Cull Sow Feeding Management

The decision to cull a sow from the breeding herd typically occurs after weaning due to poor lactation performance, lameness or if she fails to breed or conceive. Once the decision to cull a sow from the breeding herd has been made, a producer must decide to either immediately market the sow or to increase marketable body weight by feeding her for a period of time. The decision to feed cull sows to add additional body weight is not a simple decision. Many factors such as current cull sow market prices, available housing space, feed cost, and health of the animal contribute to this decision [1]. Revenue from marketing cull sows contributes to the profitability of pork operations, therefore much care should be placed on deciding when to market cull sows

Foreword and Supplemental Information, Swine Day

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2016 Swine Industry Day Report of Progress. This report contains updates and summaries of applied and basic research conducted at Kansas State University during the past year. We hope that the information will be of benefit as we attempt to meet the needs of the Kansas swine industry

Effect of Soy Protein Sources on Nursery Pig Performance

A total of 480 nursery pigs (PIC C-29 × 359, initially 12.9 lb) were used in a 38-d growth trial to determine the effects of soy protein sources on pig performance. There were 10 pigs per pen and 8 replications per treatment. The 6 dietary treatments were a negative control, corn-soybean meal-based diet (30.1% soybean meal), and diets containing five different specialty protein sources including: Nutrivance, HP 300, soy protein concentrate (SPC), or NF8 or fish meal replacing 10% of the soybean meal in the negative control diet. Experimental diets were fed in two phases (5 lb per pig on d 0 to approximately d 14 and d 14 to 24) with a common diet fed from d 24 to 38. Diets contained 25 and 10% dried whey in phases 1 and 2, respectively. From d 0 to 14, pigs fed diets containing Nutrivance or NF8 had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the negative control, high SBM diet. Also, pigs fed the NF8 diet had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed diets containing SPC or fish meal. The growth response was a result of greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADFI for pigs fed the Nutrivance diet and improved (P \u3c 0.05) feed efficiency for the NF8 diet. From d 14 to 24, pigs fed the diets containing fish meal or HP 300 had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed NF8, with pigs fed NF8 having poorer (P \u3c 0.05) F/G compared with pigs fed all other treatments. From d 0 to 24, pigs fed the diet containing HP 300 had greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the negative control, high SBM diet, with other treatments being intermediate. Pigs fed the diet containing HP 300 had improved (P \u3c 0.05) F/G compared with pigs fed all other protein sources except fish meal. Pigs fed the fish meal diet also had improved (P \u3c 0.05) F/G compared with pigs fed the diet containing NF8. The improvement in performance from d 0 to 14 for pigs fed the diet containing Nutrivance resulted in a 0.5 lb heavier (P \u3c 0.05) pig on d 14 as compared to the negative control diet. The 0.5 lb advantage in BW over the negative control was maintained to the end of the trial (d 38) and was similar to the final BW of pigs fed the HP 300 diet; however, the weight advantage was no longer statistically significant

Swine Day 2015 Supplements

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2015 Swine Industry Day Report of Progress. This report contains updates and summaries of applied and basic research conducted at Kansas State University during the past year. We hope that the information will be of benefit as we attempt to meet the needs of the Kansas swine industry

