The effects on boar reproductive efficiency of exposure to females during rearing

Thirty-two boars (16 littermates) were reared from 3½ to 5½ months in either an all-male group or with fence-line exposure to cycling sows and gilts. Exposure to females did not significantly increase testicle or accessory gland weights, sperm production, or libido score. Boars that displayed more sexual activity (mounts and sheath sniffs) from 3½ to 5½ months of age performed superiorly in mating tests at 5½ and 7½ months of age. Libido scores of littermate boars were very similar.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 13, 198

Effects of added Zn in diets with Ractopamine HCl on growth performance and carcass quality of finishing pigs in a commercial environment

The experiment was conducted in a commercial facility to determine the effects of added Zn on the performance of finishing pigs fed Ractopamine HCl (RAC; Paylean®; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN). Pigs were randomly assigned to pens based on gender (14 barrow pens, 11 gilt pens, and 23 mixed-gender pens), with 25 to 28 pigs per pen. Previously, pens of pigs were assigned to treatments containing 0, 7.5, or 15% bakery by-product in a completely randomized design while balancing for initial BW and gender. On d 75, treatments were implemented to determine the effects of adding 50 ppm Zn from ZnO on finishing pig performance. A total of 1,234 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050; average BW 224.6 lb) were used in a 28-d study. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to diets with and without 50 ppm added Zn from zinc oxide (ZnO) and balanced by BW, bakery by-product, and gender. All diets contained 5 ppm RAC and 83 ppm Zn from ZnO provided by the trace mineral premix. There were 24 pens per treatment. Overall (d 75 to 102), no differences (P > 0.22) in growth performance or carcass characteristics were observed when pigs were fed diets with 50 ppm added Zn compared with the RAC control. For pigs subsampled on d 84, pigs fed diets with 50 ppm added Zn had decreased (P < 0.05) edge belly thickness compared with pigs fed the control. For pigs subsampled on d 102, pigs fed diets with 50 ppm added Zn had decreased (P < 0.02) backfat thickness, belly weight, and edge belly thickness; a tendency for decreased (P < 0.07) middle belly thickness; and increased (P < 0.01) percentage lean compared with pigs fed the RAC control. In contrast with our previous research, these data indicate that adding 50 ppm Zn from ZnO to finishing pig diets containing RAC did not improve overall performance. Consistent with the earlier research, income over feed cost (IOFC) was numerically increased with the addition of Zn

The effects of medium-oil dried distillers grains with solubles on growth performance and carcass traits in finishing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of increasing medium-oil dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 7.4% fat, 28.1% CP, 10.8% ADF, and 25.6% NDF) on growth performance and carcass traits in finishing pigs. A total of 288 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 151.8 lb) were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet with 15, 30, or 45% medium-oil DDGS, with 8 pigs per pen and 8 replications per treatment. Increasing medium-oil DDGS decreased (linear, P < 0.01) ADG and worsened (linear, P < 0.02) F/G. In addition, final BW, HCW, carcass yield, and loin-eye depth decreased (linear, P < 0.03), and jowl iodine value (IV) increased (linear, P < 0.001) with increasing medium-oil DDGS. When pigs are fed traditional DDGS containing >10.5% fat, each 10% DDGS added to the diet increases jowl IV approximately 2 mg/g; however, feeding increasing medium-oil DDGS increased jowl IV only about 1.4 units per each 10% DDGS. In conclusion, swine producers must be aware of the negative ramifications on growth performance of using medium-oil DDGS in swine diets

The interactive effects of high-fiber diets and Ractopamine HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, carcass fat quality, and intestinal weights

In previous research, feeding pigs high amounts of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and wheat middlings (midds) has been shown to reduce carcass yield and negatively affect iodine value (IV). The influence of Ractopamine HCl (RAC; Paylean, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) on this response is not known; therefore, a total of 575 finishing pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 123 lb) were used in two consecutive 73-d trials to determine the effects of DDGS and midds (high fiber) withdrawal 24 d before harvest in diets with or without RAC on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fat quality. From d 0 to 49, pigs were allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design based on initial pen weight. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal–based control diet or diets with 30% DDGS and 19% wheat midds. Twelve pens of pigs were fed the corn-soybean meal control diet, and 24 pens were fed the high-fiber diet. During this 49 d period, pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diets had improved (P < 0.0001) ADG and F/G compared with those fed the high-fiber diets. On d 49, pens of pigs were re-allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments; pigs remained on the corn-soybean meal diets, switched from the high-fiber diet to corn-soybean meal (withdrawal diet), or were maintained on the high-fiber diet. These 3 regimens were fed with or without 9 g/ton RAC

In vitro branched chain amino acid oxidation by porcine mammary tissue

Mammary secretory tissue from six (three each of parity 1 and 2) lactating sows (d 10 to 17 of lactation) was obtained via biopsy for in vitro incubation to determine CO2 production fr01TI individual branched chain amino acids. Carbon dioxide production levels as percentages of the 14C-labeled amino acid metabolized by the mammary tissue were 2.57, 1.86, and 4.07% for isoleucine, leucine, and valine, respectively (P\u3c .03). These results indicate that, in the lactating sow mammary gland, valine has the greatest oxidation rate of the branched chain amino acids.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 16, 199

