Livestock FeedingAnS 320
“Swine Feeding and Management”Lecture #1
Dr. John F. PatienceDepartment of Animal Science
201B Kildee HallPhone: 294-5132
Email: [email protected]
PRODUCTION CONTINUUM
Breeding
Farrowing
Nursery
Growout
What occurs in one phase of production often affects outcomes in later phases.
OrDiagnosing problems in one phase of production often requires consideration of
what is happening in earlier phases.
Feeding and Management: Sows
Framework for Developing Feeding Programs
Feeding Program
Nutrient Supply
Nutrient Requirements
ProfitabilityPork
Quality Sustainability
Functional Properties
Life cycle feeding
Gestation feeding affects: Sow condition at farrowing
Feed intake during lactation Sows that get too fat in gestation eat less in lactation
Piglet birth weight Response is very small
Cost of feeding the breeding herd Feeding too much feed or too rich a diet increases feed costs
with no benefits, possibly detriments
Well-being of the sow Thin sows are easily chilled and more susceptible for illness
Life cycle feeding
Lactation feeding affects: Sow condition at weaning
Affects subsequent reproduction
Litter weaning weights Sows will “milk off their back” but this is both inefficient and
ineffective, compared to feeding the sow correctly
Cost of feeding the breeding herd Feeding too much feed or too rich a diet increases feed costs
with no benefits, possibly detriments
Well-being of the sow Thin sows are easily chilled and more susceptible for illness
Tracking actual sow feed usage: Gestation feed
Example: 3,500 sow herd using 800 tons of gestation feed over 4 months.
Average daily gestation feed disappearance = (800 X 12/4) tons X 2,000 lb/ton
2,900 gest. crates X 300 days
= 4,800,000870,000
= 5.5 lb/sow/day
Tracking actual sow feed usage: Lactation feed: Option 1
Example: 3,500 sow herd with 630 crates farrows 2,750 litters using 420 tons of lactation feed over 4 months
Average daily lactation feed disappearance = (420 tons X 12/4) X 2,000 lb/ton
630 crates X 365 days
= 2,520,000229,950
= 11.1 lb/sow/day
[Under-estimates actual usage, due to empty crates, or pre-farrowed sows in crates. Must know this information to use the information effectively.]
Tracking actual sow feed usage: Lactation feed: Option 2
Example: 3,500 sow herd with 630 crates farrows 2,750 litters using 420 tons of lactation feed over 4 months
Average daily lactation feed disappearance; ave. lactation 19 d = (420 tons x 12/4) X 2,000 lb/ton
2750 litters X 60 days
= 2,520,000165,000
= 15.3 lb/sow/day
[Over-estimates actual usage, because feed given to sows prior to farrowing is included. Must know this information to use the information effectively.]
Feeding and Management: Gestation
Example Gestation DietsMixed parity diet Young parity
dietOld parity
dietIngredient Corn-soy diet Soy hull diet
Corn or milo 1,626 1,548 1,548 1,617
Soybean meal, 46.5% CP 291 271 271 202
Soy hulls --- 100 100 100
Monocalcium phosphate, 21% P
32 31 31 29
Limestone 28 27 27 29
Salt 10 10 10 10
Vitamin premix with phytase 5 5 5 5
Trace mineral premix 3 3 3 3
Sow add pack 5 5 5 5
Total 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000
Example Gestation DietsMixed parity diet Young
parity dietOld parity
dietCalculated analysis Corn-soy diet Soy hull diet
TID Lysine, % 0.56 0.55 0.55 0.46
Total lysine, % 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.55
TID Lysine:ME ratio, g/Mcal 1.71 1.71 1.71 1.44
TID Methionine:lysine ratio,% 38 38 38 41
TID Met & Cys:lysine ratio, % 78 78 78 85
TID Threonine:lysine ratio, % 76 76 76 80
TID Tryptophan:lysine ratio, % 23 22 22 23
ME, kcal/lb 1,484 1,451 1,451 1,451
Protein, % 13.7 13.4 13.4 12.1
Calcium, % 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90
Phosphorus, % 0.66 0.64 0.64 0.61
Available phosphorus, % 0.39 0.38 0.38 0.35
Available phosphorus equiv, %a 0.45 0.44 0.44 0.42aThe available phosphorus equivalency includes the phosphorus release due to inclusion of phytase in the vitamin premix.
