Description and validation of a model simulating growth in the pig (20–90 kg liveweight)

Abstract A deterministic computer model is described which simulates the growth of pigs (20 – 90 kg liveweight). From information on the sex, genotype, liveweight, and body lipid content at the start of growth, diet, and feeding scale, the model can be used to predict average daily liveweight gain, mean food conversion ratio, carcass weight at slaughter, and backfat thickness. A comparison of the actual and predicted growth performance of entire male and female pigs given a balanced grower diet at a daily rate of either 9 or 11% of metabolic body weight (kg 0.75) over the liveweight range 20 – 80 kg, demonstrated that the model can be used to give realistic predictions of pig growth performance.