Effects of Dietary Bromide, Magnesium and Tryptophan and Immunocastration on Growth Performance and Behaviour of Entire Male Pigs

The growth of boars may be inhibited because of aggressive and/or sexual activity. Dietary Br, Mg and tryptophan (Trp) as well as immunocastration may reduce these behaviours. In Experiment 1, 200 boars and 40 barrows were allocated to six groups of four pens of 10 pigs per treatment. Control and immunocastrate (Improvac-vaccinated at 13 and 17 weeks, Imp) boars and barrows were fed a finisher ration while the others were fed diets supplemented with Mg (5 g Mg proteinate/kg), Br (140 mg NaBr/kg) and Trp (5 g Trp/kg). In experiment 2, 300 boars were stratified by weight and within three weight classes allocated to two pens of ten pigs per treatment. Control and Imp boars were fed a finisher ration while the other diets were supplemented with Br, Trp or both Br and Trp. In Experiment 1, average daily gain (ADG) was not affected by diet but the Imp boars had higher ADG than controls. Feed intake (FI) tended to be higher in all treatments compared to controls except for the Trp group. In Experiment 2, Imp boars had higher ADG and FI than other treatments while Br+Trp boars had higher ADG and FI than controls. These data suggest that immunocastration and dietary Trp and Br show promise for improving performance in group-housed boars.