Animal Science Level 2
Unit Map: Follow Along in your packet WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING? AS Basic: Recognize, Identify, and Evaluate the effects of disease and parasites in animals AS.03.01: ID breeds and species that are economically important
Know Understand Do! Know Types of swine breeds Basic Care Requirements Industry Standards Understand Defining Characteristics of swine breeds Proper care and disease prevention Physiology of swine Do Graphic Organizer of Swine Breeds Summarize care practices Analyze disease effects on Animals
Key Learning: Swine Management and Industry Unit EQ: Why is the swine industry “under appreciated” ? Concept : Industry Practices Lesson EQ: How is the swine industry efficient? Vocab Farrow – to- Finish Fabrication/Slaughte r Grouping Concept : Management and Care Lesson EQ: How are swine managed? Vocab PQA Farrowing Gilt, Boar Concept : Types Lesson EQ: How are swine breeds defined? Vocab Swine Index Confirmation Sound
Animal Science Level 2 Breeds, Types, and Their Purposes
Warm Up Where does this product come from?
Essential Question How are swine breeds defined?
Breeds of Swine: Follow Along with your worksheet
American Landrace Developed around 1895 Long body length Ears large and drooping Sows noted for good milk production
Berkshire Developed in England Came to U.S. in 1823 Medium size hog Erect ears, short snout 6 white points
Chester White Developed in PA. Drooped ears Known for mothering ability
Duroc Developed in eastern U.S. Drooped ears Red in color One of the most popular breeds in U.S.
Hampshire Developed in England Erect ears White band circling the body Know for lean meat
Poland China Developed in Ohio Black with six white points Drooping ears One of the larger breeds of hogs Used in cross breeding programs
Spotted Breed Developed in Indiana At least 20% of body must be either black or white First known as the Spotted Poland China
Tamworth Originated in England Brought to U.S. in 1882 Red in color Lean meat Excellent mothering ability
Yorkshire Developed in England Came to U.S. in 1800s Erect ears Sometimes has black freckles
Vietnamese Potbelly Developed from a dwarf swine breed from Vietnam in the 1960s Brought to U.S from Canada in 1986 Full grown potbellied pigs weigh an average of lb. Utilized as a pet
Picking the Perfect Pig: Major Categories I. Visual appraisal II. Production testing III. Pedigree evaluation
Visual Appraisal Parts of the Hog (fill in your worksheet)
I.Visual Appraisal 1. Look at confirmation 2. Structural soundness of feet and legs- NPPC scoring system 3. Size and scale- weigh 200 at 6months, 4. Health and vigor
I.Visual Appraisal NPPC scoring system 1. Unsound- Obvious restriction of movement 2. Intermediate- Structural condition is not serious enough to create risk in movement 3. Sound- free of major or minor structural weakness
II. Swine Performance data Based on: Sow productivity, growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass merit
Heritability: % rate that a trait/characteristic will be passed on to offspring Low heritability means it is unlikely that trait will be passed on High Heritability means that trait is easily passed on to each generation Why do we care? Heritability ensures we receive desired traits from generation to generation
a.A sow is productive if? Prolific- min 8/9 offspring 2.5 to 4 lb birth wt. 21 day litter wt= milking ability Sow index- how good she is compared to her peers (contemp. group)
Lets do the math Sow index:= (L-l)+1.0(W-w) L= # piglets born alive l= avg. # piglets born alive for contemp group W= 21 day weight for individual w= 21 day weight for contemp group
b. growth weight Number of days required to reach a specific weight Usually 230 pounds
c. Feed efficiency amount of weight gained per amount of food eaten
d. Carcass merit What are the types of Hogs? Primary Lean Cuts = hams, loins, picnics, Boston Butts Meat Type Hog: more than half the weight of a Number 1 animal is Primary Lean Cuts (PLC) Bacon Type Hog: less than 1/2 is PLC – large litter size – little value in U.S. except to increase litter size
d. Carcass merit USDA grades 1,2,3,4, Utility Based on yield of lean cuts: Backfat over last rib Muscling 1 is good and Utility is undesirable
What it comes down to: Hog Selection U Feed Conversion Rate: pounds of feed needed to make a pound of hog – no more than 4 lbs of feed per 1 lb of hog U Minimum Litter Size = 9 U First Litter should have a combined pig wt at 21 days of 95 lbs or more – 110 lbs for a mature sow
Fun Facts: Did you know Uncle Sam was a New York pork packer who sent barrels of Pork to troops in the War of 1812 stamped U.S. Living High on the Hog came about because the higher rank you were in the army the better cut of pork you got. Heaviest Hog ever: was a Poland China named Big Bill weighing 2,552 lbs.
