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Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Dietary threonine requirement for maintenance is 98 mg/kg^0.75 in adult sows
Posted in: Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 7, 2011 | No Comments
An abstract for a study determining the threonine requirement in sows using the oxidation technique, rather than the nitrogen balance technique. The requirement was found to be 98mg/kg0.75, 80% higher than the 1998 NRC recommendation.
Dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios affect sow reproductive performance
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The abstract for a study testing the effect of altering the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, and also if any difference was found between using a fish or plant oil as the source of omega-3. It was found a plant source of omega-3 and a ratio of 5:1 n6:n3 had the most effect on sow and piglet performance.
Cost Effective Feeding Strategies for Grow-Finish Pigs
Posted in: Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 6, 2011 | No Comments
Cost effective feeding strategies can help increase net profit, but the nutritional requirements must still be met. The cost of feed can determine which strategy is best because when feed costs are high it is best to use a strategy to maximize feed efficiency, but when feed costs are low it is better to use a strategy to maximize average daily gain. Increasing fat percentage increases feed efficiency, but also increases feed cost, so a 3:1 corn to fat ratio should be maintained to be cost effective. Alternative ingredients such as DDGS and crystalline amino acids can help lower costs, but should be used in moderation and with an upper limit. Additives like phytase and Pyrolean can improve feed efficiency, and multiplying expected percent improvement multiplied by average cost of diet can determine what amount keeps the feed cost effective. If a barn markets on a fixed weight then focusing on a feed efficiency strategy is better; whereas, a fixed date marketing strategy suits maximizing average daily gain. Other management strategies including split sex feeding, phase feeding, and the form of feed chosen can be altered. The various dietary ingredient and management strategies can help keep feed cost effective, and nutritionally adequate.
Benefits and Limitations of Feeding Corn DDGS to Grower- Finisher Pigs
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Dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) has become a cost effective ingredient to add to feed, and contains fairly good energy, protein, lysine, and phosphorus values. However, the nutritional content is variable, which makes it harder to properly supply adequate energy to grower-finisher pigs. It has also been found to decreases carcass dressing percent, and decrease fat quality. The high linoleic acid of DDGS results in softer belly fat, and an increase in unsaturated fatty acids. This also increases the iodine value (IV), and each 1 point increase increases the feed costs by $0.30-1.10 per pig. DDGS can be fed at lower levels, or cut out of feed for the last few weeks during finishing to decrease the negative effect on dressing percent and the IV.
New Developments in Feeding Programs for Weaned Pigs
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Improving the performance of nursery pigs immediately post-wean is important, but the effect on later hog performance of changing sow nutrients during gestation and lactation has been largely overlooked. Certain fatty acids and Selenium supplementation to lactating sow’s diet can help improve nursery performance during weaning. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids improve the piglet’s intestinal ability to transport glucose and glutamine, improving nutrient utilization and energy viability during weaning. Selenium is an antioxidant, so it helps reduce oxidation of tissues while the piglet is under stress, including the weaning period. Another way to improve nursery performance is to use plasma proteins to stimulate food intake while weaning; however, it has been difficult to implement. Now there is a product called LiquiteinTM, which allows plasma protein to be added to the water supply. It improves dry feed intake, rather than just promoting water intake. Finally, diet changes should be avoided during vaccination. By delaying the vaccination until after a diet change, stress is reduced and less weight loss occurs.
The Future of Animal Feeding: Towards Sustainable Precision Livestock Farming
Posted in: Economics, Environment, Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 29, 2011 | No Comments
With the cost of feed accounting for 60% of production costs it is important to improve productivity and efficiency. However, the requirements of the customer, consumer and society need to be taken into account. This brings the idea of focusing on sustainable precision livestock farming as a future goal. The consumer demand in developed countries has become concerned with animal welfare, environmental impact, quality, safety, and the type of production system. With a growing population there will be an increased demand for food, but while developing countries will have a rapidly increasing demand for meat products developed countries will have, a much slower, or even stagnant, growth. Meanwhile, costs for feed could increase as supply becomes more limited. There is potential for improving productivity and efficiency while meeting public demands through newly developed and promising technology. Genomics have improved crops through the use of genetically modified crops, and there is still further developments possible. As well, genetic markers can be developed to allow testing for traits like meat quality and disease resistance. Nutrigenomics will be able to help determine the precise nutrient requirements in certain conditions. Microsystem and nanotechnology have the potential to be useful for sampling for micronutrients, contaminants and toxin metabolites inside and outside of an animal. Information and communication technology will allow for developments like automated feeding systems, and allow for ease and accuracy in sharing data. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy can quickly and easily sample feed for macro nutrients, and has the potential to do the same for micronutrients and contaminants. Overall, using current technological advances, and continuing to research and develop them will allow improved precision while meeting societal needs for sustainable farming.
