1. Growth, feed and economics
Dr Elizabeth Magowan
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2. Outline of presentation
Large litters have given pig producers additional challenges.
However:
Can a light weight pig which weans heavy always perform well or does it fall back because it was small at birth?
Can the growth check after weaning be overcome?
Are these large litters worth it?
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3. Q1 – The light weight pig..
Birth and wean weight is a strong predictor of lifetime performance (Douglas et al., 2012)
Allen et al (2010) found that 28% of pigs with a birth weight under 1kg could achieve a wean weight of 8kg or over
Aim:
To compare the lifetime growth rate and carcass
performance of pigs with varying birth and wean weights
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4. Materials and Methods
Pigs (200) were selected at weaning to represent four categories :
Born light and weaned light
Born light and weaned heavy
Born heavy and weaned light
Born heavy and weaned heavy
A 5th group of pigs represented ‘Very low birth weight ’ pigs were artificially reared in ‘Rescue Decks’
‘Light’ and ‘Heavy’ pigs represented pigs in the top and bottom weight quartile of each batch of pigs born and weaned
All pigs underwent the same management and nutritional regime
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5. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig live weight (kg)LL LH HL HH
VLBW
SED
P Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
0.04
<0.001
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
0.21
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6. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig growth rate (g/day)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED P
Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
Wean - 10wks
419b
441c
467d
577e
354a
18.6
<0.001
wks
859b
891b
852b
654a
38.8
10 wks - Finish
884b
906bc
888b
857b
698a
34.4
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7. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig growth rate (g/day)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED P
Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
Wean - 10wks
419b
441c
467d
577e
354a
18.6
<0.001
wks
859b
891b
852b
654a
38.8
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8. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig growth rate (g/day)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED P
Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
Wean - 10wks
419b
441c
467d
577e
354a
18.6
<0.001
wks
859b
891b
852b
654a
38.8
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9. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig growth rate (g/day)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED P
Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
Wean - 10wks
419b
441c
467d
577e
354a
18.6
<0.001
wks
859b
891b
852b
654a
38.8
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10. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig live weight (kg)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED
P Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
7 wks
15.1b
18.0d
16.7c
20.7e
11.8a
0.50
<0.001
10 wks
27.6b
31.2c
30.4c
39.2d
21.6a
1.00
20 wks
87.6b
93.8c
90.0bc
98.6d
68.1a
3.10
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11. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig live weight (kg)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED
P Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
7 wks
15.1b
18.0d
16.7c
20.7e
11.8a
0.50
<0.001
10 wks
27.6b
31.2c
30.4c
39.2d
21.6a
1.00
20 wks
87.6b
93.8c
90.0bc
98.6d
68.1a
3.10
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12. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig live weight (kg)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED
P Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
7 wks
15.1b
18.0d
16.7c
20.7e
11.8a
0.50
<0.001
10 wks
27.6b
31.2c
30.4c
39.2d
21.6a
1.00
20 wks
87.6b
93.8c
90.0bc
98.6d
68.1a
3.10
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13. Effect of birth and wean weight on pig live weight (kg)LL LH HL HH
Runts
SED
P Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
7 wks
15.1b
18.0d
16.7c
20.7e
11.8a
0.50
<0.001
10 wks
27.6b
31.2c
30.4c
39.2d
21.6a
1.00
20 wks
87.6b
93.8c
90.0bc
98.6d
68.1a
3.10
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14. Effect of birth and wean weight on carcass performanceLL LH HL HH
Runts
SED
P Value
Birth wt (kg)
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.9
1.0
Weaning wt (kg)
7.0
9.6
7.5
11.0
4.3
Finish wt (kg)
108b
109b
107b
110b
91a
3.33
<0.001
KO%
75.3
74.7
74.5
74.8
1.04 NS
P2 (mm)
12.4bc
12.8c
11.8ab
11.4a
14.9d
0.79
<0.01
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15. Conclusion
Achieving a good wean weight can compensate for a poor birth weight
However, the back fat depth of light birth weight pigs was greater than that of pigs with a heavy birth weight

