The objective of the study was to determine the effect of nursery stocking density (STOCK) and feeder space (FS) on gilt growth performance. Composite Landrace × Large White PIC gilts (n = 500) were weaned at an average age and weight of 39.3 d and 9.6 kg, respectively. Gilts were randomly assigned to either 5 or 10 pigs per pen to achieve a STOCK of 0.42 or 0.21 m² and FS of 14.35 or 7.175 cm per pig in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. In 2013 and 2014 pigs remained in the nursery for 33 and 45 d, respectively, and left at an average weight of 23.7 and 39.0 kg, respectively. In the finisher, pigs were randomly placed into groups of 15 gilts per pen (0.84 m²). Data were analyzed in SAS using PROC GLM. Fixed effects included STOCK, FS, year, nursery room and the interaction between year and room. All interactions between STOCK and FS were P ≥ 0.24 . In 2013 nursery ADG did not differ (P = 0.27) between STOCK. However, in 2014 nursery ADG was greater (P < 0.01) for pigs stocked at 0.42 m² when compared with 0.21 m². Overall nursery ADG was greater (P < 0.01) for pigs stocked at 0.42 m² when compared with 0.21 m² and numerically greater (P = 0.21) for pigs housed with 14.35 cm of FS when compared with 7.175 cm. Overall finishing ADG tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for pigs previously housed with 7.175 cm of FS when compared with 14.35 cm. In 2013 wean-to-finish ADG did not differ (P = 0.84) between STOCK. However, in 2014 wean-to-finish ADG tended (P < 0.08) to be greater for pigs stocked at 0.42 m²when compared with 0.21 m². Overall wean-to-finish ADG was greater (P = 0.03) for pigs stocked at 0.42 m² when compared with 0.21 m². Results suggest nursery FS, but not STOCK, affected subsequent finishing growth rate. Table 1. Effect of nursery stocking density and feeder space on gilt growth performance

ADG	Stocking density, m2				Feeder space, cm/pig
0.42	0.21	SE	14.35	7.175	SE
2013 nursery	0.431	0.409	0.019		0.428	0.411	0.020
2014 nursery	0.693	0.619	0.016		0.665	0.647	0.017
Overall nursery	0.563	0.513	0.013		0.547	0.530	0.013
2013 finisher	0.906	0.893	0.015		0.891	0.908	0.015
2014 finisher	0.869	0.877	0.012		0.865	0.881	0.013
Overall finisher	0.887	0.885	0.01		0.878	0.894	0.01
2013 wean-to-finish	0.804	0.787	0.013		0.791	0.799	0.013
2014 wean-to-finish	0.816	0.797	0.011		0.803	0.810	0.011
Overall wean-to-finish	0.810	0.792	0.008		0.798	0.805	0.008