Table 3. Partial correlations between feeding behaviour traits and growth performance (n = 92)1.
| Item | Feed intake | Time spent eating | Feeding visits | Feed intake per visit | Feeding time per visit | Feeding rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial body weight, kg | -0.083 | 0.019 | -0.110 | 0.046 | 0.140 | -0.054 |
| Final body weight, kg | 0.821*** | -0.247* | -0.106 | 0.268** | -0.121 | 0.522*** |
| Feed intake, kg/d | - | -0.143 | -0.003 | 0.203* | -0.190 | 0.506*** |
| Growth rate, kg/d | 0.847*** | -0.253** | -0.067 | 0.251* | -0.170 | 0.539*** |
| Protein retention (Pr), g/d2 | 0.230* | 0.167 | -0.044 | 0.147 | 0.173 | 0.408*** |
| Lipid retention (Lr), g/d3 | -0.152 | -0.360*** | -0.069 | 0.260* | -0.070 | 0.430*** |
| Feed efficiency (Gain:feed) | -0.096 | -0.224* | -0.113 | 0.121 | 0.001 | 0.150 |
| Residual energy intake4 | 0.267* | 0.133 | 0.174 | -0.168 | -0.179 | -0.001 |
1 *, **, and *** stand for P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001.
2 Estimated from body protein mass changes (kg), from 47 to 145 kg BW. Body protein mass was estimated as 0.1353 × FFEBW1.1175 (NRC, 2012), where FFEBW is the fat free empty body weight.
3 Estimated from body lipid mass changes (kg), from 47 to 145 kg BW. Body lipid mass was estimated from backfat and body weight (BW) according to Kloareg et al., [11].
4 Computed as: metabolizable energy (ME) intake − (ME req. for maintenance + ME req. for growth), where ME req. for maintenance = BW0.60 × 0.845 MJ, and ME req. for growth = 44.35 × Pr + 52.30 × Lr [10].