16. Q2 :Is It possible to overcome the post weaning growth check?
Weaning stressors = sow removal
new housing and feed system
new social interaction (mixing)
Aim
To investigate the separate effects of some of the stressors imposed at weaning
Identify strategies to reduce the post weaning growth check
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

17. Materials and Methods:
In a 2 x 2 x factorial design the 10 treatments were:
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg. 17

18. Materials and Methods:
First 2:
Pre weaning
Creep feed offered: In a Hopper OR
On the Floor
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg. 18

19. Materials and Methods:
2 x 2 :
Pre weaning
Creep feed: Hopper OR
Floor
At weaning pigs:
Moved OR
Stayed
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg. 19

20. Materials and Methods:
2 x 2 x 2 :
Pre weaning
Creep feed: Hopper OR
Floor
At weaning pigs:
Moved OR
Stayed
Post weaning:
DMS OR
DMS + Hopper
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg. 20

21. Materials and Methods:
2 x 2 x 2 : ALL PIGS WERE MIXED
Pre weaning
Creep feed: Hopper OR
Floor
At weaning pigs:
Moved OR
Stayed
Post weaning:
DMS OR
DMS + Hopper
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg. 21

22. Materials and Methods:
The + 2 treatments were NOT mixed:
Pigs were moved and placed on a DMS but no creep pre weaning: ABRUPT
Pigs stayed, were fed with a small hopper then moved to a DMS (no creep pre weaning): GRADUAL
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg. 22

23. Effect of feed system pre weaning on feed intake (kg/pen) after weaning:
Floor
Hopper
SEM
P Value
Day 1
0.13
0.08
0.018
<0.05
Day 2
0.74
0.71
0.063 NS
Day 3
1.36
1.43
0.074
Day 4
1.77
1.75
0.078
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

24. Effect of staying in the farrowing pen on feed intake (kg/pen) after weaning
Stayed
Moved
SEM
P Value
Day 1
0.12
0.08
0.018 NS
Day 2
0.80
0.65
0.063
Day 3
1.49
1.30
0.074
<0.1
Day 4
1.75
1.77
0.078
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

25. Effect of feed delivery post weaning on feed intake (kg/pen)
DMS
DMS+Hopper
SEM
P Value
Day 1
0.07
0.13
0.017
<0.01
Day 2
0.69
0.75
0.062 NS
Day 3
1.42
1.37
0.076
Day 4
1.72
1.80
0.081
Day 5
1.86
2.06
0.074
<0.1
Day 6
2.57
2.71
0.075
Day 7
3.14
3.30
0.080
Day 8
3.47
3.59
0.083
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

26. Feed used in the DMS vs the Hopper
All P<0.001
Kg/pen
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.
Q - Should these hoppers be removed on Day 6/7?

27. Effect of few stressors
2 x2x2
Gradual
Abrupt
Sem
P Value
Feed Intake (kg/pen)
Day 1
0.10
0.40
0.14
0.069
<0.05
Day 2
0.72
1.29
0.152
<0.1
Day 3
1.39
1.79
1.26
0.162 NS
Day 4
1.76
2.40
1.71
0.191
Day 5
1.96
2.64
1.88
0.192
Day 6
3.03
2.65
0.179
Day 7
3.22
3.65
3.50
0.215
Day 8
3.53
4.31
3.94
0.229
Live weight (kg)
10 wks
29.1
32.0
29.7
0.51
<0.001
Average Daily Gain (g/day)
Wn-7
349
433
373
13.5
Wn-10
479
550
495
12.4
<0.01
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

28. 8 Day intake vs 10 week weight gain
For every 100g extra in intake, there is an extra 320g increase in weight gain to 10 weeks of age

29. Summary When pigs were mixed:
The reduction of other stressors had little effect on intake or growth
When pigs were NOT mixed AND NOT moved:
Intake 48 hrs after weaning was higher and remained numerically high
10 week weight was 2kg heavier
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

30. Conclusion
The growth check can be overcome – but commercially impractical
It is suggested that mixing is the most stressful factor.
Should small circular hoppers be removed on day 6/7?
For every 100g extra intake in the 8 days post weaning, the extra gain to 10 weeks of age = 320g
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