Evaluating the Efficacy of a Novel Phytase Source

A total of 350 nursery pigs (PIC 1050 barrows, initially 33.2 lb and 49 d of age) were used in a 21-d study to determine the aP release curve for a novel phytase product (Microtech 5,000, VTR Bio-tech Co., Guangdong, China). Pigs were randomly allotted to pens at arrival to the facility, and on d 0 of the trial pens were allotted to 1 of 7 treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were 5 pigs per pen and 10 pens per treatment. Pigs were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets formulated to 1.25% SID lysine. A single batch of the basal diet (0.12% aP) was manufactured and subsequently divided and used as the major ingredient in experimental diet manufacturing. Experimental diets were formulated to contain increasing available P supplied by either an inorganic source (0.12%, 0.18%, and 0.24% aP from monocalcium P) or from increased phytase (250, 500, 750, 1000 FTU/kg). Diets were analyzed for phytase using the AOAC method, and analyzed concentrations were lower than formulated. Diets formulated to contain 250, 500, 750 and 1000 FTU/kg had analyzed concentrations of 155, 335, 465, and 780 FTU/kg, respectively. On d 21, one pig per pen was euthanized and fibulas were collected to determine bone ash weight and percentage bone ash. From d 0 to 21, increasing P from inorganic P or increasing phytase resulted in increased (linear, P \u3c 0.01) ADG, improved (quadratic, P \u3c 0.02) F/G, and heavier (linear P \u3c 0.01) ending BW. Bone ash weight and percentage bone ash were increased (linear, P \u3c 0.01) with increasing inorganic P and increasing phytase. Response criteria, which remained in the linear portion of the quadratic phytase curve (ADG, bone ash weight, and percentage bone ash), were used to calculate aP release curves. When analyzed phytase values and percentage bone ash are used as the response variable, aP release percentage for up to 780 FTU/kg of Microtech 5,000 phytase can be predicted by the equation (y = 0.000002766761x - 0.000000002225x2 - 0.000201841391), where x is the phytase concentration in the diet (FTU/kg)

Evaluation of Dietary Phytogenics on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Economics of Grow-finish Pigs Housed Under Commercial Conditions

A total of 1,260 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 48.7 lb) were used in a 125-d trial to determine the effect of two dietary essential oil mixtures on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economics of finishing pigs. Pigs were allotted by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments. Pigs were fed six dietary phases. Treatment 1 was the control with no feed additives and 12% of CP in the Phase 6 diet. Treatment 2 was the same formulation as treatment 1 but contained an essential oil mixture 1 (EOM 1) containing caraway, garlic, thyme, and cinnamon fed all phases. Treatment 3 was the same formulation as treatment 1 with EOM 1 fed from Phases 3 to 6 and essential oil mixture 2 (EOM 2) containing oregano, citrus, and anise fed all phases (EOM 1+2). Treatment 4 contained EOM 1 fed in all 6 phases with 16% CP in Phase 6. Treatment 5 contained ractopamine HCl (9 g/ton) with 16% CP in the Phase 6 diet. Overall (d 0 to 125), pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 had increased (P = 0.003) ADFI compared with pigs fed the control treatment. Pigs fed the diet with EOM 1 and 16% CP had increased (P = 0.032) ADFI in comparison with the pigs fed ractopamine HCl treatment. Pigs fed the ractopamine HCl treatment had improved (P = 0.028) F/G compared with pigs fed the treatment with the EOM 1 and 16% CP and the control treatment. For carcass traits, pigs fed the treatment with EOM 1+2 and had increased (P = 0.007) HCW compared with pigs fed EOM 1 and 12% CP and the control treatment (P = 0.002). Pigs fed the treatment with ractopamine HCl also had heavier (P = 0.001) HCW compared with the control treatment. Pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 had increased (P = 0.001) carcass ADG, compared with pigs fed the control treatment and the treatment with EOM 1 and 12% CP (P = 0.019). Pigs fed the treatment with ractopamine HCl also had improved (P = 0.001) carcass ADG compared with pigs fed the control treatment. Pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 had increased (P = 0.021) carcass yield compared with pigs fed the treatment with EOM 1 and 12% CP. Carcass yield was improved (P = 0.036) for the treatment with ractopamine HCl in comparison with the control treatment. Economically, feed cost per pound of gain was lower (P \u3c 0.001) for pigs fed the control treatment compared to the treatment with EOM 1+2 and pigs fed with the ractopamine HCl treatment. Pigs fed diets with EOM 1+2 or ractopamine HCl treatment had increased (P = 0.001) gain value compared with pigs fed the control treatment. Pigs fed the ractopamine HCl treatment had increased income over feed cost in comparison with the treatments containing EOM 1 with 16% CP. In conclusion, the addition of EOM 1+2 improved ADFI, HCW, carcass ADG, and gain value in comparison with the control treatment. However, the increase in gain was not sufficient to overcome the increase in feed cost. The gain value improvement for the regimen with ractopamine HCl compensated for the extra feed cost resulting in a higher income over feed cost compared with the treatment with EOM 1 and 16% CP

Determination of the Optimum Levels of Dietary Crude Protein for Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Pigs from 240 to 280 lb

