| |
| WAYNE's WORLD...
First let me introduce myself, My name is Wayne Schiefelbein and I provide the technical support to Elite Swine nutrition program. I have an advanced degree in swine nutrition and I have formulated and developed swine programs for more than 30 years. The past 10 years I have worked with Bruce Butler, Galen McCune, Randy Abbott and all the Elite Swine Program team serving the show pig industry.
The show pig industry is an exciting, competitive and moving experience. I chose to continue serving this industry through the Elite Swine Program (ESP) for several important reasons. First, is the people involved in the ESP business. Bruce Butler and his team have a passion for the industry. That is best demonstrated by their care and concern for their customer’s success. Next is the knowledge, experience and vision that they bring to me to help match nutrition profiles with genetic and sow ring direction. Finally, the ESP team moves quickly on nutritional concepts and innovative feed ingredients that benefit conformation of growth and controls costs.
Send us your Show pig nutrionist questions and we will all learn together-
|
|
| Q & A |
| |
•Question from Andy in OK
What is the significance of higher and higher concentrations of fat in grower rations. Pigs from 80-175 Lbs are genetically able to deposit very little fat during this critical growing stage. Why are the fat contents in growing rations inreasing. 2.5-3% Fat in a growing ration is sufficient to foster the growth of a pig in this weight range, why do we see so many feeds that utilize a substantial amount of added fat in the ration, do you think that this could cause a decrease in growth rate?
• Waynes Answer
Good question. Energy is the first nutrient demand in animal nutrition. The need for energy will be met first and at the expense of all other nutrients. Swine eat to meet their energy requirements. When the energy need is not satisfied and protein is available, it will be broken down to satisfy the energy needs before any protein is utilized to meet amino acid requirements. As was mentioned in an earlier article, the genetic selection of the past 10 years has created carcasses with great muscle mass. This has been accompanied by increased energy and protein reqirements and a tendancy for reduced average daily feed intake. The two main sources of energy are carbohydrates from cereal grain starches and supplemental fat from ingredients like beef tallow, choice white grease and soy oil. Fat sources carry approximately 2.25 times more metabolizable energy than most cereal grains. With commercial genetics, research has indicated that with each 1 percent added fat content, the average daily gains and feed efficiencies have been improved by 2 percent. I would expect the average daily gain improvement to be greater for show pig genetics. Normal corn soybean meal swine rations will contain 2.5 to almost 3 percent fat. Each 20 pounds of supplemental fat increases the fat content by 1 percent.
•Question from Bob in TX
Can you discuss the protein, lysine and fat levels for showpigs from 50 lbs to show day?
Also, explain the difference in feeding showpigs in the summer VS winter.
Thanks-
• Waynes Answer
INTRO TO PROTEIN & LYSINE
Pigs do not have a specific requirement for crude protein but rather for the subunits of protein called amino acids. There are 20 amino acids that are important for the makeup of protein in swine rations. Ten are essential and must be provided in the diet. If any of these are not provided, then protein synthesis cannot occur beyond the rate of which any amino acid is available. That is the limiting amino acid, and the amino acid most likely to be first limiting is lysine. For this reason, protein levels of rations are formulated around lysine contents and both are required to be shown on feed tags.
PROTEIN, LYSINE FOR SHOW SWINE
Ideally, protein and lysine contents of a swine feed program should be decreasing as pigs grow and increase capacity to consume feed. Show feeds tend to be formulated high for protein/lysine contents because the consequences for over formulating are minimal. Being light on protein/lysine will result in reduced growth, poorer feed efficiency and decreased muscle mass and carcass leanness. This reduction in performance is greatest and most detrimental through the finishing phase.
ENERGY IN SHOW RATIONS
One of the most rapidly changing nutrients for show pigs is the fat content of finishing rations. The genetic selection of the past 5 to 10 years has resulted in heavy muscled and very lean carcasses. The show selection trend is towards slightly more finish and fat cover which creates an increasing dietary fat requirement for these high lean pigs. Along with the higher dietary energy, many pigs may require lower levels of protein/lysine to create this desired carcass condition.
SUMMER TIME FEEDING
Another situation that can call for higher energy rations is high ambient temperatures like those experienced in the summer. This seasonal heat will decrease feed intake and energy which decreases growth rate. Slower growing pigs will have a decreased protein/lysine requirement. Concentrating nutrition without addressing energy will not offset the effects of suppressed intake and slower growth. Elite Swine Products uses a couple of unique ingredients that along with being nutritionally digestible serve as potent appetizers that enhance intakes. In the summer, it is best to keep pigs comfortable with drip cooling, sprinklers or other methods to cool pigs and keep feed intake up.
BOTTOMLINE
Each show pig has unique nutritional requirements. The Elite Swine Program starts with a growing-developing lysine level of 1.35% and fat content of 5%. Finishing lysine and fat contents are formulated for 1.00% and 7.0%, respectively. From those base lines, the Elite Swine Program has the nutritional flexibility to tailor feeding programs to the needs of customers and their show animals. |
| |
|
|
|
| Submit Your Question |
|
|