Effect of Pen Space on Performance of Growing-Finishing Pigs

For a number of years, the recommended space allowance for pigs has been 4 square feet and 8 square feet for the growing and finishing periods, respectively. Some producers have provided less pen space in an attempt to spread high facility costs over more pigs and thus lower per pig overhead costs. Some animal welfare spokesmen have expressed the opinion that even the recommended pen space allotments are too restrictive for both the pigs\u27 performance and welfare. The study reported herein was designed to evaluate performance of pigs housed in groups of 12, 16 or 20 pigs per pen and providing 4.73 and 9.47, 3.55 and 7.10 or 2.84 and 5.68 square feet per pig during the growing and finishing periods, respectively

Supplemental Potassium in Swine Diets Varying in Lysine Content

Practical type swine diets contain levels of potassium in excess of National Research Council recommendations for this nutrient. However, it has been shown that potassium salts of metabolizable organic acids improved gain and efficiency of pigs fed low lysine diets. Previous work at this station indicated that .4 or .8% of supplementary potassium, from potassium chloride, did not affect performance of young pigs fed a diet containing .85% lysine. These pigs did respond to lysine supplementation, indicating that the .85% lysine level was not sufficient for maximum performance. The supplemental potassium appeared to decrease lysine concentration in the blood plasma and additions of lysine decreased (P\u3c.05) plasma potassium. The objectives of this study were to determine if supplemental potassium, from potassium acetate, would improve performance of pigs fed a diet slightly deficient in lysine and also to compare the performance of pigs receiving potassium from potassium acetate or potassium chloride

All-Corn Ration for Brood Sows During Gestation

Recent research has shown that the protein requirement for the brood sow may not be as great as once thought. Some work has indicated that all-corn diets with no supplementary protein may be satisfactory during gestation. Previous results from this station utilizing oats during gestation with no supplementary protein have been encouraging. The research reported herein was conducted to evaluate corn, a feedstuff low in protein and of relatively poor protein quality supplemented only with minerals, as a complete diet for gestating sows

Trace Mineral Supplementation of Diets for Growing-Finishing Swine

Until the past few years, most diets for growing-finishing swine contained .5% salt. However, recent research has confirmed that a level of .2 to .25% added salt will meet the dietary sodium and chlorine requirements of the growing-finishing pig fed a grain-soybean meal diet. Some producers rely on trace mineral salt to supply the needed trace minerals to the diet. A reduction in the amount of trace mineral salt added to the diet from .5 to .25% results in only half as much of each of the trace minerals supplemented to the diet. The study reported herein was designed to evaluate the performance of growing-finishing pigs fed salt containing different amounts of trace minerals at a level of .25% of the diet

Effect of Protein Consumption by the Growing Gilt Upon Puberty, Ovulation and Reproduction

Low protein diets have been shown to significantly decrease daily weight gain of the growing pig, resulting in the pig reaching market weight at a later age. At the same time body weight has been credited with influencing the age at which gilts reach puberty and exhibit their first estrus. If replacement gilts could be fed a low protein diets during the growing period resulting in a smaller more practical sow without affecting puberty or subsequent reproductive performance, feed costs could be significantly reduced. The experiment reported herein was designed to determine the effect of a 14% protein diet and a 10% protein diet from 100 lb. to farrowing on weight gain, puberty and reproductive performance of gilts

Influence of Supplemental Dietary Potassium on Performance of Growing-Finishing Swine

Potassium is one of the mineral nutrients that has been considered to be present in adequate amounts in swine diets formulated with commonly used feed ingredients. However, nutrient contents of feed ingredients have been shown to change with intensive cropping practices and also with different feed processing procedures. Recent research has indicated that potassium may improve the utilization of lysine, particularly in diets containing lysine below recommended levels. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of growing-finishing pigs fed different levels of supplemental dietary potassium and to evaluate the effect of previous dietary lysine treatment on subsequent performance

Effect of Movement and Mixing of Pigs on Performance During the Finishing Period

During the past few years producers have reported that growth rates of pigs plateau or even decline during the finishing period rather than increasing to weights of 200 or 220 pounds as might be expected. The problem, sometimes referred to as stall out , is often related to enclosed housing but not limited exclusively to this method of housing. This experiment was one of a series that this station has conducted to study this problem. The objectives were to determine the effects of movement of pigs and also mixing and moving pigs at weights of about 140 pounds on performance to 220 pounds

Protein Needs of Barrows and Gilts 75 to 225 Pounds

Although a considerable amount of research has been conducted on the protein requirement of growing-finishing barrows and gilts, there is still a discrepancy in the recommendations given. Most research has been conducted by feeding barrows and gilts together. Data have suggested gilts require more dietary protein than barrows. This experiment was part of a regional project of the North Central Swine Nutrition Committee. The objective of the study was to determine the difference in the protein requirement between barrows and gilts

Effect of Potassium Supplementation at Two Levels of Lysine in Pig Starter Diets

The objective of this study was to determine whether potassium supplementation to growing pig diets containing slightly inadequate or excess lysine would improve performance. The influence of supplemental dietary lysine on plasma potassium and plasma lysine concentrations was also determined

Effect of Flavomycin on Performance of Growing-Finishing Pigs

Antibiotics have been used widely in swine rations at low levels to increase rate of gain and improve feed efficiency for the past two decades . The future of antibiotics as feed additives for swine is uncertain following the recent report of the Food and Drug Administration Task Force that recommended antimicrobial agents used in human clinical medicine be prohibited from growth promotion use in animals by December 31, 1973