Pig Nutrition

Question 1

Legal Aspects of Pig Nutrition

Answer 1

Question 2

Why are there Legalities?

Answer 2

Question 3

Stages of Pig Cycle where nutritional changes occur

(6)

Answer 3

Question 4

Basic Nutrient Requirements

Answer 4

Question 5

Pig Food Facts: How much? (age and Intake)

Answer 5

Question 6

Feeding Gilts

Answer 6

Question 7

Lactating Sow

Answer 7

Question 8

BCS of Sows

Answer 8

Question 9

When to wean piglets? - the law

Answer 9

Question 10

Advantages and Disadvantages of Early Weaning

Answer 10

Question 11

Don’t Forget water!

Answer 11

Question 12

Indoor (pigs weaned per sow per year)

Answer 12

Question 13

Outdoor (pigs weaned per sow per year)

Answer 13

Question 14

Indoor v Outdoor

Answer 14

Question 15

Growing and Finishing: Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

Answer 15

Question 16

Essential aa’s

Answer 16

Question 17

Vitamins

Answer 17

Question 18

Mulberry Heart Disease

Answer 18

• Vitamin E/Selenium deficiency!
• This is a nutritional disease affecting the myocardium of pigs, causing sudden death in young pigs in good body condition.
• The cause is unknown but is thought to be due to a Vitamin E/Selenium deficiency in these animals.
• This would cause a lack of free radical scavenging, which would therefore allow haemorrhage into the myocardium.
• Death is due to an acute congestive heart failure

Question 19

Iron and Copper Levels in Sow Milk

Answer 19

Question 20

Particular Problems with Backyard Pigs

Answer 20

Question 21

The FCR

(equation)

Answer 21

FCR= Kg feed used / kg weight gain

• average: 2.31
• top 10%: 1.74

Question 22

Sows that are not receiving enough Calcium

Answer 22

• Sows starved of Calcium will result in a drop in milk yield, leading to starving and dying piglets (more so in winter when hypothermia can exacerbate starvation)
• In an attempt to mobilise calcium from the bones the sows suffer from osteoporosis, which often manifests as broken femoral heads

Question 23

Using Waste Milk to Feed Pigs

Answer 23

• Waste milk is problematic as it may contain antibiotic residues, potentially bringing in antimicrobial resistance onto the holding.
• If the milk is not from the own holding it has to be processed according to DEFRA regulations.
• The exact arrangements should be questioned.

Question 24

weaning piglets and starter feed

Answer 24

• Their digestive system is not ready to deal with fibre (so do not feed silage/veggie waste), the milk feeding should be followed by starter pellets (high in protein and easily high value ingredients, ideally creep fed pre-weaning) and then followed by rearer/finisher feed.
• At the later stages of rearing sources of fibre (like vegetables, dairy TMR) may have a place.

Question 25

How much concentrate does a lactating sow consume?

Answer 25

• 8-10 kg is the usual rate of sows in peak lactation (about 3 weeks post farrowing).
• The milk production is a metabolic challenge and to minimise body condition score loss an energy dense concentrate should be fed ad libitum.

Question 26

Avoiding Embryonic Reabsorption

Answer 26

• Avoiding any bullying including around feeding will decrease embryonic loss – the biggest factor of embryonic re-absorption is stress in early pregnancy.
• Restraint is limited for the short time of feeding only.
• Automated feeding systems using transponders also allow for individual feeding, but there is often competition around the feed stations.

Question 27

Which two of these are essential amino acids for the pig?

A. Lysine

B. Alanine

C. Glycine

D. Tyrosine

E. Methionine

Answer 27

• Lysine and Methionine