Swine Nutrition Flashcards
What is the average pig gestation
Average gestation: 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days
What is the average pig lactation
Average lactation: 3 weeks
What are 3 types of diets used for pigs? What type of systems use each type?
- Complete feed: TMR
o Commercial pigs
o Balanced to the level of amino acid = very customized
Made based off of genetics - Grain-based homemade feed + supplement or premix
o Backyard pigs - Produce-based homemade feed + supplement or premix
o Backyard pig/pet
o Veggie/food waste – common to develop malnutrition
What factors impact feeding your pigs
- Fed daily – must meet nutritional requirements
o Easy to feed them ok, hard to feed them great - Amount – depends on breed/age/sex/stage/nutrient density
- Depends on goals
o Commercial, show, outdoor small holder, backyard/pet, zoo - Cannot be raised on pasture alone
How does regulation of livestock feed influence feeding pigs
CFIA regulates all livestock feed
* Feeds Act – all feeds we give too pigs must comply
o Backyard owners often are not aware
* No feeding meat, meat byproduct to pigs (even though it is an omnivore)
o Infectious disease transmission (virus)
o Introduced because of foot and mouth disease
o Also Classical swine fever, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus
What are the ‘feed basics’ to know when feeding pigs
- Feed components:
o Nutrients (carbs, fat, protein)
Protein: incomplete protein (soy/field pea/canola)
Grain: barley, wheat, corn, oats
o Amino acids – supplemented because only fed incomplete protein
o Premix: Minerals/ Vitamins/Enzymes
o Supplement: protein/amino acid/vitamin/mineral/enzyme - Water
What is a plant based product that distributes viruses? How do we deal with it?
Plant based product that distributes viruses: soybean meal
- Trade restrictions on places with viruses – and if it is imported it is heated and properly processed
What are the basic feed components to know when feeding pigs
- Feed components:
o Nutrients (carbs, fat, protein)
Protein: incomplete protein (soy/field pea/canola)
Grain: barley, wheat, corn, oats
o Amino acids – supplemented because only fed incomplete protein
o Premix: Minerals/ Vitamins/Enzymes
o Supplement: protein/amino acid/vitamin/mineral/enzyme - Water
How many essential amino acids do pigs require and what is the most important?
- 10 essential amino acids for pigs (can’t synthesize)
o Lysine**
a significant driver of muscle growth
How is Pig Feed Formulated
- Set energy needs
- Set lysine amino acid ratio – depends on ingredient amount of lysine
a. May not need to prioritize if it is a pet but still needed for a balanced diet - Set other amino acids as a ratio to the amount of lysine
- Add vitamin and mineral (also enzymes to help with digestion)
What is the sow cycle
Sow Cycle
1. Gilt introduction
2. Puberty and genetically selected to enter mating program and bred to achieve specific desired outcome
3. Pregnancy
4. Lactation
5. Repeat – each stage requires different nutrients
What factors indicate a replacement gilt is ready to breed
- Average birth weight = 130-170kg, heavier = better to breed
- Breed on second estrus – usually 7 – 9 months
o Because reduced activation/development of mammary glands - Should be a BCS 3 – 3.5
What factors impact puberty onset
- Housing
- Movement
- Lighting
- Feed intake
- Feed quality
- Bear exposure (required for estrus induction)
- Genetics
Compare the consequences of if the gilt is too skinny or too fat
If Gilt is too skinny
* Weak/low weaning weight
* Poor return to estrus
* Smaller subsequent litter size
If Gilt is too fat
* Anestrus
* Dystocia
* Reduced appetite in lactation
* Poor milk production
What are the goals for feeding gilts
Goals for Feeding the Gilt
* Need to grow (bone growth and repro growth)
* Ensure they are sound
How should you feed gilts and what happens if they don’t
- Do not restrict feed or else
o Delayed puberty
o Lameness issue: Ca:P imbalance
o Repro problem – low backfat reserves
How do we feed pregnant sows
How do we feed:
* All sows to be in loose sow housing (in the next 4 years – government act)
* Use electronic sow feeders to allow feeding individually
What are the goals of feeding pregnant sows
Goals:
* Meet maintenance requirement/maintain BCS
* Meet needs for fetus/placenta growth
* If young then they also need to grow
What are the consequences of overfeeding a pregnant sow
Overfeeding
* Reduced feed consumption during lactation/excess weight loss in lactation
* Poor udder development (verry large teats – can’t get in baby’s mouth)/reduced milk production
* Reduced herd longevity
* Stillbirth (sows tired during birth – birth can be from 6-12hrs)
How much to feed a pregnant sow
How much to feed
* Daily feed = maintenance + back fat gains + fetal growth
* Later in gestation they need more lysine and Ca (also younger parity animals need more)
What is a bedding material that can impact sows
Don’t give pigs straw: they will eat it and it will fill the spiral colon/cecum (excess fibrre)
* Difficult to measure intake of food
What is the goal of feeding lactatting sows
Goal
* Avoid negative energy balance
* Meet maintenance requirements
* Optimize litter performance
What are the conssequnces of underfeding lactating
- Extended wean to eestrus interval
- Smaller litter size
- High culling rate of sows
How much to feed a lactating sow
- Commercial: ad lib
- Generally: 1.5kg per sow and + 0.5 kg per piglet