Robert Goodband Kansas State University

Publish Date: March 25, 2010

A successful nursery feeding program contains several components, but the most important are to: 1) match dietary nutrient levels and ingredients with weight and age of the nursery pig; 2) maximize feed intake, because newly weaned pigs are in an extremely energy deficient state and early intake helps maintain a healthy intestine; and 3) appropriately adjust pigs (based on age, weight, health status, etc.) to lower cost diets (usually grain-soybean meal diets) as quickly as possible after weaning to reduce total feed cost. The concepts are relatively simple and can be applied in a variety of situations around the world.

Publish Date: March 25, 2010

Feed costs represent over 75% of the cost of raising pigs, and producers have many feed purchasing and production options to consider. Swine producers may: 1) choose to buy feed from independent feed mills, mills of national firms, or cooperatives; 2) buy premixes, base mixes, and/or supplements from various companies who also provide nutritional and technical expertise on the proper mixing and feeding of these products; 3) purchase individual raw materials and mix them to their own specifications; or 4) use a combination of these purchasing methods. However, many other services have been traditionally provided by feed companies, and their value must be taken into consideration as well when determining where to purchase feed. Ultimately, the final decision on these alternatives is in the producers’ hands, and it can have a tremendous impact on their profitability.

Publish Date: March 25, 2010

Many factors influence sow productive efficiency and sow herd profitability, but inadequate feeding programs for the sow are major contributors to problems with high sow attrition and poor productivity. The primary challenge of feeding highly productive sows involves minimizing the negative nutrient (energy and protein) balance during lactation in order to minimize short-term and long-term reproductive performance problems. The lactating sow needs energy and nutrients to maintain body tissues and support milk production, while allowing for maternal growth. Excessive negative nutrient balance during lactation can be minimized by increasing sows feed intake or, to a lesser extent, increasing nutrient concentrations of the diet. Understanding the different factors that affect nutrient requirements and feed intake can assist in developing a successful lactating sow feeding program.

Publish Date: September 1, 2006

Kansas State Swine Research 2005. A total of 360 weanling pigs (initially 14.1 lb and 21 3 d of age, PIC) were used to determine the effects of different rates of waterbased medication on nursery pig growth performance. Pigs were given one of eight experimental treatments: negative control (no antibiotics in the feed or water); positive control with Neo-Terramycin in the feed (140 g/ton Neomycin sulfate, 140 g/ton Oxytetracycline HCl); 38.0, 75.5, or 113.5 mg of Neomycin sulfate per L of water; 100 or 200 g/ton of Neomycin sulfate in the feed; and Neo-Terramycin in the feed and 75.5 mg of Neomycin per L of water. Overall (d 0 to 24 after weaning), pigs provided Neomycin sulfate in the water, pigs fed diets containing Neomycin sulfate, and pigs fed the positive control diet had greater ADG (P<0.02) and ADFI (P<0.05) than did pigs provided nonmedicated water and feed. Pigs provided Neomycin sulfate in the water or feed also had improved F/G (P<0.05), compared with the F/G of pigs provided non-medicated feed and water. Pigs provided the combination of the positive control diet and Neomycin sulfate in the water had greater ADFI (P<0.04) and tended to have greater ADG (P<0.09) than did pigs fed the positive control with nonmedicated water or pigs fed the negative control with Neomycin sulfate in the water. Increasing Neomycin sulfate in the water improved ADG (P<0.03) and ADFI (P<0.05). Increasing Neomycin sulfate in the feed improved ADG and ADFI (P<0.01) and improved F/G (P<0.03). There were no differences in growth performance between pigs provided Neomycin sulfate in the water and in the feed. Finally, there were no water medication feed medication interactions for the overall treatment period, but main effects for water and feed medication were significant (P<0.02) for ADG and ADFI.

Publish Date: July 31, 2007

Detection of estrus or standing heat is one of the most critical components of a successful swine breeding program. The widespread adoption of artificial insemination (AI) in the swine industry has shifted the responsibility of detecting estrus from boar to breeding technician. Accurate and consistent detection of estrus is necessary to ensure insemination occurs near the time of ovulation and to identify open females. Errors in detection of estrus reduce reproductive performance and increase herd non-productive days. Since accurate heat checks are so vital, all individuals involved must know the typical signs that females approaching estrus in their herd exhibit and how to best use a boar to stimulate females to express estrus. Reviewed: April 2021

Publish Date: June 3, 2006

The purpose of the breeding herd is to consistently produce a targeted number of high quality weaned pigs in an efficient manner and at low cost. Feed costs in the breeding herd constitute about 12% of the cost of producing a market hog. More importantly, the feeding program in the breeding herd can significantly influence sow productivity and longevity in the herd. Most costs, including feeding costs, in the breeding herd are fixed costs and therefore, increased breeding herd efficiency will reduce overall production costs. Therefore, there is considerable scope to reduce input costs and increase production efficiency through improvement in the feeding of the gestating and lactating sow.