Maximizing the Nutritional Value of Feedstuffs
Posted in: Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles by admin on March 30, 2011 | No Comments
With volatile feed prices, it remains important to constantly strive to improve feed efficiency and review feeding strategies. There remains wide variation in feed conversion ratio (FCR) between herds, and feed intake and feed wastage can both impact FCR. Herd health status also affects the herd’s FCR, but health status can also act on a lower, batch level as well. Wet feeding can benefit the FCR more than dry feeding, and there are arguments for buying either cheaper pre-mixed feeds, or home mixing to have a known quality. Breeding sows have strict dietary requirements, but gestating sows naturally have a higher FCR and diet formulations can use alternative ingredients. Starter feed remains the most expensive diets, but actual feed intake is proportionally low. A high quality starter feed seems to remain worth the cost, as it will get pigs finished sooner and with less variation. Finisher feed should follow precision feeding, and can benefit from exact formulation and the high herd health status. As well, in times of increased feed costs it may be worthwhile to reduce the safety margins usually in place. Alternative feed ingredients and feed additives may also offer opportunities to reduce diet costs.
The Nutrition and Economics of Feeding Entire Males Through the Grow-Finish Period
Posted in: Economics, Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles, Production by admin on | No Comments
Finishing entire males allows for better feed conversion, greater lean yield, and higher animal welfare. Historically, the problem with raising entire males was the possibility of developing boar taint when boars reach sexual maturity. However, immunocastration is a viable option for raising boars and preventing boar taint. Entire males will likely have higher amino acid requirements due to the increase in protein deposition, but feed efficiency is increased which will likely result in lower feed costs overall. Some progress has been made in genetically or nutritionally reducing boar taint, but the most effective method is immunizing against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Immunocastrated males have a lower feed efficiency than entire males after the second dose is given (4-6 weeks prior to slaughter), but it is still above that of barrows. Restricting feed intake or dietary energy may be able to reduce fat deposition after the second dose. Immunized males may be practical option to utilize feed efficiency and protein deposition close to entire males while avoiding boar taint, resulting in increased financial returns.
Maximising the Value of Feedstuffs
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Alternative ingredients may be able to provide feed costs savings, but with the increased use of them the price is also rising, so precise formulation should be used. Predicting energy values of alternative feed ingredients remains a problem, as values can vary between sources and between batches. As well, the digestible energy content may be different than what is actually available to the animal (net energy). Digestible amino acids need to be considered, and synthetic amino acids can be used to supplement if the ingredients are lacking. Fermentable fibres can also increase the need for supplemented threonine. Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) are degraded through fermentation in the gut, so NSPase enzymes can be added to break down NSPs and increase digestible energy. Phytase can be added to feed to release phytate-bound phosphorous and make it available to the pig, so phosphorous supplementation can be reduced. Some ingredients have naturally occurring phytase already, and additional levels can be lowered or not needed. Feeding fermented feed can be beneficial, but is not possible for dry feeds. For liquid feeding, fermented ingredients can provide reduced phytate levels, can increase beneficial intestinal microbials, and possibly benefit the immune system.
Swine Liquid Feeding Research Update
Posted in: Nutrition, Pork Insight Articles, Swine Innovation, Uncategorized by admin on February 22, 2011 | No Comments
The Swine Liquid Feeding Association annual research update provides progress reports on three projects they are currently working on. The first project, Emulsifiers for liquid feed involves various ingredient additives and processing techniques that can be used to increase the time it takes for corn to separate from the liquid it is suspended in. The second study Microbes for delivery of epidermal growth factor looks at the potential of additives to liquid feed to improve gut health and growth of weaner pigs. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was added to feed along with lactococcus lactis (LL) which enhances the effect of EGF. There was proven growth when tested on mice and improved gut health in pigs. Currently when the diet was applied to pigs there was no improvement in growth. The third study Increasing nutritional value of co-products attempts to improve the digestibility of DDGS and wheat shorts by adding microbial inoculants and enzymes. The study has so far found that enzymes improve the nutrient release of DDGS, enzymes and microbial inoculants improve positive fermentation of steeped DDGS, and both additives improve body weight gain without compromising meat quality.