31. Q3 Are large litters worth it?
Decrease in average birth and wean weight
Therefore decrease in lifetime performance
Lower performance = lower pig value
Aim:
To investigate the ‘economic’ balance between the numbers of pigs in large litters and their performance
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32. The steps AFBI Hillsborough data between 2011 and 2015
Birth, wean,10 and 20 week weights and
FCR between 12 weeks of age and finish (120kg)
Matrix of birth weight and wean weight according to litter size established
Correlations to determine subsequent performance used
Assume finisher feed cost of £200/tonne and carcass value of £1.15/kg
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33. Wean weight of pigs based on original litter size

34. Wean weight of pigs based on original litter size

35. Wean weight of pigs based on original litter size

36. Birth of pigs based on original litter size

37. Performance based on wean weight
Wean weight (kg)
10 week
weight (kg)
20 week
Finishing FCR
Finisher feed used (kg) to 110kg
2.5
17.9
68.2
2.72
251
4.5
21.5
73.7
2.66
235
6.5
25.1
79.2
2.59
220
8.5
28.7
84.7
2.52
205
10.5
32.3
90.2
2.45
190
12.5
35.9
95.7
2.38
177
14.5
39.5
101.2
2.32
163

38. Litter value Litter size No born alive Total intake of litter (kg)
Cost of finisher feed per litter (£)
Litter carcass value (£)
Margin over feed per Litter (£)
Margin over feed per pig (£)
11.0
10.7
2154
431
1025
12.0
11.5
2289
458
1102
13.0
12.3
2485
497
1179
14.0
12.9
2633
527
1241
15.0
13.7
2775
555
1317
16.0
14.6
2976
595
1399
17.0
15.1
3022
604
1452
18.0
15.8
3283
657
1514
19.0
17.2
3508
702
1649

39. Litter value On average, £44 per extra pig in the litter Litter size
No born alive
Total intake of litter (kg)
Cost of finisher feed per litter (£)
Litter carcass value (£)
Margin over feed per Litter (£)
Average Margin over feed per pig (£)
11.0
10.7
2154
431
1025
594
55.72
12.0
11.5
2289
458
1102
644
56.20
13.0
12.3
2485
497
1179
682
55.60
14.0
12.9
2633
527
1241
714
55.34
15.0
13.7
2775
555
1317
761
55.61
16.0
14.6
2976
595
1399
804
55.25
17.0
15.1
3022
604
1452
847
56.11
18.0
15.8
3283
657
1514
858
54.45
19.0
17.2
3508
702
1649
947
55.23
On average, £44 per extra pig in the litter

40. Impact of wean weight on individual pig value
For every 1kg extra in wean weight, there is an extra £1.46/pig in margin over finisher feed

41. Conclusion
The majority of ‘extra’ piglets in the larger litters have a lower birth weight BUT
Even in large litters, there are a good proportion of pigs with good wean weights
Overall, numbers of pigs in the litter outweigh the negative impact of poorer pig performance due to more pigs of lower birth weight
Improving weaning weight will improve margin over finisher feed cost at a ratio of 1.46.
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.

42. Overall Conclusion
The growth check of pigs can be overcome albeit with unconventional methods
Increasing feed intake immediately after weaning will improve growing pigs performance
Pigs with low birth weight can achieve a good wean weight
And their subsequent performance is improved
Between litter sizes of 11 and 19, every extra piglet born can increase margin over feed costs by on average £44.

43. Acknowledgements
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland
Pig Regen Ltd
Pig unit staff at AFBI Hillsborough
There are various uses for refined glycerol –cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries but the glycerol released from the transestification process is known as crude glycerol and is not 100% pure. Typically, crude glycerol contains approx 85% glycerol with the remaining components being water, free fatty acids, Na or K and small quantities of methanol. It is expensive to refine this crude glycerol to analytical grade, and therefore some use for the crude glycerol must be found. It has been proposed that glycerol could be used as an energy source in livestock diets and while there has not been a great deal of work conducted on the use of glycerol for pigs one recent study from the States concluded that “crude…”. These workers calculated that glycerol had a DE value of 14 MJ/kg.