Swine nutrition Flashcards
An adult intact male pig is a ____
Boar
An adult intact female pigs is a ________
Sow
Farrowing is _________
The act of giving birth
A young intact female pig is a ______
Gilt
Young female that has not yet had babies
A castrated male pig is a _________
Barrow or shoat
What are the two most common feeds that pigs will get, and another nutrient they need to make their diet complete?
Corn and soybean meal
WATER - pigs have a high daily water requirement
What is the second most limiting nutrient to 100lbs in a pig?
Lipids - Energy
How many essential amino acids do pigs require in their diet? How are they supplemented to meet those needs?
They require ten essential FA and those needs will all be met in their mixture or corn and soybean meal - no additional supplementation is required
What is the limiting amino acid in the swine diet?
Lysine
T/F: Corn is a good source of lysine
FALSE
Corn is low in lysine, but soybean meal can make up for that
What are the main nutrient sources of energy for pigs?
Carbs and oils/fats
Energy density of the diet determines the level of _________
Intake
- high energy diet = reduced intake
- high fiber diet = increased intake
The first limiting nutrient up to 100lbs is _______
Protein
Pigs will eat to _______ their energy requirments
meet
T/F: Many pigs are fed ad lib, bc they will eat to meet their needs
TRUE
*changes will be made for breeding sows and boars
The addition of what vitamins to a pigs diet has been shown to make them perform better?
B vitamins
Extra 10% added to feed
What are the important fat soluble vitamins?
A
D
E
K
These can be added to feed - usually extra is added since they can decrease in potency over time when being stored
What are the water soluble vitamins?
B12 Miacin Riboflavin Biotin Folic acid Choline Pantothenic acid
What are some basic minerals that are required in the swine diet? Are they ever supplemented?
Calcium and Phosphorus
Sometimes calcium is supplemented with the addition with limestone
Adding extra of what two nutrients will help meat retain its color after slaughter?
Vitamin E and selenium
What kind of diet should pet pigs be fed?
A pet pig food that is from a feed store
Excessive table scraps, and dog/cat food should be avoided
What fatty acid is essential for pigs and specifically is good for their skin?
Linoleic acid
Why are large amounts of fiber usually not fed to pigs?
It will slow down the growing process
What change is made to the diet of a sow about ten - fourteen days before she is bred? What is the process called?
Flushing: increasing the feed intake 10 - 14 days before being bred. This is done to make sure her nutrient levels are at peak and will make her better suited for pregnancy
After farrowing, how should a sow be fed?
Feed to appetite - whatever mama wants
want to make sure the sow does not lose any body condition while lactating
T/F: Sows should have their feed increased 2-4 weeks prior to farrowing?
True
At want point after farrowing, is the sows food intake decreased?
When the piglets begin weaning (3-4 weeks old)
How is the weaned pig fed?
Typically ad lib - in the beginning it will typically have more milk products for palatabilty and protein since they just got off a strictly milk diet
What is phase feeding?
Adjusting the diet to the needs of the pigs as he grows
How does phase feeding affect the environment?
It will cut down on waste, nitrogen and phosphorus
More cases of pneumonia are noted in pigs that are raised indoors or outdoors?
Indoors
T/F: Feed intake is increase by 15% when pigs are raised/kept outdoors
True
They get more exercise and sometimes there is wastage of food when it is thrown on the ground
Is is better for growing pigs to grown to market, to be kept indoors or outdoors
Indoors
Lactase levels peak at what age in piglets?
2-3 weeks of age
What enzyme do piglets need to digest grain?
Amylase
They start making this enzyme as they get older
Why is swine nutrition important from a production standpoint?
To promote optimal performance to get optimal economic return
*want to grow pigs as fast as possible and get them to market as possible
At what age are most piglets weaned?
3-4 weeks of age
When does the active immunity of a piglet begin and peak?
starts at about 2 weeks and continues to increase
What are factors that can limit the potential of the early weaned pig?
Genetics
Health
Optimum nutrition through phase feeding
Grower rations are adjusted to what factors?
Sex, age, and genetic potential
What must you avoid in the gilt?
Over feeding
It makes it more difficult for them to get pregnant or give birth when they are obese
- when they do give birth they have a tendency to not eat and lose body condition making them less productive
What complications can be seen when gilts have too little weight gain?
Inability to sustain lactation
Delayed return to estrus and rebreeding
What are essential feed ingredients for lactating females?
Lysine - to have good protein function
Water
Fiber - helps prevent constipation
Why don’t you want a boar to get too fat?
That will decrease his breeding condition/potential
Anemia is a primary problem in what pigs?
piglets
Especially those that are born indoors and do not have access to soil
How do you treat or prevent anemia in piglets?
Supplement iron
It is best absorbed via injection
*given in the neck to avoid staining market meet
What is the most common vitamin deficiencies in pigs?
B vitamin deficiencies
This occurs because pigs don’t readily synthesize B vitamins in their GI tract
*need to be supplemented
If you have a “goose stepping” big, what is that indicative of?
Vitamin deficiency due to a poorly balanced diet
T/F: The substance that is present in the least amount relative to the demand, will limit the metabolic process
TRUE
What minerals can cause issues if they are not balanced in the diet?
Calcium and phosphorus
Should be Ca: 1-1.3 to P 1
What problem can occur if there is too much calcium in the diet?
It can tie up the zinc in the diet leading to a zine deficiency
What skin condition occurs with a zinc deficiency?
parakeratosis
bilateral abnormal keratinization of the skin - forming horny scales that start as brown spots
T/F: pigs required 5-10 ppm copper in their diet to improve their growth rate, but too much can be fatal
TRUE
Vitamin E supplementation has been shown to prolong ____ _____ of meat and improve ________
Prolong shelf life
improve color, less of a greasy appearance
*biological antioxidant
How long does it take a pig to reach market weight?
only 5 - 6 months
What is added to the diet to help digest phosphorus more efficiently? What other benefits are seen?
Phytase
This has been shown to increase growth by 5% or more and also decreased the odor and quantity of manure
What is the benefit of conjugated linoleic acid?
Can potentially decreased the unwanted back fat on pigs and also increase their immune system