A total of 224 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 241.1 lb) were used in a 20-d trial to determine the optimum dietary CP concentration for growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Pens of 7 pigs were allotted by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 7 or 8 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments included 4 levels of CP (10, 11, 12, and 13%) that were formed by reducing the amount of crystalline Lys in a corn-soybean meal diet. At d 20, pigs were transported to a packing plant for processing and carcass data collection. For overall growth performance (d 0 to 20), increasing CP increased (linear, P \u3c 0.05 and quadratic, P \u3c 0.10) ADG, ADFI, and HCW ADG with the greatest response for pigs fed the diet with 12% CP. Increasing diet CP also improved (linear, P \u3c 0.05) F/G, NE caloric efficiency, final BW, HCW, and HCW F/G. In conclusion, poorer performance of pigs fed diets under 12% CP was predominantly explained by feed intake but the mechanisms underlying regulation of feed consumption when feeding lower CP remains unclear

Vitamin and Trace Minerals: A Survey of Current Feeding Regimens

Swine producers and nutritionists representing production systems across the United States were surveyed about added vitamin and trace mineral concentrations in swine diets used from March to August of 2014. Respondents were asked to provide the vitamin and trace mineral premix specifications and inclusion rates to calculate complete diet added vitamin and trace mineral concentrations. Weight ranges associated with feeding phases also were collected. In total, 18 production systems representing approximately 2.3 million sows (~40% of the U.S. sow herd) participated in the survey. Data were compiled into relatively consistent weight ranges across all participating producers. There were three nursery phases (Phase 1, weaning to 15 lb; Phase 2, 15 to 25 lb; and Phase 3, 25 to 50 lb), four finishing phases (early, 50 to 120 lb; mid, 120 to 220 lb; late, 220 lb to Market; and late with ractopamine HCl, 220 lb to Market), and four breeding herd diets (gilt development, gestation, lactation, and boar). Results were compiled and pooled to determine descriptive statistics on the supplementation rates. Descriptive statistics used included: average, weighted average (determined by size of operation), standard deviation, median, minimum, maximum, 25th percentile (lowest quartile), and 75th percentile (highest quartile). Within each dietary phase, the nutrients of interest were: vitamins A, D, E, and K; thiamin; riboflavin; niacin; pantothenic acid; pyridoxine; biotin; folic acid; vitamin B12; choline; betaine; vitamin C; carnitine; Cu; I; Fe; Mn; Se; Zn; Co; and Cr. Average supplementation rates for vitamins and trace minerals within each phase of production were compared to the requirement estimates reported in the NRC (2012). Results indicated tremendous variation in supplementation rates, but most vitamins and trace minerals were included at levels above the requirement estimates reported in the NRC (2012). Along with vitamin and trace mineral supplementation rates, respondents were asked about sources of specific nutrients used in premixes. The most distinguishable differences among sources within this survey were associated with the vitamin D3 from a cross-linked vitamin A/D3 beadlet, use of natural (d-α-tocopherol) vitamin E, and the use of organic trace minerals (Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn). Ultimately, evaluating current supplementation practices can be used to develop future experimental designs to test vitamin and trace mineral supplementation practices

Effects of a Gluco-oligosaccharide on Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

