance and body composition. Although precision feeding studies are based on a limited number of studies, some changes in these results are expected in the coming years. Therefore, precision feeding strategies for growing and finishing pigs proved to be an important alternative to reduce the waste of supplied nutrients and their excretion in the environment.