Feeding DDGS to Finishing Pigsin Deep-Bedded Hoop Barns

The ethanol industry in Iowa has rapidly expanded in the last several years. A major coproduct of ethanol production is dried distillers grains with solubles(DDGS). Higher prices for corn and ample supplies of DDGS has generated interest in feeding DDGS to finishing pigs. Challenges in feeding DDGS supplemented diets to finishing swine include problems of feed flowability in bulk bins and feeders, reduced feed intake, and softer, oilier fat in pork carcasses. Pelleted diets have improved flowability and may stimulate feed intake, but thus far no studies have examined feeding DDGS-supplemented dietsin pelletted form to pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate pelletted DDGS-based diets fed to finishing pigs

Maximizing DDGS for Finishing Pigs in Bedded Hoop Barns

Higher prices for corn and increasing supplies of DDGS have generated questions about feeding DDGS to market swine. The objective of this study was to evaluate various programs to maximize DDGS feeding to finishing pigs in bedded hoop barns. The project was conducted during 2008 and 2009 at the ISU Western Research Farm, Castana, IA. The pens were in small hoop barns with two pens per barn. Each pen was assigned to one of three dietary treatments— continuous 20% DDGS (Cont), a step-up program from 0% to 30% DDGS (Step), and a high DDGS program that rapidly got pigs to 30% DDGS (High). All treatments were fed a 20% DDGS diet for the last phase of the trial. There were 4 dietary phases in the 98-day trial. Phase 1 and 4 were each 21d. Phase 2 and 3 were each 28d. The diets were pelletted and fed ad libitum. Within each phase, the diets were formulated to be equal in apparent digestible amino acids—lysine, threonine, and tryptophan. The pigs consumed the diets readily with no apparent problems making the transition among the diets. Feed intake (ADFI), growth (ADG), and feed per liveweight gain (F/G) did not differ among treatments (P \u3e 0.05). No major differences were noted in backfat thickness (BF) and loin muscle area (LMA) (P \u3e 0.05). Also, based on the means of fatty acid saturation, iodine values, and belly flop scores of selected pigs in trial (one, two or three), the differences in unsaturation percentages, iodine value and belly flop scores between treatments were minor. On average, a pig fed the continuous program consumed 119 lb of DDGS or 20% of the total feed over the 98-day feeding trial (from 54 to 274 lb). A pig fed the Step-up program consumed 106 lb of DDGS or 17% of the total feed. A pig fed the High program consumed 162 lb of DDGS or 26% of the total feed. This work suggests that diets and feeding programs can be designed to increase DDGS usage by market swine without negatively affecting pig performance. Also formulating diets on apparent digestible amino acid content may be advantageous when using DDGS on swine diets. The pelleted diets worked well with no problems in feed flow or fines separation

Growth Rate and Feed Intake of Purebred Berkshire Pigs Housed in Hoop Buildings in Iowa

Berkshire pigs make up the majority of the niche market pig population, and although niche pork production has increased across Iowa and the United States and demand continues for high quality pork there remains a lack of production standards for niche pork producers to benchmark their performance against. The Berkshire pigs in our previous studies grew faster and were more efficient in feed conversion than expected. Therefore the objective of this study was to replicate our earlier work, and add to the database of niche pork production. For this group of Berkshire pigs, growth rate was better than earlier research reports, but less than our previous trial. Feed conversions (feed-to-gain) were also better than earlier research but similar to last year’s report. Barrows grew faster and consumed more feed, but gilts were more efficient converting feed to gain. Although seasonal feed intakes differ for both sexes, growth rates were similar within gilts and barrows