Released April 21, 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Feed prices are at an all-time high, and it doesn't appear that prices will go down anytime soon. Pork producers need to review and tweak their feed management systems to get the maximum value for every dollar spent on the hog diet.
"With feed making up approximately two-thirds of the total cost of raising pigs, small improvements in feed management can add up quickly," said Mark Whitney, University of Minnesota Extension swine specialist, writing on his blog at http://www.agbuzz.com.
Whitney encourages pork producers to observe feeding stations for any wastage. When pigs are eating, only about one-half of the feed trough for nursery pigs, and one-third of the feed trough for growing and finishing pigs should be covered with feed. "Feeders out of adjustment that flow more feed into the feeding trough greatly increase the amount of feed that is wasted," said Whitney. "Feed that is not consumed cannot be converted into pork."
High feed quality is also imperative when feed is expensive. "Evaluate nutrient and physical characteristics, ensuring the diet in the feeder matches the diet on paper, while avoiding foreign material and anti-nutritional factors, such as mycotoxins," he said.
Feed particle size is also important. Ground feed should be about 700 microns in diameter. Coarser particles result in reduced feeding, while finer particles can cause gastric ulcers in pigs. Reducing the particle size from 1,000 microns to 700 microns can improve feed efficiency, but the extra grinding has to be figured in as an additional feed cost.
Whitney recommends producers work with their nutritionists to make certain each ration matches the pigs' nutrient needs. A nutritionist should ensure the nutrient needs for pig growth are being efficiently met, especially for lean tissue development. "It is much more efficient to put on a pound of lean tissue vs. fat on a pig," Whitney said.
Producers may want to increase the number of rations fed over the growing period. "Feed at least six different diets during the grow-finish period, changing diets based on a feed budget that takes into account pig weights and feed intakes," Whitney said.
Split sex feeding is another way to maximize the value of each feed dollar. Barrows grow 8-10 percent faster, consume 10-12 percent more feed, and reach market 10-14 days sooner than gilts. Gilts are leaner and more efficient in growth.
Feeding gilts and barrows together can result in over- and/or under-feeding of nutrients. Both scenarios are too expensive in 2008. Whitney encourages producers to get the most value out of the swine feed budget.
AgBuzz.com is a cooperative effort of University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Farm Guide. Read Mark Whitney's blog and leave comments about swine production and more at http://www.agbuzz.com!
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http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2008/agbuzz042108.html
Contacts: Andrea Johnson, (320) 289-2256, andreaj@mchsi.com
Catherine Dehdashti, (612) 625-0237, ced@umn.edu