Activity Most Productive Piggie Worksheet Calculators and extra paper Ready!
Animal Science Level 2 Management Systems
Warm up List a few different management type systems we have previously discussed… Would they work for swine? Why or why not?
Essential Question How are swine managed?
Introduction Efficient use of resources is the key to profitability To remain competitive swine producers MUST select breeding stock that will remain lean and feed efficiently
Factors That Affect Profitability Number of pigs weaned per sow Minimum goal for producers should be pigs per year for each breeding female Females should be bred and managed to produce a minimums of 2.3 litters during each 12 month period Feed efficiency feed wastage should be considered and controlled
Types Purebred Commercial Feeder pig production Buying and finishing feeder pigs Complete sow and litter systems Swine production can also be classified according to the type of housing used Pasture, combination pasture and low-investment housing, high-investment total confinement
Pasture Management Farrowing a smaller number of sows per year Requires enough pasture to be able to rotate pasture to reduce disease and parasite problems Farrowing only once or twice a year Low investment in building
Confinement Management High level of mechanization to reduce labor requirements High investment in buildings and equipment Multiple farrowings per year with a large number of hogs raised High level of management ability needed High degree of control over feeding operation Better year-round working conditions Stringent disease and parasite control program Use of very little priced land
Purebred Production Specialized Make up less than 1% of the total hogs raised Produce foundation stock used in commercial production Must be excellent managers Higher investment in labor and record keeping Must keep accurate records Must spend a great deal of time advertising, showing and promoting swine breeds
Commercial Means used to produce most of the pork produced in the United States Use crossbreeding Often cross purebred boars onto crossbred sows Good management is necessary
Feeder Pig Production Produces pigs that are sold to feeders who feed them to market weights Producer has a herd of breeding sows Baby pigs are taken care of until they reach weaning weight A high producing herd is required An average of pigs marketed per sow is required to break even Goal is to raise uniform groups of feeder pigs for sale Health problems MUST be prevented or carefully treated Generally requires only small investments Farrowing needs to be scheduled to have a steady supply of feeder pigs for sale Requires less total feed
Buying and Finishing Feeder Pigs Operator buys feeder pigs and raises them to market weight Lest investment and managerial ability Possible to feed pigs on pasture or with limited facilities Trend is towards investing in more confinement systems Cost are higher with this operation
Buying and Finishing Feeder Pigs Requires higher investment to purchase pigs Well adapted to producers who have large amounts of grain for feed Requires less labor Disadvantages Health problems Variation in market prices It is a fairly high risk that there will be no profit made
Complete Sow and Litter System Most common method of production Involves Breeding herd of sows Farrowing pigs Caring for and feeding the pigs to market weight Investments Can be low for pasture systems High for confinement systems and facilities Trend is toward more confinement systems with larger numbers of sows being kept in the producing herd
Complete Sow and Litter System Confinement permits spreading the production and marketing of pigs more evenly through the years This results in an increased potential for profit Labor, management and investment requirements vary considerably
Pork Quality Assurance Program (PQA) Implemented in 1989 by the National Pork Producers Council Management education program with major emphasis on the swine herd health program Anyone who raises pork can take part Just like the Beef Check-Off
