1. Feeding and Management of Show Pigs
Tadd Knight
ADM Alliance Nutrition®
ShowTec® National Accounts Manager

2. Four Major Components of the Champion Show Livestock Success Equation
Genetics
Management
Nutrition
Showmanship

3. Sticking to the Basics Good ones are bred, but CHAMPIONS are Fed!
They are made at home!
Start with a good one
Feed manageable numbers
Realize—both a beauty and athletic contest
Know the judges’ priorities
Do your homework!

4. The Foundation for Success
Ability to “read” livestock
Analyzing structure, design, fat, and muscle
Students must be motivated to work hard on a daily basis

5. Every Component Must be in Place
Every day is critical
Those students who do the little things right every day win consistently
Sound daily management practices are key to show ring success

6. Start with an individual that has the genetic potential to win!
Start with one that is the right age for target show!

7. Selection Structural soundness Squareness of Skeleton Muscle Content
Body Capacity
Balance

8. Nutrition
Without question, a sound nutrition program is crucial to maximizing the genetic potential of a show animal

9. Feeding Show Pigs

10. Nutrition Feeding Three Phases Phase I – Purchase to approx. 100 lb
Phase II – 100 to 200 lb
Phase III – 200 lb to desired show weight

11. Phase I
The time of purchasing and receiving is crucial!

12. Vaccinations Vaccinations should include: Circo Virus
Mycoplasma Pnuemonia
Flu
Erysipelas

13. Minimize Stress Stressors include: *Pre-weaning *Weaning
*Snaring, clipping, hauling to sales
*Co-mingling on school farm
Pigs from different herds have different degrees of immunity to various health challenges

14. Phase I Feeding Receiving Ration
A high-quality receiving ration is very important for early skeletal and muscle development
A broad spectrum antibiotic in feed such as CTC/Denagard®* is a must
*Not a trademark of ADM.

15. Receiving Ration continued
For young pigs weighing less than 50 lb or greener pigs over 50 lb, feed Burst Starter which is 21.5% crude protein and 6.5% fat
For pigs over 50 lb or very “bloomy,” use Sale Prep with 20% crude protein with 5.5% fat

17. Phase I Feeding continued
Next feed Starter/Grower LN/FBZ (fenbendazole and lincomycin)
Combats respiratory challenges
Assures thorough deworming
Should feed 1 bag per pig

18. Phase I Feeding continued
Feeding “free-choice” to at least 100 lb is recommended to maximize early skeletal and muscle growth
Clean feeders daily

19. Managing the Feed Bucket
Managing fat and muscle composition are keys to success
Avoid gimmick products and stick with research-proven feed additives

20. Individualize Feeding Plans
Analyze each pig early on and make a projected feeding plan for each pig
Adjust plan as the feeding process moves along and pigs change

21. Managing Muscle
Pigs over 50 lb that need to continue to develop muscle should be on Developer LN which is a 20% crude protein ration with 3.5% fat
Once muscle development gets close to desired, feed BB 18 LN which is an 18% crude protein ration with 3.75% fat

23. Managing Muscle
As pigs need more condition and need to maintain muscle, feed Hi Fat 18 LN which is an 18% crude protein ration with 7% fat

25. Managing Muscle
For slightly above averaged muscled pigs and developing breeding gilts as well as very heavily muscled pigs, we recommend /6 LN, a crumbled, complete feed providing 14.5% crude protein product with 6% fat

28. Managing Fat Composition
Avoid feeding too high fat levels from 60 to 100 lb
Utilize high-quality, highly digestible fat additives
Start with a small inclusion level of additional fat in ration at 100 lb and adjust according to each pig

29. Phase II Feeding Begins from 100 to 125 lb
Limit feeding often initiated at this time if needed
Initially feed 6 lb per day
Adjust according to desired daily gain needs

30. Critical Decisions Need To Be Made
Phase III Feeding
Critical Decisions Need To Be Made
The use of Paylean®* should be considered
Additional fat supplementation?
Depends on each individual pig
How do I decide how much and when?
*Not a trademark of ADM.

31. Paylean Feeding Options
Feeding a complete feed with 9 grams per ton of Paylean®* is one option — Finisher TY/Paylean is recommended
Supplementing feed with daily hand-mix Paylean product is 2nd option —
11102 Lean Maximizer® is hand mixing option
Some pigs may not need Paylean*!!! .

