A researcher in Iowa has trashed the speculation that pigs bred for
improved feed efficiency are more prone to sickness.
Jack Dekkers of Iowa State University, who ran research over 10
generations of pigs bred to improve feed efficiency, found they were just as healthy
as other pigs.
"There's been some reluctance to breed for feed efficiency because
of the notion that pigs that are very efficient run into difficulty if they're
stressed," he said. "We
found that's not the case. If anything, more efficient pigs are also more
robust."
Feed is the single biggest cost of producing market hogs, accounting for
more than 50 per cent of the bills hog farmers face.
There's another bonus Dekkers didn't mention: pigs that are more efficient are also better for the environment because they consume fewer resources and contribute less pollution.