Gestation feeding challenges1. Optimize lifetime sow productivity, as a means of
maximizing herd profitability2. Over-feeding sows in gestation reduces feed
intake in lactation3. Under-feeding sows in gestation impairs
reproductive performance and animal well-being (shoulder sores)
4. Avoid mycotoxins; this may be the worst place to feed mycotoxin contaminated feed
Gestation feeding targets1. Body condition score between 3 and 3.5 – for ALL
sows (on a 5-point scale) Avoid sows that are too fat or too thin
2. Backfat levels of 0.75” to 0.80” at farrowing (measured at last rib, 2.5” to 3.0” off the midline) Avoid bf less than 0.55” at weaning
3. Adjust feed intake according to body weight and backfat
4. Very thin sows have higher maintenance energy requirements, because they have lower insulation levels and are often more active.
Gestation feeding program1. Sows must be limit fed during gestation;
otherwise they become too fat2. Do not feed more than 4 to 5 lb per day for the
first 3 weeks after breeding; excess intake lowers fetal survival
3. Feed 4.0 to 4.5 lb of a corn-soybean meal diet per day, adjusting as required for body condition
4. Increase feed allowance by 2 lb during the last 21 days of gestation Increases gut capacity to support maximum intake in
lactation Recognizes that most fetal growth occurs during the
final 3 weeks of gestation. Exception if over-fat sows
Limit feeding gestating sows Easily accomplished in gestation stalls
Automatic drops MUST be calibrated regularly, to ensure the sow is receiving what you think she should be receiving.
More difficult to achieve in group housing systems Key rule: to successfully feed sows in group housed gestation,
remove competition for feed. The greater the competition among sows for feed, the less successful the housing system will be.
Options: Electronic sow feeders Walk-in-lock-in feeding stalls Trickle feeders Floor feeding, with multiple drops, spreading out supply of
feed throughout the pen. Including dividers within the pen helps
Feeding Levels (lb/day) For Gestating Sows Based on Backfat and Weight Category at Breeding
Flank to flank, in
Estimated weight, lb
Backfat at breeding, mm (in)9-11
(.35-.43)12-14
(.47-.55)15-17
(.59-.67)> 18 (.71)
< 36.3 < 325 5.0 (.20)
4.4 (.17)
3.9 (.15)
3.4 (.13)
36.4 - 39.2 325 - 400 5.5 (.22)
5.0 (.20)
4.4 (.17)
3.9 (.15)
39.3 - 41.8 400 - 475 5.9 (.23)
5.4 (.21)
4.9 (.19)
4.3 (.17)
41.9 - 44.0 475 - 550 6.4 (.25)
5.9 (.23)
5.4 (.21)
4.8 (.20)
> 44.0 550 - 650 6.9 (.27)
6.4 (.25)
5.8 (.23)
5.3 (.21)
Based on a diet containing 1,500 kcal ME/lb (corn-soybean meal).
Feeding and Management: Lactation
Example Lactation DietsTID Lysine, %
Ingredient, lb/ton 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05
Corn 1,435 1,395 1,356 1,316 1,277 1,238
Soybean meal, 46.5% CP 486 526 566 605 645 685
Choice white greasea 0-5% 0-5% 0-5% 0-5% 0-5% 0-5%
Monocalcium Phosphate, 21% P 28.5 28.5 28 28 28 27.5
Limestone 28 27.5 27.5 27.5 27 27
Salt 10 10 10 10 10 10
Vitamin premix with phytase 5 5 5 5 5 5
Trace mineral premix 3 3 3 3 3 3
Sow add pack 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000
a If adding fat, substitute for grain on an equal weight basis
Example Lactation DietsCalculated analysis
TID Lysine, % 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05
Total Lysine, % 0.91 0.97 1.02 1.08 1.13 1.19
TID Lysine:ME ratio, g/Mcal 2.35 2.49 2.64 2.79 2.93 3.08
TID Methionine:lysine ratio, % 32 31 30 30 29 28
TID Met & Cys:lysine ratio, % 65 64 62 61 60 59
TID Threonine:lysine ratio, % 69 68 68 67 66 66
TID Tryptophan:lysine ratio, % 22 22 22 22 22 22
ME, kcal/lb 1,547 1,547 1,547 1,547 1,547 1,547
Protein, % 17.1 17.9 18.7 19.4 20.2 20.9
Calcium, % 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90
Phosphorus, % 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.68 0.69 0.69
Available phosphorus, % 0.36 0.37 0.36 0.37 0.37 0.37
Available phosphorus equiv, %b 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48
bThe available phosphorus equivalency includes the phosphorus release due to inclusion of phytase in the vitamin premix.
