Replication data for: Effect of mixing at weaning and nutrient density of the weaner diet on growth performance and welfare of pigs to slaughter (PID2020-113604RB-I00 project)

Raw data from González-Solé et al. Porcine Health Management (2023) 9:38
Mixing pigs at weaning can compromise pig welfare and growth. Therefore, grouping littermates together may allow a diet nutrient and energy density reduction during the nursery period to reduce feed cost without affecting slaughter weight. This study investigated the combined effect of mixing and reducing dietary energy and nutrient density on growth performance, body lesions (BL), and behaviour in pigs from weaning to slaughter. Two batches of 24 litters with a total of 264 and 288 piglets were weaned at 28 days of age. Pens were allocated to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (Mixing x Diet, n = 12). For the mixing treatment, pigs were in groups of intact litters (LITTER) or mixed with unfamiliar pigs from other litters to reduce the within pen BW variation (MIXED). For diet, pens were allocated to a dietary regimen meeting the nutritional requirements of the pigs (CON) or a low-density regimen (LOW) with − 10% net energy (NE) and − 10% standard ileal digestible Lysine (SID Lys) of CON. Productive performance, animal behaviour measurements, and body lesion counts were registered during the growth of pigs.