Precision feeding and decision support systems to improve growth uniformity in finishing pigs

Optimising slaughter weight is essential for efficient management in all-in-all-out pig production systems, where large differences in growth between animals can complicate marketing and reduce profitability.

Objective: This study evaluated whether an individual precision feeding (IPF) strategy supported by a decision support system (DSS) could improve body weight performance and reduce variability within pig batches.

Methods: A 103-day commercial trial involving 365 pigs compared conventional three-phase feeding with precision feeding. Two control groups received standard diets with fixed standardised ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys) concentrations through traditional feeders, while pigs in the IPF group were fed individually using robotic feeders. These feeders adjusted nutrient supply in real time by blending high- and low-lysine diets according to each pig’s estimated requirements. The DSS combined a nutritional model, stakeholder-defined feeding constraints, and real-time data on body weight and feed intake collected automatically from each animal. This allowed daily adjustment of SID Lys supply for every pig throughout the growing period.

Results: Overall growth performance was similar between groups. However, pigs in the IPF system used lysine more efficiently, requiring less SID Lys per kilogram of live weight gain than pigs in the control groups. When animals were classified according to their initial body weight, the precision feeding strategy appeared particularly beneficial for pigs at the extremes of the population distribution. Heavy pigs in the IPF group showed an improvement of approximately 4–7 kg in growth performance compared with controls, while lighter pigs improved by around 3–4 kg, although these differences were not statistically significant. Importantly, the IPF strategy improved uniformity among light-body-weight pigs, reducing variability compared with conventionally fed groups. Although total batch variability remained similar overall, the system helped support animals that would typically lag behind in commercial production. The study did not observe clear reductions in feed costs or nitrogen excretion, partly due to technical issues with feed distribution during the final feeding phase and relatively high crude protein levels in the experimental diets. Nevertheless, economic modelling suggested that the profitability of the system was mainly driven by improved production output and better optimisation of animal growth.

Conclusion: Overall, the study demonstrates that a DSS-based precision feeding system can be successfully implemented under commercial conditions. By adapting nutrient supply to the needs of individual pigs in real time, the approach improved nutrient utilisation efficiency and enhanced growth performance in animals with the greatest risk of under- or over-performing within the batch.