Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Breeding & Genetics

Carcass & Meat Quality

Environment Impact

Feed & Feed Tehnologies

Performance Trials

At the Performance Testing Institute (LPA) of the Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony in Quakenbrück-Vehr, fattening performance, carcass and meat quality of pigs from different genetics are examined in the course of exact feeding studies. This facility is exclusively for fattening and does not cater gestating, farrowing sows or weaning pigs. The LPA houses up to 900 growing-finishing pigs in total: 700 places in pairs and 200 places in groups of 10 pigs with transponder feeding. Each year, when operating at full capacity, up to 1,980 pigs are sent to a nearby commercial slaughterhouse. The farm itself does not possess its own feed mill. Depending on the specifics of each experiment, pig feed is sourced from several commercial feed mills. The composition of the experimental diets is formulated by LWK Nds. itself or in collaboration with our partners depending on the type of trial. The research services provided include: • Recording of performance characteristics of pigs during the entire fattening period and in relation to feeding stages. This covers: - daily weight gain, - daily feed consumption, - feed conversion ratio, - and animal losses. •Assessment of slaughter performance, such as: - carcass length, - side fat, - back fat measurements, - back muscle and fat area, - meat-fat ratio, - lean meat content (using the Bonner formula), - belly meat percentage (as per the Gruber formula), - AutoFOM characteristics, - pH and conductivity values, - drip juice losses, - ntramuscular fat content. • In collaboration with our pig health service (veterinary service), partnered labs and universities further services can be offered like the collection and analysis of blood and organ samples. A standout feature of the facility is the "transparent fattening house". In this part, very precise measurements for nutrient balancing and emission development in pig fattening can be carried out. This facility provides a slew of services such as: • Collection of reliable data on emissions from fattening pigs. • Slurry quantity recording and determining nutrient concentrations via representative sampling. • Calculation of nutrient loads • Tests of N-/P-reduced feed and physiologically optimized feeding strategies which serve as the foundation for advisory recommendations and knowledge transfer practices. • Recording of drinking and process water quantities. • Evaluation of emission reduction measures, like the urease inhibitor. • Studying the effects of genetics on various feeding strategies. • Promoting intensive collaboration between experts and practical applications. Due to the exact measurement technology, very high recovery rates for nutrients such as nitrogen can be achieved. The results of the examinations, which are collected and analysed with professional measuring and evaluation methods on a scientific basis, provide fundamental information for the breeding and production stage as well as for the advisory service. A major advantage of this testing facility is the standardized husbandry and feeding conditions. This ensures a uniform environment for all test animals and maintains the neutrality of the examinations.