Nutrition Flashcards
Diet type of pigs
Omnivorous monogastrics
Can utilise a wide range of plant and animal material
What do pig diets contain
High energy cereals
Vegetable proteins
Animal protein
Fats
Vitamins and minerals
What issues can cerealsprocessed to increase digestibility cause?
Gastric ulcers
Other clinical problems
Mortalities
Nutrient content of pig diets
DE (difgestible energy)
CP (crude protein)
% lysine
What amino acid are pig diets always supplemented with?
Extra lysine
It is the first limiting amino acid in the pig
Cereals are LOW in lysine
Target sow BCS at weaning
3 (2.5)
Target sow BCS at farrowing
3.5-3.75
Should not enter the farrowing house with a BCS <3
Thin sow syndrome
Inadequate bodily condition to function properly
Feeding too little (or too much) in pregnancy
Feeding too little in lactation
Bullying
Excess energy loss (cold)
Parasitism
Decubital ulcers (pressure sores) in thin sores
Thin layers of subcut fat
Animals housed on concrete
Particularly common during indoor farrowing
Most common over the shoulder
May also be present over hips and on back
Typical performance figures for grower-finisher pigs
Daily gain from birth ~700g/d
Genetic potential ~1100g/d
Average FCE: 2.5
Genetic potential: 2.0
Dry feed pellets for grower finisher pigs
more expensive than meal
less dust in the environment (improved health)
less feed wasted so FCE is better
suitable for floor feeding
flows well in hoppers and feed bins
heat treatment can improve digestibility
may cause problems with colitis
Dry feed meals for grower finisher pigs
Cheaper
dusty environment
high wastage
unsuitable for floor feeding
may ‘bridge’ in hoppers and feed bins
wet feed for grower finisher pigs
effective use of by-products
illegal to feed catering waste
FCE improvements of 3-8% possible
Advantages of floor feeding grower-finisher pigs
Cheap
economical utilisation of floor space
encourages natural feeding behaviour
Dis-advantages of floor feeding grower-finisher pigs
Wasteful
frequent feeding
variable pig size