PQA 1 st step—review of management practices, especially focusing on the use and handling of animal health products Series of good management practices are reviewed and a plan is developed for needed improvements Final step—producers plans are reviewed and verified by a verifier The verifier can be a vet, an extension specialist, or agricultural education instructor
Activity Break Draw a representation of each type of swine management systems discussed in class
Pre-breeding Management Must decide on a breeding system Crossbreeding hogs for slaughter is recommended Crossbred pigs generally grow faster and use feed more efficiently Sows have larger litters and are better mothers
Multiple Farrowing Arranging the breeding program so that groups of sows farrow at regular intervals throughout the year Usually results in a higher average price for hogs on a yearly basis Chances of selling at a better prices are increased Income is spread more evenly through the year This makes more efficient use of facilities Reduces the investment per pig raised Year round labor supply is required as well
Replacement Gilts Select at 4-5 months of age Separate from finishing hogs and feed separately Worm gilts and sows before first breeding Spray for external parasites
Boars Purchase at least days before use Buy only from healthy, purebred herds with good performance records Isolate the boar when he is first brought to the farm to help prevent disease Treat for internal and external parasites Semen test Test breed on a few market gilts to ensure the boar will breed
Boars Age determines the number of time a boar can mate per day or week Mating boars with too many females in a short period of time decreases the boars ability to service
Increasing conception and litter size Can be done by using more than one boar on each female This is easier when hand-mating or using artificial insemination Can also be accomplished with pen breeding Rotate the boars once a day between pens
Artificial Insemination Not widely used in the past Mostly only by the purebred producers Improvements in technology are trending toward more use of AI in commercial herds Advantages Increases the ability to bring superior genetics to the herd Makes the use of superior boars on more sows possible Reduces the risk of disease transmission Makes it possible to bring new bloodlines into the herd
Breeding-Gestation Period Breed gilts at 7-8 months of age and a weight of pounds Breed during the second heat for larger litters Move gilts outside to dirt lots by the time they weigh pounds to increase conception rates Boars should be 7 ½ months of age before breeding
Breeding Check for standing heat at least 1 X day Checking 2 X’s day increases conception rate Breed gilts at least twice at 12 hour intervals after standing heat is detected Breed sows at least twice at 24 hour intervals after standing heat is detected
Gestation Keep gilts and sows separate Boars of the same size and age can be run together during the off-breeding season Do not run boars of different ages together Provide shade to animals on pasture Avoid overheating Supply plenty of fresh water Keep the breeding herd separate from the other hogs to avoid disease
Farrowing Period Behavior determines when a sow is about to farrow Most sows farrow within about six hours after they begin a period of intensive activity Intensive activity is when a sow stands up and lies down more often than once per minute Sows will also root and paw at the pen floor when they are ready to begin farrowing
Farrowing Period Farrowing can be induced by giving the sow commercially available drugs days after breeding, the sow will farrow hours later
Advantages of Farrowing in a Short Period of Time Easier to even up litter sizes by cross-fostering piglets Labor is more efficiently utilized Easier to keep a group of sows on a uniform rebreeding schedule Breeding herd can be better managed because the farrowing time is more predictable
Farrowing Facilities Must be cleaned and disinfected before sows are placed in them Traffic must be kept to a minimum in farrowing houses Sows must be washed with soap and water before being moved to clean pens Sows should be moved to farrowing pens at least 1 day before farrowing.
