Feeding and Management of Swine Chapter 22

Objectives Describe different types of swine production Develop feeding programs for different stages in the life cycle of hogs Describe accepted management practices for the stages in the life cycle of hogs

Types of Swine Production Pasture Management Usage decreased rapidly in 1970s due to growth of confinement hog production By late 1990s, larger producers had converted to confinement facilities Slight resurgence due to animal welfare concerns, demand for natural and local pork

Types of Swine Production (cont.) Purebred Production Specialized business Purebred hogs make up less than 1 percent of total hogs raised in U.S. Breeding stock used in commercial hog production Producers must be excellent managers

Types of Swine Production (cont.) Commercial Production Feeder pig production Produces pigs for sale to feeders Buying and finishing feeder pigs Buys feeder pigs, raises them to market weight Farrow-to-finish system Most common method Farrow pigs, care for, feed to market weight

Contracting in the Swine Industry Becoming more commonplace Farmer provides buildings, equipment Contracting company provides pigs, financing, and makes management decisions Contracts offered for raising feeder pigs, or for feeding feeder pigs to market weights Farmers paid flat fee per pig raised, marketed

Pork Quality Assurance Plus Program Management education program Emphasis on swine herd health and animal well-being Anyone who raises swine can take part Management practices reviewed and improvements designed Producer’s plans verified by a veterinarian

Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretion Problems in swine: odor and pollution Nitrogen, phosphorus excessive in manure Odor caused by ammonia released from manure Change in swine diet may reduce problems Substitute synthetic lysine for soybean meal Practice split-sex feeding Use four to five diets in phase feeding rather than two

Selecting Feeds for Swine Energy Feeds Corn Barley Buckwheat Milo Wheat Oats

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Energy Feeds (cont.) Rye Triticale Potatoes Bakery wastes Fats, tallow, greases Molasses

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Plant Proteins Soybean oil meal Cottonseed meal Linseed meal Peanut meal Whole soybeans

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Animal Proteins Tankage and meat scraps Meat and bone meal Fish meal Skim milk and buttermilk Whey

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Roughages Alfalfa meal Alfalfa hay Silage Pasture

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Minerals Four major minerals added: calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and chlorine Six trace minerals added: zinc, iron, copper, selenium, manganese, and iodine Vitamins Vitamins added: A, D, E, K, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, choline, and B12

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Water One of most important nutrients in hog rations Plenty of water should be available at all times Water no colder than 45°F Too much nitrate in water not good for hogs

Selecting Feeds for Swine (cont.) Additives Increase efficiency in hog production Promote faster growth rate Improve feed conversion Reduce disease stress Anthelmintics, antibiotics, arsenicals, nitrofurans, and sulfa compounds

Feeding the Breeding Herd Too much fat is not good Breed gilts about 7 to 8 months of age Pasture may be used for consumption Temperature control should be used Limited feeding is different for each stage of production Self-feeding may be used during gestation

Feeding Baby Pigs Critical to ensure each pig nurses shortly after it is born Colostrum in milk needed to fight disease Need to eat real feed by 3 to 4 weeks Baby pigs will nibble on creep feed a week after born

Feeding Growing-Finishing Pigs Scours sometimes an issue during first 2 to 3 weeks after weaning Some early weaned pigs may lose weight or not gain weight in first week or two due to immature digestive tract Adding fumaric acid or whey to diet can help maintain weight gain during this period

Feeding Growing-Finishing Pigs (cont.) SDPP during first 2 weeks post-weaning will increase feed intake, rate of gain Antibiotics in starter diet typically improve feed efficiency by 5 to 10 percent and growth rate by 10 to 20 percent

Feeding Growing-Finishing Pigs (cont.) Phase feeding helps reduce post-weaning growth lag Phase I: lasts 7 to 10 days for pigs weaned at 3 weeks, 3 to 4 days for pigs weaned at 4 weeks Phase II: lasts 1 to 2 weeks after phase 1 Phase III: starts when pigs reach 25 pounds, and 3 to 5 weeks post-weaning

Feeding Growing-Finishing Pigs (cont.) Nutritional needs of younger pigs are greater than those of older pigs Phase feeding has been extended throughout the finishing period to match changing protein needs of animals Increased phases require close monitoring by producer

Feeding Growing-Finishing Pigs (cont.) Rations can be fed free choice, or as completely mixed feeds More uniform growth from completely mixed Growing-finishing pigs gain less efficiently on barley rations than on corn or milo Experimental work done on restricted feeding to improve efficiency

Feeding Growing-Finishing Pigs (cont.) Split-sex feeding can be used to better meet the different nutritional needs of barrows and gilts Barrows gain 8 percent faster than gilts Gilts produce carcasses with less back fat and a larger average loin eye area Practice requires additional facilities

Preparation of Feeds Grains should be ground for efficient use Pelleting of complete feeds improves feed efficiency, due to lower feed waste Labor-intensive liquid/paste feeding reduces waste; rate of gain may increase Commercial feeders available for wet feeding

Management Practices Pre-Breeding Management Crossbreeding is recommended Multiple farrowing results in higher average price Purchase sows and gilts at 4 to 5 months Purchase boars 45 to 60 days before use Worming is important

Management Practices (cont.) Pre-Breeding Management (cont.) Conception rate, litter size can be increased by using more than one boar on each female Artificial insemination use is on the rise Brings superior genetics to herd Makes better use of semen from superior boar Reduces risk of disease transmission Allows new bloodlines into the herd

Pre-Breeding Management Practices (cont.) Breeding-Gestation Period Breed gilts when 7 to 8 months, weigh between 250 to 300 pounds Fence-line contact of sows with boars stimulates estrus Hand mating or artificial insemination Keep gilts and sows separate

Management Practices (cont.) Common Reproductive Problems Anestrus Abortion Unusually small litter sizes Fetal mummification Stillbirths

Management Practices (cont.) Farrowing Period Close monitoring helps determine farrow time Facilities must be cleaned, sows washed If present, producer/operator can save baby pigs Pigs should be warm and dry Ears can be notched for identification

Management Practices (cont.) Farrowing Period (cont.) Clip needle teeth Extra labor required to save runt pigs Litter sizes can be equalized by moving pigs from large litters to small litters Must be done during first 3 days after farrow Pigs must first be nursed with colostrum

Management Practices (cont.) Farrowing to Weaning Period Tail docking done in first 1 to 3 days Iron injections may be required All male pigs raised for harvest should be castrated before 2 weeks of age Vaccination, worming help reduce losses Start on feed as soon as possible

Management Practices (cont.) Weaning to Market Hogs typically raised in confinement housing Raised on pasture in small operations Group in uniform lots according to size SEW systems help reduce disease MEW systems feature antibiotics and vaccines All-in/all-out system moves groups uniformly

Feeder Pigs Typically 8 to 9 weeks, 35 to 50 pounds Faster turnover Less feed required for dollar’s worth Labor required year-round Management practices are the same as for other hog enterprises