Feeding and nutrition of fattening pigs

Question 1

When does the fattening period begin and end?

Answer 1

Begins at day 90 around 30kg

End on day 180 around 120kg

** at day 90 there is selection- will the pig be used for fattening or for breeding

Question 2

Fattening

Answer 2

Misleading term as it is actually a period of muscle inbuilding

• Pork: sold at 16 wks and at 60-75kg
• Bacon swine: sold at 22 wks and at 80-85kg
• Heavy hog: sold at 26wks and at 90-120 kg

Question 3

E requirement (6)

Answer 3

• In the form of DE
• Needs to cover maint and growth
• It incr with the BW: 1kg of protein requires 45.7 MJ of DE and 1kg of fat requires 55.7 MJ of DE
• Sources: carbs, fats and oils- avoid proteins
• Summer: fat is more economocal*
• Winter: fibre is more economical*

* in terms of heat generation

Question 4

Protein and AA requirement

Answer 4

What is the quality of a protein determined by:

• Digestibility
• Biological value: the % of digested proteins that are built into the pigs muscles e.g soybean is rich in protein (48%) but only 40-50% of these can be abs due to antinutritive compounds
• Antinutritive compounds

Lysine is the limiting AA

Question 5

Protein:E and what happens if the ratio is not balanced

Answer 5

How many g of protein there are to 1MJ of E

Initially: 14g of protein to 1MJ

At 30-50kg: 12g of protein to 1MJ

If the ratio is not balanced:

• E>protein: fat inbuilding
• E< protein: the proteins are burned and are transformed to fat

Question 6

Fat requirement

Answer 6

At least 3% but not too much as lime soap formation with Ca and Mg, hence decr the abs of these minerals

Linoleic acid:

• if >30kg 1.5g/kg
• if <30kg 0.7g/kg

Question 7

Fibre requirement

Answer 7

Influences digestibility and feed efficiency, hence the amount of meat produced

Incr fibre: decr digestibility and incr efficiency up to a certain point

Question 8

Water requirement

Answer 8

1 water nipple for every 15 piglets

20-60kg: 4L/day

60-115kg: 5.5L/day

Question 9

The BW and FI (as a % of BW) and avg daily growth (8)

Answer 9

• 20–5–500
• 30–4.8–625
• 40–4.6–750
• 50–4.4–790

The avg daily gain remains the same until 90kg, and the FI still remains decr by .2

Question 10

Recommended FI for growing and finishing pigs (11)

Answer 10

BW and Airdry forage mix

• 10–0.48
• 20–1.20
• 30–1.52
• 40–1.78
• 50–2.10
• 60–2.37
• 70–2.59
• 80–2.78
• 90–3.00
• 100–3.20
• 110–3.40

Question 11

Nutrient content of growing and finishing feed

Answer 11

Phase 1: 30-60kg

Phase 2: 60-120kg

DM% stays the same at 86%

DE MJ/kg stays the same at 14.2

CP % decr from 16.8 to 15

Question 12

Feeding methods and forms

Answer 12

ad lib until 50kg and then restriction

Transition from pellets to meal with age

Question 13

Growth promoters (6)

Answer 13

1. Copper sulphate
2. Flavouring materials e.g organic acids
3. Enzymes
4. Probiotics- promote the growth of good bact
5. Repartitioning agents- building in of proteins e.g L-carnithine
6. AB’s and growth promoters are banned in the EU

Question 14

What are the nutrient requirements to discuss when discussing fattening (6)

Answer 14

1. E requirement
2. Protein and AA requirement
3. Protein: E ratio
4. Fat requirement
5. Fibre requirement
6. Water requirement

Question 15

Methods of reducing stomach ulcers in pigs

Answer 15

Caused by a high proportion of fine particles in the feed, so give a coarse barley diet instead

Pelleted feeds and stress incr the risk

Is a welfare and economic issue