A total of 3,456 nursery pigs (PIC L337 × 1050, initially 12.4 lb BW) were housed in 3 commercial research rooms and used in a 42-d growth study to determine the effects of gluco-oligosaccharide (Midori USA, Inc., Cambridge, MA) on growth performance. In each room, pens of pigs (27 pigs/pen) were blocked (6, 5, and 5 blocks in rooms 1, 2, and 3, respectively) by initial pen BW. Within blocks, pens were allotted randomly to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a 2-phase feeding program (d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 42). Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial, with or without antibiotic (0 or 55 ppm, Carbadox, Phibro Pro, Teaneck, NJ) and 4 concentrations of gluco-oligosaccharide (0, 200, 400, and 600 ppm). Gluco-oligosaccharide product used in rooms 1 and 2 originated from a different batch than that used in room 3. For the overall feeding period, no room × antibiotic × gluco-oligosaccharide or antibiotic × glucooligosaccharide interactions were observed for any growth responses, but tendencies were found (P \u3c 0.10) for room × gluco-oligosaccharide interaction for final BW and ADG. In rooms 1 and 2, antibiotic treatment increased ADG and ADFI in all feeding periods and improved F/G from d 14 to 28 and d 28 to 42. Increasing gluco-oligosaccharide improved (linear, P \u3c 0.05) ADG and F/G from d 0 to 14. It also increased (P = 0.047) ADG and tended (P = 0.087) to increase ADFI from d 14 to 28, but did not alter the growth responses from d 28 to 42. For the overall period (d 0 to 42), adding an antibiotic to the diet increased (P \u3c 0.01) ADG and ADFI, but did not affect F/G. Increasing gluco-oligosaccharide improved (linear, P \u3c 0.01) ADG and F/G and tended (P = 0.063) to linearly increase ADFI. In room 3, a much smaller response was observed for antibiotic inclusion with only improved (P = 0.005) F/G from d 14 to 28 and increased (P \u3c 0.05) ADG and ADFI from d 28 to 42. Pigs fed increasing glucooligosaccharide tended (linear, P \u3c 0.10) to have reduced ADG and ADFI; however, the overall growth performance was not affected by antibiotic or gluco-oligosaccharide treatments. In conclusion, feeding gluco-oligosaccharide may improve growth performance in nursery pigs, and this effect appears to be independent of the use of antibiotic and more prominent during the early nursery phase. However, due to some room × gluco-oligosaccharide interactions, further research is required to confirm the consistency of the responses to the gluco-oligosaccharide used in this study

Using Meta-analyses to Generate Alternative Prediction Equations for the Space Requirements of Finishing Pigs

Data from existing literature examining the influence of floor space allowance on the growth of finishing pigs were used to develop prediction equations for ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Two sets of databases were used. The first database included information from studies examining the influence of floor space allowance. The second database included the aforementioned literature, along with papers examining the impact of floor space after pigs were removed from the pen (topping). The first database included 27, 25, and 25 papers for ADG, ADFI, and G:F, respectively. The second database included 30, 28, and 28 papers for ADG, ADFI, and G:F, respectively. The predictor variables tested were floor space (m2/pig), k (floor space, m2/final BW, kg0.67), initial BW (kg), final BW (kg), feeder space (pigs per feeder hole), water space (pigs per waterer), group size (pigs per pen), gender, floor type, and study length (d). A mixed linear model approach was used for model development, and floor space treatments within each experiment were the experimental units. Evaluations of models with significant terms were conducted using the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The optimum equations to predict finishing ADG, ADFI, and G:F for the first database were: ADG, g =395.57+(15,727 × k)-(221,705 × k2)-(3.6478 × Initial BW, kg)+(2.209 × Final BW, kg)+(67.6294 × k × Initial BW, kg) ADFI, g =802.07+(20,121× k)-(301,210 × k2)-(1.5985 × Initial BW, kg)+(11.8907 × Final BW, kg )+(159.79 × k × Initial BW, kg) G:F =Predicted ADG/Predicted ADFI The optimum equations to predict ADG, ADFI, and G:F for the second database were: ADG, g =337.57+(16,468 × k)-(237,350 × k2)-(3.1209 × Initial BW, kg)+(2.569 × Final BW, kg)+(71.6918 × k × Initial BW, kg) ADFI, g = 833.41+(24,785 × k)-(388,998 × k2)-(3.0027 × Initial BW, kg)+(11.246 × Final BW, kg)+(187.61 × k × Initial BW, kg) G:F =Predicted ADG/Predicted ADFI All multi-term models reduced the BIC values compared to individual term models. Data from 3 separate experiments examining the effects of floor space allowance on growth performance were used to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction equations herein and also previously developed prediction equations (Kornegay and Notter, 1984; Powell et al., 1993; and Gonyou et al., 2006). Predicted values from equations reported herein improved model evaluation statistics compared to Kornegay and Notter (1984), and Powell (1993), and were comparable to predicted values by Gonyou et al. (2006), with improved root mean square error calculations that suggest more accurate predictions of growth rate. Between the equations developed from the databases, those from the second database more accurately predict growth performance at heavier BW ranges as well as the growth performance of finishing pigs remaining in a pen after pigs are removed