Influence of feeding frequency on performance and nitrogen metabolism in gestating swine

Swine Industry Day 1973 is known as Swine Day, 1973The influence of feeding frequency on performance and nitrogen metabolism in gestating swine was studied by feeding 4 pounds daily, 8 pounds every other day, or 12 pounds every third day. All animals were maintained in dry lots with portable housing and were fed a 12%-protein, corn-soybean meal diet in individual feeding stalls. Three successive 6 day collection studies were conducted with 6 gilts. Nitrogen digestibility was not influenced by feeding frequency. However, nitrogen retention decreased as intervals between feeding increased. Gilts fed 4 pounds daily retained more nitrogen than those fed 8 pounds every other day, while those fed 8 pounds every other day retained more than those fed 12 pounds every third day. Although nitrogen retention was significantly influenced by feeding frequency, sow performance as measured by number of pigs born, birth weight, number of pigs weaned, and weight of pigs at 28 days was not

Effect of creep feeding and creep diet on pre- and post-weaning pig performance

Three trials involving 61 litters of pigs were conducted to evaluate the effects of creep feeding and creep diet on weaning weight and subsequent performance in the nursery. Pigs offered a commercial milk replacer pellet (Soweena Pig Pellets) consumed more feed and were heavier at weaning than pigs fed a 20% whey corn-soybean meal creep diet or pigs fed no creep feed. Pigs utilized the creep feed very efficiently with creep feed conversion rates of less than 1:1. Creep feeding did not affect the 4- or 5-week post-weaning average daily gain or feed conversion. However, pigs that were creep fed and heavier at weaning also were heavier at 8 to 9 weeks of age

Lysine supplementation of low-protein diets for finishing pigs

Swine Industry Day 1973 is known as Swine Day, 1973Four experiments involving 311 finishing pigs (112 to 220 pounds) were conducted to determine the minimum level of soybean meal necessary to supply all essential amino acids except lysine that are deficient in milo or corn and to determine the influence of lysine supplementation of low protein diets for finishing pigs. The results of three trials using milo as the grain source demonstrated that pigs fed milo supplemented with 7.5% soybean meal and lysine gained at the same rate and were just as efficient in feed utilization as pigs fed milo supplemented with 15% soybean meal. Carcass composition as measured by backfat thickness, loin-eye area, and percentage of the carcass in ham and loin did not differ between pigs fed milo supplemented with 7.5% soybean meal and lysine and pigs fed the control diet containing 15% soybean meal. In the fourth trial with corn as the grain source, weight gain and feed efficiency of pigs fed corn supplemented with 7.5% soybean and lysine were equivalent to that of pigs fed the control diet containing 15% soybean meal. These results demonstrate that the amount of soybean meal in the diet of finishing pigs can be reduced approximately 50% by adding crystalline lysine with no detrimental effects on weight gain, feed efficiency, or carcass composition

Effects of fat level and calorie-protein ratio on performance of finishing pigs

Swine Day '76 is known as Swine Day, 1976One hundred twenty finishing pigs averaging 52.9 kg (116 lbs.) initially were used to study effects of fat level and calorie-protein (C:P) ratio on performance and carcass traits of pigs fed a sorghum-soybean meal basal ration. The basal ration contained 13.1% crude protein, 0.55% lysine, 0.68% calcium and 0.59% phosphorus. Fat (tallow) was added to the basal ration at the expense of sorghum at 0, 3, 6, and 9% while maintaining a constant C:P ratio. Also, 9% fat was added to the basal ration without adjusting the C:P ratio. With a constant C:P ratio, daily gain and feed efficiency were improved by adding fat. Pigs fed the basal ration supplemented with 9% added fat while maintaining a constant C:P ratio gained faster and were more efficient (P<.05) than pigs fed 9% added fat without adjusting the C:P ratio. Carcass data were collected on 75 pigs at approximately 100 kg (220 lbs.). Adding fat resulted in a small, yet significant (P<.05), increase in backfat thickness. However, carcass value, on a grade and yield basis, was not reduced by adding fat

Smutty wheat in swine diets

Smutty wheat substituted for milo in diets for pigs from 20-60 pounds did not affect pig performance

Blended dried bakery product in swine finishing rations

Bright Future? is known as Swine Day, 1977Eighty-four crossbred pigs averaging 43.6 kg. (95.9 lbs.) initially were used to evaluate the use of a blended dried bakery product (BDBP) in rations for finishing pigs. Replacing 0, 10, 20, or 30% of the sorghum in the basal ration with BDBP resulted in a small increase (0.06-0.08 lbs./ day) in average daily gain of the pigs and significantly improved their feed efficiency. Twenty percent BDBP appeared to give the best results; however, 30% had no adverse effects

Performance of young pigs as affected by energy density of and method of adding fat to rations

Bright Future? is known as Swine Day, 1977One hundred twenty-six crossbred pigs averaging 11.7 kg. (25.7 lbs.) were used to determine the effects of energy density (added fat or fiber) and calorie-protein, calorie-lysine, and calorie-nutrient ratios of rations on pig performance. The basal sorghum-soybean meal ration contained 16.0% crude protein, 0.80% lysine, 0.70% calcium, and 0.60% phosphorus. Soybean oil was the fat source and cellulose the fiber source. Adding 6% fat and maintaining a constant calorie-lysine, calorie-protein, or calorie-nutrient ratio increased (P<.05) average daily gain and improved (P<.05) feed efficiency, compared with gain and efficiency of pigs fed the basal ration. Pigs fed rations containing 6% fiber had similar average daily gain and feed efficiency as did pigs feed the basal ration

Performance of pigs fed corn, sorghum, or wheat with 0 or 4% added fat

We used 96 crossbred pigs averaging 8.3 kg (19.3 lbs.) to compare performances with sorghum, corn, or wheat with 0 or 4% added fat (tallow). The trial ended when pigs averaged approximately 220 pounds. Grain source (sorghum, corn, or wheat) did not affect average daily gain or feed efficiency of pigs during any ration phase (starter, grower, or finisher). Adding fat (to each grain ration) reduced feed intake and improved feed efficiency during each ration phase. The greatest improvement in feed efficiency from added fat was during the finishing phase

Effects of processing methods on the nutritional value of sorghum for weaned pigs

Swine Day '76 is known as Swine Day, 1976One hundred twenty-six weaned, crossbred pigs averaging 14 kg (31 lbs.) initially were used to evaluate the effects of various methods of processing sorghum grain. Processing methods evaluated were: pelleting, extruding, micronizing, high-moisture grain stored in an oxygen limiting structure, and high-moisture grain treated with propionic acid. Except for pelleting, only the grain (sorghum) was exposed to the various processing methods. After being processed, the sorghum was ground and incorporated into a 18% sorghum-soybean meal diet. None of the processing methods increased weight gain of weaned pigs over that by pigs fed the control diet (ground sorghum fed as a meal). Extruding reduced weight gain. Pelleting was the only processing method that improved feed efficiency

Evaluation of various antibiotics on growth rate and feed efficiency by finishing pigs

Two trials involving 300 finishing pigs (120-220 lbs.) were conducted to evaluate Tylan, Stafac, Lincomix, and Flavomycin by growth rate and feed efficiency. In trial I, none of the antibiotics improved growth rate or feed efficiency. In trial II, where pigs were more crowded, feeding an antibiotic slightly, but not significantly, increased daily gain (0 to 8% improvement) and feed efficiency (3 to 9%), with no significant difference among antibiotics. These studies demonstrate that the response or lack of response to feeding low levels of antibiotics during the finishing phase will depend on the level of stress imposed