Farrowing Facilities Guard rails and artificial heat are used to protect the baby pigs after birth For newborn pigs the temperature should be degrees F under the heat lamp Heat maps are placed 18” above the pigs After 4-5 days the temperature is lowered to degrees F by raising the heat lamp
Caring for Baby Pigs Many are saved by the operator being present at farrowing time Sows need assistance Piglets trapped in after-birth can be saved Baby pigs must be kept warm and dry
Caring for Baby Pigs Clip needle teeth Done with disinfected clippers Pigs less than 2 days old, clip needle teeth at the gum line Pigs over 2 days old, clip 1/3 to ½ of the tooth Avoid injuring the gum See fig The navel cord should also be clipped shortly after birth to 1-1.5” and disinfected with tincture of iodine
Ear Notching Used for identification Required for registration in purebred associations Determination of right and left ear is made from the rear See fig 22-5 p. 436
Ear Notching Activity Worksheet and Scissors and Coloring Utensils needed
Caring for Baby Pigs Efforts should be made to save runts Use milk replacer or other methods Feed orally once or twice a day Saves about ½ the pigs that would otherwise die Litter size should equalized Move pigs from large litters to small in order to make them equal. Be sure that pigs nurse colostrums milk before moving them. Make sure the sow has the nursing ability and the number of teats necessary for the number of pigs that are in the litter.
Farrowing to Weaning Period Several important management practices Tail docking Cutting the pigs tail ¼-1/2 inch from the body Done when pigs are 1-3 days old Use side cutting pliers or chicken debeaker Disinfect the tail stub with iodine spray and disinfect the cutter between pigs. Producers of feeder pigs should always Do not dock tail while pigs have scours Docking the tail prevents tail biting among pigs in confinement.
Docking Tails
Farrowing to weaning period Give iron injections or oral iron doses Should be done at 2-4 days old Injections should be given in the neck or forearm Iron-dextran shots are given at the rate of mg per pig Give a second dose at 2 wks of age Iron can be added to feed or water at this time. Use care when giving iron shots as an overdose may cause shock
Farrowing to Weaning Period Watch closely for scours Treatments with oral drugs work better. Castrate male pigs that will be raised for slaughter Best done when young, before 2 weeks of age is best Do not castrate, vaccinate and wean all in the same period of time as it overstresses the animal.
Farrowing to Weaning Period Start pigs on feed as soon as possible. Control diseases and parasites. This program should be tailored to the farm.
Weaning Trend towards earlier weaning Earlier weaning requires higher levels of management and nutrition Usually means pigs are weaned before 5 weeks of age Average is between 5 and 8 weeks Pigs should weigh at least 12 pounds at the time of weaning Avoid drafts and great temperature change when weaning pigs Group pigs according to size Groups should be no more than 30 pigs if possible
Weaning to Market Most management centers around feeding and facilities Hogs are raised either in confinement or on pasture
Confinement Requires more capital investment Hogs gain a little faster
Pasture Good pasture can reduce the need for protein supplements
Grouping Group hogs in uniform size lots by weight Groups should be no large than head Weight range should be no more than 20% above or below the average of the group Hogs should be marketed at about 230 pounds
Feed Accounts for 60-65% of the expenses Wasted feed reduces feed efficiency Feed loss can be reduced by Adjusting feeders at least once a week Controlling rodents in feed storage and feeding areas
Medicated Early Weaning Can help reduce the incidence of disease Sows are given broad spectrum antibiotics before farrowing and during lactation Pigs are weaned at 10 days of age and moved to a new location Pigs are given broad spectrum antibiotics during the first 5 days after birth Phase feeding is used to feed the pigs
Advantages Reduced incidence of disease Research shows an increase of 14% in average daily gain Also shows an increase of 9% in feed efficiency Death loss is reduced
Disadvantages Increased cost when multiple sites are used More facilities are needed Pigs and feed must be transported to other sites Other hog facilities must be 2-10 miles away depending on the disease that is the problem
All In/ All Out Method Can improve rate of gain and feed efficiency Reduces incidence of disease Pigs move as a group from nursery, through growing and finishing and to market Groups consist of pigs farrowed within a short period of time-usually 2-3 weeks
All In/ All Out Facilities are cleaned and disinfected between groups Manure, bedding and feed is moved from the facility when it is cleaned Facilities are left idle for a short period of time between groups
Feeder Pigs Generally 8-9 weeks of age Average pounds Faster turnover in the volume of pigs handled Less feed is required for each dollars worth of pig sold Labor is needed year round Good sanitation and disease control are necessary
Feeder Pigs Large volume operators have lower costs per pig than small volume operators Net returns are higher for large volume operators as well Up to weaning, feeding and management practices are about the same for feeder pig production as other types pig production Good management and marketing practices are necessary if feeder pig production is to be profitable.