Effects of various fat sources on growth performance of finishing pigs

One hundred and twenty-eight finishing pigs averaging 124 lb were utilized to evaluate the effects of different fat sources on growth performance. Pigs were fed one of four diets containing either no added fat (control) or 4% added fat from soybean oil, coconut oil, or choice white grease. The control diet was formulated to contain 14.5 % crude protein and .66 % lysine. All fat-added diets were formulated with the same calorie:lysine ratio as the control diet. There were no differences in average daily gain between pigs fed either the control diet or diets containing added fat. Daily feed intake was reduced for pigs fed added fat from 4 to 7% compared to pigs fed no added fat, with pigs fed choice white grease having the lowest feed intake. This resulted in pigs fed choice white grease having 11% better feed efficiency compared to pigs fed no added fat. Pigs fed soybean oil exhibited a 4% improvement in feed efficiency, and those fed coconut oil were intermediate, with an 8% improvement in feed efficiency. These results indicate that 4% added fat reduces feed intake and improves feed efficiency of finishing pigs. In addition, it appears that choice white grease may be a superior fat source in finishing pig diets.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 16, 198

Summary of Kansas State University swine enterprise record 1997

The Kansas Swine Enterprise Record Program evaluates biological and economic performance and is part of a cooperative record- keeping project with Extension personnel and swine producers in Kansas. Nebraska, and South Dakota. From January 1 to December 31, 1996, profit per cwt of pork produced by these producers (13 semiannual and 18 annual data) averaged $10.62 for the last 6 months of 1996 and$8.08 for the entire year. Producers in the top one-third in terms of profitability had average profits of $15.11 per cwt, whereas producers in the bottom one-third had average profits of$.73 per cwt for the year. Critical factors separating low- and high-profit producers included feed costs, unpaid labor, fixed costs, and death loss.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 199

The effects of BMD in lactation diets on sow and litter performance

One hundred forty-five multiparous sows were used in a performance trial to evaluate the use of BMD® (bacitracin methylene disalicylate) on sow and litter performance during lactation in a herd with no previously documented history of Clostridium perfringens type C or D. Between day 96 and 100 of gestation, sows were allotted to one of two dietary treatments, either a diet containing 250 g/ton of BMD or the control diet with no antibiotic. Sows were fed the experimental diets until weaning (approx. 20 d). Litters were equalized to approximately 10 pigs per sow within 48 hrs postfarrowing. Piglets were transferred only within treatment. Piglets on sows fed the BMD treatment had a reduced incidence of diarrhea (P=.10); however, the antibiotic had no effect on sow or litter performance.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 18,199

Effects of ultra pig krave extra® on starter pig performance

A growth study and a preference study were conducted to evaluate the effect of a commercially available flavoring agent on starter pig performance. A total of 192, 3-wk old, weaned pigs were utilized. A 2-phase starter program was used in the growth study. Half the pigs received creep feed with added flavor and half without, beginning at 10 days of age. Pigs receiving flavored feed at 10 days of age had significantly better gains and feed intake the first 2 wk postweaning than pigs on nonflavored feed. The pigs in the preference study demonstrated a clear preference for flavored vs nonflavored feed. These results indicate addition of flavor to a creep diet beginning at 10 days of age will increase feed intake and gains in the nursery. However, when a creep feed is fed, addition of flavor to a nursery diet did not result in improved performance.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 17, 198

Comparison of spray-dried blood meal and fish by-products in the phase II starter pig diet

A total of 311 weanling pigs (initially 10.9 lb and 17 d of age) was used to compare fish by-products, spray-dried blood meal and combinations of spray-dried blood meal and fish by-products in the phase II (d 7 to 25) diet. Pigs were allotted by weight to one of five experimental treatments with 8 to 11 pigs/pen and seven replications. Pigs were placed on a common phase I diet (d 0 to 7 postweaning) that contained 7.5%spray-dried porcine plasma, 1.75% spray-dried blood meal, and 20% dried whey. The phase I diet was formulated to contain 1.5% lysine, .9% Ca, and .8% P. Pigs were then randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments. All phase II diets (d 7 to 25 postweaning) contained 10% dried whey and were formulated to contain 1.25% lysine and .36% methionine. The control diet contained 2.5% spray-dried blood meal (SDBM) and 10% dried whey. Select menhaden fish meal (SMFM) and spray-dried fish hydrolysate (SDFH) replaced SDBM on an equal lysine basis at 5% and 4.8%, respectively, and 2.5% SMFM + 1.25% SDBM and 2.0% SDFH + 1.25% SDBM were used in combinations to form the other four dietary treatments. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (F/G) were improved with the addition of SDBM in the fIrst week (d 7 to 14) of phase II. No differences were observed in ADG and ADFI for the overall phase II period. Pigs fed SDBM had poorer FIG (d 7 to 25) compared to pigs fed either SMFM or SDFH. However, SDBM was the most cost effective protein source in this experiment.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 19, 199