Lecture 13 - Swine Feeding & Nutrition Flashcards
True or False: Pigs are monogastric species with a well-developed cecum
True
True or False: Fermentation of soluble fiber occurs in the colon in pigs
False; soluble fiber is fermented in the small intestine (ileum) or the cecum
True or False; Fermentation of insoluble fiber largely occurs in the colon
True
What is the limiting amino acid in most swine diets?
Lysine
What is considered to be the most important cost in a farm? What represents a major portion of this cost?
FEED is considered a farm’s most important cost, and ENERGY represents a major portion of the formula’s cost
A pig that has not had babies or been bred
Gilt
What factor influences back fat at weaning?
Feeding in pregnancy and lactation
What is the correlation between back fat and longevity in sows?
Lower back fat thickness directly correlates with low reproductive performance
(Low reproductive performance = high culling rate)
What is “target gestation”?
The process of developing progeny to avoid excessive BCS at farrowing that may make farrowing difficult on the sow
What is “target lactation”?
The process of maximizing intake to produce enough milk for the piglets
True or False: Suckling sows should be fed to appetite from day 4 to 5 until weaning, and they should be at peak intake by day 10
True
What are some ways to encourage suckling sows to eat? (Multiple answers)
- Avoid over-feeding during gestation
- Keep house cool (once youngest piglets are >2 days old)
- Water freely available and always have fresh feed
- Feed at least 2x per day (ideally 3x)
- Provide 16 hours of light
Why is it important that all piglets get colostrum?
To provide energy/nutrients to avoid starvation, liquid to prevent dehydration, and antibodies to protect from infections
When are maternal antibodies highest in the sow’s milk?
At birth in colostrum (100%); percentage of maternal antibodies quickly tapers off after the first 24 hours (down to 20%) as composition of milk rapidly changes
True or False: Percentage of maternal antibodies in sow milk decrease by 25% after the first 4 hours
False; 50% decrease after the first 4 hours
MMA (mastitis/metritis/agalactia) may cause failure or low production of…
Colostrum
True or False: Piglet mortality is highly correlated with low/no colostrum intake
True
What are the 3 primary factors that affect colostrum intake?
- Birth weight (heavier piglets = more competitive)
- Birth order (earlier born piglets get more/less competing)
- Litter size (reduced individual intake with more mouths)
Gut closure can occur in piglets as early as 24 hours after birth - what does this mean for the piglet?
It is no longer capable of absorbing antibodies from the gut (through the colostrum)
Extra note: Colostrum intake in the first 6 hours = CRITICAL
What is the role of iron in the blood?
Absorption and transfer of oxygen
Why is iron supplementation important for piglets?
Piglets are born with limited iron supplies in their body, and milk does not contain iron
Pale white mm color, breathlessness, jaundice, scour (whiteness) around 3 weeks old, low growth rate/weaning weight are all clinical signs of which condition in piglets?
Anemia/Iron deficiency
How and where are iron injections given in the piglet?
(Name the injection route and anatomical location)
Intramuscularly into neck muscle
The method of supplementing diets of young livestock by offering feed while they are still nursing
Creep feeding
Why is creep feeding used in commercial livestock?
Creep feeding initiates digestive development (making weaning process smoother) and improves weaning intakes (which improves weaning weights)
(Extra info: Commercial livestock are weaned at 3 to 4 weeks instead of >10 weeks, and sow milk yield peaks at 3 weeks before declining)
What is a good protocol for creep feeding?
(When to start, amounts given, when to feed, etc.)
- Start around 16 days old
- Fresh, small amounts, 2x per day, small tray feeder
- Give while sow is feeding
- Keep feeder away from heated area, and head/rear of sow
- Remove any uneaten food
True or False: Uneaten creep feed can be given to any other pigs, and it is considered beneficial to sows (especially those on medication)
False; uneaten creep feed can ONLY be given to older pigs, and NEVER to sows (especially not those who are medicated)
What are the legal requirements (EU) for water in regards to suckling sows and piglets over 2 weeks old?
They must have PERMANENT access to sufficient quantities of FRESH water
How much water do sows require per day?
(Answer in liters)
20 liters (or more) per day
How should water be provided to suckling piglets?
Fresh/clean water should be given via a correctly positioned nipple or bowl-type drinker
(Extra note: Water pipe system should be drained about 10 days after farrowing, or linked to the sow line)
Poor performance, diarrhea, and infections associated with diet often occur as a result of low _______ ________
Feed intake
What are some factors that can cause post-weaning diarrhea?
- Losing maternal antibodies
- Moving to new environment
- Stress (many possible causes)
- Possible infection
- Food (change in flora or composition, too much/too little)
What is ZnO used for, and how much is generally used?
Used to prevent diarrhea at 10x the nutritional levels
True or False: To support piglet gut health in food transitions, feed should be low protein and consist of extruded soy, milk products, and fish meal (or other high quality protein)
True
True or False: The first week of feed for piglets should have a porridge-like presentation and be accompanied by electrolyte solutions
True
Temperature below which a resting pig must increase its metabolic rate from the basal level to meet environmental demands for heat (typically by using extra feed)
Lower Critical Temperature (LCT)
The range where temperature does not affect pig performance
Thermoneutral Zone
Describes the air temperature in the pen and the combined effects of air speed, floor type, air to wall temperature difference, and group size
Effective Environmental Temperature (EET)
________ temperatures can cause feed conversion to deteriorate, so the pig must eat more feed. Lighter pigs are more sensitive and vulnerable.
Cold
(Extra note: Growth rate unaffected when temperatures are only moderately low)
What can excessive air speed cause in pigs?
(Multiple answers)
- Reduced effective temperature
- Incorrect lying behavior
- Vices (such as tail biting)
How does pig lying behavior change based on temperature?
(Briefly describe for comfortable, cold, and very cold)
Comfortable = lying apart, on side, barely touching
Cold = lying on sternum
Very cold = huddling, lying on top of one another
What kind of lying behavior will you see in pigs during periods of draught (def: a constant current of unpleasantly cold wind)?
Aggressive behavior and tail-biting