Feeder Pigs Should be bought from a reliable source Isolate newly arrived feeder pigs from other pigs Allow pigs sufficient space, time to rest and shade if is hot Sort pigs into uniform lots according to size Feeding and management practices are similar to those for market hogs
Video Review Swine management video with worksheets
Animal Science Level 2 Selecting Feed for Swine
Feed Costs Range from 55-70% of the total cost of raising hogs Combining the right kinds of feed in a well balanced ration is one of the most important tasks of the hog producer. Nutrient needs of hogs include Energy Protein Minerals Vitamins water
Energy Feeds Corn Barley Buckwheat Milo Wheat Oats Rye Triticale Potatoes Bakery waste Fats,tallows and greases Molasses
Corn Basic energy feed High in digestible carbs Low in fiber Palatable Other feeds are compared to corn when determining their feed value See table 22-2
Corn Co-Products Products from the corn-refining industry Corn gluten feed Corn germ meal
Barley Good substitute for corn In some parts of the US it is fed more than corn High fiber Slightly less digestible Higher protein Must be supplemented with proteins, minerals, and vitamins Ground medium fine Also rolled or pelleted Not as palatable Poisonous to hogs if scabby
Buckwheat Has 80-90% of the feed value of corn 11% crude fiber Not as palatable Generally mixed with other grains Less protein supplement needed Not recommended for lactating sows or small pigs Can be used for gestating sows and in fast growing rations Not recommended that it be used for more than 50% of the ration Can cause buckwheat rash in white pigs when they are exposed to sunlight
Milo Higher protein than corn Can replace all the corn in hog rations Must be supplemented with protein, minerals and vitamins Has a relative feed value of 90-95% compared to corn
Wheat Equal to or slightly higher in feed value than corn Higher in Protein Lysine Phosphorus Relative feed value is % compared to corn Energy value is slightly lower Relative price of wheat compared to other grains is a determining factor when considering its use in swine rations Must be processed through a roller mill
Oats Higher protein, but poorer quality Protein supplement must be used High in fiber Relative feed value of 85-90% Should not be substituted for more than 20% for growing-finishing hogs Should be medium to finely ground Hulled, rolled oats make an excellent starter ration for baby pigs
Rye Not a very good feed for hogs Relative feed value of 90% Less palatable than other grains Should not make up more than 25% of the grain ration Harder than corn and should be ground Sometimes infested with a fungus called ergot Ergot will cause abortion in pregnant sows and ergot infested rye should never be fed to them It will also slow down gains in growing-finishing hogs
Triticale Hybrid cereal grain Cross between wheat and rye More lysine than corn Not as palatable No more than 50% of the ration should be triticale Some varieties maybe infested with ergot Ergot infested triticale should not be fed to pregnant sows.