Feed intake
One of the greatest challenges in feeding the nursing sow is maximizing feed intake Low feed intake leads to low nutrient intake Low nutrient intake leads to:
Lower weaning weights Loss of sow body condition Increased sow culling Impaired rebreeding and subsequent litter size
Effects of Lactation Feeding Level on Litter and Pig Performance
Lactation Feeding
Item Restricted Ad libitum SED Probability, P <
No. of litters 38 40 --- ---
Pigs/litter
d 3 (start creep) 11.0 10.9 0.3 0.75
d 21 10.4 10.4 0.3 0.93
Mortality, % 5.9 5.3 1.8 0.76
Litter weight, lb
d 3 (start creep) 39.3 38.6 1.4 0.53
d 21 125.1 132.6 4.5 0.10
Litter BW gain, lb
Total 94.7 102.9 3.9 0.04
ADG 5.20 5.64 0.21 0.04
NB – Restricted were fed 25% less than ab libitum
Lactation feeding program
Small amount of feed on day of farrowing Hungry sows are restless and more likely to over-lay piglets Sows typically will not eat much feed; farrowing room is very
warm and fed deteriorates quickly Day 1 – 2: Limit fed modestly; do not want to limit feed
very much Days 3+: Keep fresh feed in front of the sows at all times
Feeding Strategy for Lactating SowsNumber of 4-pound scoops to feed at each feeding from day 0 to 2 of lactation
Feeding
Feed in feeder AM PM
Empty 1 1
< 2 lb 0 0.5
> 2 lb 0 0
Number of 4-pound scoops to feed at each feeding from day 2 to weaning
Feeding
Feed in feeder AM Noon PM
Empty 2 2 2
< 2 lb 1 1 1
> 2 lb 0 0 1
Factors affecting feed intake - 1
Feed delivery Pigs cannot eat feed that isn’t in front of them! By the 3rd day of
lactation, sows should have feed in front of them all of the time Feeding 3 to 4 times per day is preferred to feeding once or twice.
Density of the diet Pigs eat more of a low density (low energy) diet, up to the
volumetric capacity of their stomach
Temperature High temperature discourages feed intake; low temperature
encourages feed intake If the temperature is too cold, or conditions are drafty and damp,
part of the energy consumed by the sow will be needed to maintain thermal homeostasis
Factors affecting feed intake - 2
Genetics Some lines of pigs have a naturally higher appetite. If using a low
appetite line of pigs, even greater attention must be directed at maximizing feed intake
Palatability It is important to note that the important factor here is what the
pig considers palatable, not what the producer “thinks” is palatable.
Nutrient balance Imbalances among, for example, amino acids will reduce feed
intake
Body condition and reproductive cycle feeding If sows are overfed in gestation, they will accrue more body fat
and this tends to impair feed intake during lactation
Factors affecting feed intake - 3
Feeder design Large feed troughs tend to increase feed intake Wet/dry feeders tend to increase feed intake
Access to water Water is particularly critical to a lactating sow A sow weaning 11 piglets at 3 weeks of age weighing 13 lb will be
producing an average of 2.5 gallons of milk per day!
Fibre in lactation diets Nursing sows are susceptible to constipation Constipation can be treated by using:
Fiber Wheat midds (±20%) Soybean hulls (±10%) Alfalfa meal (±25%) Sugar beet pulp (7±%) Oats (±20%)(Risk: Use of fibrous ingredients will lower diet energy density and
may compromise sow’s ability to consume sufficient energy Chemical laxatives
MgSO4 (Epsom salts: 30 lb/ton) NaSO4 (Glauber salts: 60 lb/ton)(Risk: Chemical laxatives are harsh; should be used carefully)
Lactation feeding quandary In order to maximize sow feed intake, she wants the room
kept as cool as possible In order to maximize piglet growth and well-being, they
want the room to be kept very warm If the room is kept too cool for the piglets, they will huddle
with the sow, increasing the risk of being over-lain Increased mortality due to overlays is often related to a room
temperature that is too cool
CompromiseKeep the farrowing room temperature elevated during
farrowing and the first 24 to 36 hours post-farrowing, to get the piglets off to a good start.
Lower the temperature to 68 to 72⁰F thereafter and provide zone heating for the piglets
Feed intake declines by about 0.2 lb/d per ⁰F above 68⁰F