32. Top-Dress Options
Top-dress options exist to “tweak” a pig in terms of gut fill, muscle and/or fat composition, as well as vitamin/mineral supplementation

33. MoorMan’s® MoorFat™ #235AAA77
Now offered in a 20-lb pail
Use MoorFat to achieve desire show cover
Top-dress 2-4 oz per feeding – not to exceed 10% of daily intake
May be fed to exhibition swine, sheep, and goats
50-lb bag also available (235AA)

34. ShowTec® MoorBody™ #12111AAA15
Offered in a 40-lb bag
Provides high fat and high energy chips along with choice white grease and palm oil
Contains citrus and beet pulp
Citrus scent
Flexible usage
Dense texture
Feed ½ to 2 lb of MoorBody in conjunction with a ShowTec Developer Feed
Product designed for developing extra body fill and cover as desired
14% crude protein, 0.9% lysine, 19.5% crude fat, % crude fiber

35. ShowTec Navigator #10200DB Offered in a 25-lb pail
Top-dress exhibition swine at 4-8 oz/hd/day as a replacement for 1-2 lb of complete feed
Contains Blue Lite Electrolytes™*
Tissue rehydration
Use during periods of stress
Provides complexed trace minerals
Promotes healthy skin and hair growth
Contains L-carnitine, chromium picolinate, and essential amino acids
Contains yeast cultures and an acidifier
Promotes proper intestinal pH and feed intake
Contains Appetein™*
*Not trademarks of ADM.

36. Show Prep for Swine #12303AAAMB Offered in a 5-lb pouch
Latest and most desired product on market
Complete feed with enhanced energy and balanced amino acid/electrolyte package
Eliminates the need for multiple top-dress products
Designed to be fed the night before and the morning of the show (2.5 lb/feeding); can also be fed 3-4 days prior to show
Convenient, affordable

37. For more flexibility in motion . . .
#12298AAA5E
Offered in a 3.75-lb pouch
For more flexibility in motion . . .
Command attention from the first step into the show ring with MoorFlex!
One-of-a-kind, unique, top-dress supplement for show swine, beef cattle, goats, and lambs.
It provides nutritional support for joint flexibility, helping show animals move with ease and comfort.
It contains an ingredient approved for livestock feed that provides a source of natural substances recognized to influence joint health.
Supplies Cell-Rate®, a source of nucleotides that may help fuel natural metabolic processes involved in stress, immunity, and production.
The complexed zinc source helps optimize integrity of the hoof, gut, and skin. Plus, MoorFlex is loaded with essential vitamins.

38. Feeding Directions Show Swine: 2 to 4 oz/head/day
Show Cattle: 2 to 8 oz/head/day
Show Sheep: 2 to 4 oz/head/day
Show Goats: 2 to 4 oz/head/day

39. Ordering process and for more information, log on to www. cellarator
Ordering process and for more information, log on to
Retail customers may log on at to purchase on-line or call to place an order.
ADM ANI Dealers must call to place orders. Dealer pricing not available for on-line ordering.

40. Other Products ShowTec Lean Maximizer #11102DB
Daily hand mixing of Paylean supplementation
25-lb pail
Firewater™* #11110BC
Rehydrates and expands animals at show time
36-oz container
Alliance 3-D™ #12079AAA
Liquid (oil-based) energy supplement
Available in one-gal. and 40-gal. containers
*Not a trademark of ADM.

41. Daily Management Daily Management is crucial to show ring success!
Those who do the little things right every day are usually the ones who win
Cutting corners will cost you more in the end than paying a little more to make sure pigs are properly cared for

42. Phase I Management Tips
Encourage students to gentle pigs down by getting into pen on a daily basis at a young age
Bed pigs on high-quality bedding to prevent staining
Clean area where pigs defecate on a daily basis
Observe daily for signs of illness or lameness

43. Phase 1 Management continued
Utilize shade cloth for light breeds
Separate pigs in to individual pens as early as possible to prevent injury and calm them down
Introduce pigs to scales at early age and continue on a consistent basis

44. Phase II Management Begin training pigs to show
Work with pigs 15 to 20 minutes per day in a show ring environment
Weigh the pigs weekly and chart gain

45. Phase II
Wash regularly and apply hair and skin conditioning products regularly
First hair cut usually given around 125 lb
Do not trim with less than 1A guard

46. Phase III Management Wash pigs twice per week if possible
Apply oil every day and brush at feeding time
Keep all pigs out of elements and away from sun exposure
Heavy pigs should be monitored more closely on weight and rations adjusted perhaps twice per week

47. Showmanship Showing an animal to its potential is critical
Possessing “ring awareness” is very important
Accentuate the good qualities and cover up negative ones!
Young exhibitors should watch more experienced showmen and learn from them!
Train pigs to show at early age
The more you handle the pigs the better

49. Thank You and Good Luck!