Triticale Wheat Rye Triticale
Potatoes May be fed to hogs Contain mainly carbs Must be fed with a protein supplement Heavier hogs make better use of potatoes Takes about 400 lbs of spuds to equal the feed value of 100 lbs of corn Should be fed at the rate of 1 part potatoes to 3 parts grain Should be cooked before they are fed
Bakery Waste Include Stale bread, bread crumbs, cookies, crackers Average protein content is about 10% A good protein supplement must be fed
Fats, Tallow and Greases High energy Make up less than 5% of the ration Used to improve the binding qualities of pelleted feed Binding quality is how well the feed particles stick together Decreases carcass quality if feed in excess Contain no protein, minerals, or vitamins Proper nutrient supplements are essential when these substances are part of the ration
Molasses Provide carbs Can be substituted for part of the grain Should never be more than 5% of the ration May result in scours if over-fed
Soybean Oil Meal Available with a 44 or 49% protein content 49% meal is used in pre-starter and starter rations Both are equal in value for growing-finishing pigs Protein quality is excellent Most widely used protein source in hog rations Very palatable Hogs will overeat soybean oil meal if fed free choice Good balance of amino acids Other feeds that are fed are compared to soybean oil meal when determining their feed value.
Cottonseed Meal 40-45% protein Poor quality Low in lysine Maybe fed as 5% of the protein in the ration Some contains gossypol which is toxic to hogs If the gossypol is removed cottonseed meal may replace up to 50% of the soybean oil meal in the ration Low in minerals Fair in in Vitamin B Not palatable to hogs Do not use as a starter ration
Linseed Meal 35-36% protein Poor quality Must be fed with other protein sources Usually makes up no more than 5% of the ration More calcium than soybean or cotton meals, about the same for Vitamin B Best fed in combination with animal protein sources Acts as a laxative in large amounts
Peanut Meal 47% protein Low in several amino acids Must be fed with other protein sources Becomes rancid if stored more than a few weeks Low in vitamins and minerals
Whole Soybeans About 37% protein Can be used to replace soybean oil meal Higher in energy Lower in protein 6 lbs of whole cooked soybeans can substitute for 5 lbs of soybean oil meal Higher energy of the whole soybeans may increase feed efficiency by 5% Do not use raw soybeans in growing-finishing ration They contain an antitrypsin factor that prevents the action of the enzyme trypsin in non-ruminants such as swine, resulting in a reduction in the availability of tryptophan, an essential amino acid Heating the soybeans destroy the antitrypsin factor
Tankage and Meat Scraps 50-60% protein Inadequate amounts of the amino acid tryptophan Must be used with other protein sources High in calcium, phosphorus Vitamin content is variable Not as palatable as soybean meal Maximum percentage of tankage included depends on the ration being fed Gestation rations 10% Lactation 5% Growing and finishing 5% Starter rations 0%
Meat and Bone Meal 50% protein The amount of bone in the mix determines the value Low in lysine Maximum percentage varies with the type of ration Gestation 10% Lactation, starter, grower, finisher 5%
Fish Meal 60-70% protein Excellent quality High in minerals and vitamins Palatable Usually to expensive to use except in creep rations Maximum fish meal to use is 5%
Skim Milk and Buttermilk 33% protein when dry Only worth 1/10 that much when in liquid form Quality is good Good sources of B vitamins Often used in creep rations in the dry form Maximum amount to use in starter rations 20% Dried skim milk should not be used in gestation, lactation, grower or finishing rations
Whey Liquid form 1% protein Dry 13-14% protein Excellent quality Starter rations may contain up to 20% dry whey In gestation, lactation, grower, and finisher rations whey should be limited to no more than 5% dry whey
Alfalfa Meal 13-17% protein Large amounts of vitamins A & B Excellent roughage for hogs Good source of minerals Should be limited to no more than 5% of the ration for growing-finishing hogs For brood sows it may make up as much as 50% of the ration; it helps keep them from getting too fat For lactating sows it may make up a maximum of 10% of the ration Do not use alfalfa meal in starter rations
Alfalfa Hay Generally not used in hog rations except for the breeding herd Hay must be ground and mixed in the ration for self feeding sows and gilts It can be used to make up as much as 1/3 of the ration
Silage Most valuable in the ration of breeding stock lbs of corn or grass-legume silage can be fed per day to sows and gilts during pregnancy Must be supplemented with protein and minerals Moldy silage should never be fed.
