Performance of growing pigs reared indoors or outdoors in sweet-potato fields

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the genetic type (Large White [LW] vs Creole [CR]) and feeding management (indoors with concentrate [CSC], outdoors on sweet potato plots [OSP], indoors with the same ration as outdoors [CSP]) on 54 growing pigs. OSP animals had a growth rate of 240 grams per day, compared to 360 and 580 g/d for CSP and CSC pigs, respectively (p < 0.001). Outdoors, LWs were more physically active than CRs (15% of the time in exploratory activities vs 10%, respectively; p < 0.01). The distances covered over 24 hours were 90 meters for CRs and 150 meters for LWs (p < 0.01). Blood profiles suggested a faster adaptive hematological response of CRs to system change (from indoors to outdoors). The study of soil macrofauna after passage of animals showed an increase on the grazed plots in macroinvertebrates (notably Oligochaeta, Dermaptera) that decompose organic matter. This study suggests that alternative livestock systems, although less efficient, may meet farmers’ needs for economic gain in animal production, using agricultural residues or minimizing human intervention.