Pasture Valuable for feeding the breeding herd Good quality pasture supplies the same nutrients as alfalfa meal and hay Growing-finishing hogs will not gain as rapidly as those in a dry lot However, pregnant sows and gilts get the exercise they need Putting the breeding herd on good quality pasture supplies enough nutrients that concentrates may be reduced by up to 40% Pasture is also sufficient for the herd boar
4 Major Minerals Calcium Phosphorus Sodium chlorine
Trace Minerals Zinc Iron Copper Selenium Manganese iodine
Salt Adds sodium and chlorine Should make up about 0.5% of the ration
Calcium & Phosphorus Most common source is ground limestone Ration should contain % Ca Dicalcium phossphate supplies both calcium and phosphorus Ration should contain % phosphorus Other sources of calcium and phosphorus Steamed bone meal Defluorinated rock phosphate
Calcium & Phosphorus Feeding too much calcium or phosphorus may reduce the rate of gain for growing-finishing hogs Excess calcium will interact with zinc and cause a zinc deficiency Ratio of calcium to phosphorus should be 1.0 to 1.5 calcium to 1.0 total phosphorus in a grain-soybean meal diet
Sources of Trace Minerals Found in commercial protein supplement mixes Trace mineralized salt is another source Trace mineral premixes are also available
Iron and Copper Especially important in baby pig rations They prevent anemia In addition to the iron supplied in the ration baby pigs should be given iron shots when they are 2-4 days old
Zinc Needed to prevent parakeratosis Early weaned pigs have a higher zinc requirement than older pigs
Feeding Minerals Care must be taken Excess minerals slow the rate of gain Minerals shouldn’t be added to rations that contain commercial protein supplements unless the feed tag says otherwise Mineral mixes can be fed free choice to hogs since they will not overeat minerals if they are receiving enough in the ration.
Vitamins Many that are required are already present in the feeds Vitamins that must be added to the ration are A D E K Riboflavin Niacin Pantothenic acid Choline Vitamin B 12
Vitamins May be added as part of complete protein supplements Mineral-vitamin premixes Vitamin premixes The major differences between these sources is the amount of vitamins they contain and their costs
Vitamins It is difficult to determine the exact amount of vitamins they contain since the feed tags do not usually list the amounts Past experience with a particular mix is the best guide to follow in selecting a vitamin source
Vitamins Complete supplements and mineral-vitamin premixes usually cost more than vitamin premixes If the producer does not have mixing equipment on the farm it is best to use complete mixes. Premixes are used in such small amounts per ton that it is difficult to mix them into the ration properly
Water One of the most important nutrients Plenty of water should be available at all times It should be fresh, clean and no colder than 45 degrees F It should be checked periodically for nitrate content To much nitrate or nitrite in the water is not good for hogs See fig 22-2 p. 423
Additives Increase efficiency Enable pigs to Grow at a faster rate Improve feed conversion Reduce disease stress
Common Additives Anthelmintics Antibiotics Arsenicals Nitrofurans Sulfa compounds
Sources of Additives Complete protein supplements Complete mixed feeds Premixes Must be carefully mixed into the ration for even distribution
Factors to Consider when Evaluating Additives Costs Which additives are included Amounts of additives in the source
Other Rules for Additives Feed tag instructions must be carefully followed Withdrawal times must be observed when marketing hogs
Preparation of feeds Hog feeds are generally ground for most efficient use Corn, barley, milo, and oats should be finely ground Wheat should be coarsely ground
Pelleting Feed Improves efficiency Less feed waste Improves high fiber rations Buying complete pelleted feed may be less expensive
Liquid or Paste Reduces waste Rate of gain increase Higher costs for labor No clear advantage to feeding liquids or pastes
Wet Feeding Made from different materials Stainless steel last longer but is more expensive Some are made of plastic—they are easier to clean Need to be kept in an area that doesn’t freeze Must be checked frequently Better management is needed No advantage to cooking, soaking or fermenting