1995 . Volume 18, Number 3
1995 . Volume 18, Number 3
Many swine producers implement a nursery feeding program that uses three or four diets, and others may use up to five in a segregated early-wean system. Typically, the first two diets, generally termed Phase I and II, are highly complex and very expensive. Producers must make judicious use of these diets in order to remain cost competitive. Table 1 demonstrates the performance levels one might expect from young pigs at various weights and ages, and Table 2 provides examples of five diets that might be typically used in commercial swine production. In order to demonstrate an effective target feeding strategy an example will be used to demonstrate how to calculate feed allotments under a this model system.
| Liveweight., lb. | Total, lb. | Expected performance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | Start | Fin | Intake | Gain | Gain, lb./d | Feed, lb./d | Feed:gain |
| 4-8 | 2 | 5 | 1-3 | 1-3 | .25 | .25 | 1.00 |
| 15 | 5 | 10 | 5.5 | 5 | .33 | .37 | 1.10 |
| 12 | 10 | 15 | 6.1 | 5 | .43 | .53 | 1.22 |
| 8 | 15 | 20 | 6.7 | 5 | .62 | .83 | 1.34 |
| 7 | 20 | 25 | 7.3 | 5 | .69 | 1.01 | 1.46 |
| 7 | 25 | 30 | 7.9 | 5 | .77 | 1.22 | 1.58 |
| 6 | 30 | 35 | 8.5 | 5 | .85 | 1.44 | 1.70 |
| 5 | 35 | 40 | 9.1 | 5 | .93 | 1.69 | 1.82 |
| 5 | 40 | 45 | 9.7 | 5 | 1.00 | 1.94 | 1.94 |
| 5 | 45 | 50 | 10.3 | 5 | 1.02 | 2.10 | 2.06 |
| 50 | 12 | 50 | 63.2 | 38 | .76 | 1.27 | 1.66 |
| aThis table gives expected performance for pigs fed high quality
diets as described in Table 2 and maintained under a good nursery environment. |
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| Ingredient | SEW 4-8 lb. | Phase Ia 8-12 lb. | Phase Ib 12-17 lb. | Phase II 17-25 lb. | Phase III 25-50 lb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 740 | 850 | 950 | 1110 | 1200 |
| Soybean meal, 48% | 300 | 300 | 340 | 400 | 630 |
| Dried whey | 600 | 500 | 400 | 200 | — |
| Fish meal, menhaden select | 85 | 85 | 105 | 120 | — |
| Dried blood plasma | 100 | 80 | 20 | — | — |
| Dried blood meal | 30 | 40 | 40 | 20 | — |
| Fat | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| Deflourinated phosphate | 26 | 29 | 22 | 24 | 42 |
| Antibiotic | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Limestone | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| Br-St vitamin/minerals | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Salt | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Lysine-HCl | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Copper sulfate | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DL-methionine, 98% | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| Total | 2001 | 2004 | 2000 | 2000 | 2005 |
| aAcronymns used for diets are indicators of nursery management
strategy. For example, SEW is for segregated early-weaned pigs, where weaning age is 10 to 14 days. Phase Ia might typically be used for pigs weaned between 14 and 20 days age, and the Phase Ib might be used from 20 to 24 d age. |
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Our model farm weans 24 sows nursing 10 pigs each at an average of 21 d age and 12 lbs. We will use assume that the Phase Ib through Phase III diets provided in Table 2 are used in our current feeding strategy. Accordingly, our goal is to get pigs from 12 lb. (our weaning weight) to the target of 17 lb., which requires 5 lb. of weight gain. Using Table 1 we find that pigs weighing between 10 and 15 lb. will convert feed to gain at about 1.2:1, so we can believe it will take about 3.7 lb. of feed (3 lb. gain × 1.2 = 3.66) to get pigs to 15 lbs. Also, for pigs in the range of 15 to 20 lb. we find that feed efficiency is about 1.3:1, which suggests that it will take 2.7 lb. of feed (2 lb. gain × 1.34 = 2.68) to get pigs from 15 to 17 lb. Thus, the total feed quantity of Phase Ib to feed in order to get pigs from 12 to 17 lb., or 5 lb. of weight gain, is 6.4 lb. Using similar calculations we can compute the amount of Phase II necessary to get pigs from 17 to 25 lb. ( 3 lb. gain × 1.34 + 5 lb. gain × 1.46 = 11.32 lb. of Phase II), which is 11.32 lb. In our model system we are weaning 240 pigs into a nursery room, and need to supply 1,536 lb. of Phase Ib and 2,717 lb. of Phase II. Typically, the exact quantity allotted will dependent upon feed plant batch sizes, delivery quantities, and other management restrictions.
Target feeding strategies can be implemented in all phases of swine production, which makes feed delivery a little more straightforward from a feed mill standpoint. However, as the pig grows, the amount of variance in daily feed intake increases due to changes in health status, differences among genetic sources, and environmental/temperature fluctuations. For example, in winter months, the quantity of Phase III diet fed during a 7 wk nursery grow-out will be significantly higher than in the summer. As a consequence, target feeding the Phase III diet and planning feed deliveries is certainly a greater challenge than for the Phase I or Phase II diets. The end result is that many producers that use a target feeding strategy will only implement it on the Phase I and Phase II diets, and allow the quantity of Phase III to vary according to when pigs are moved from the facility.
Another point to consider when implementing a target feeding strategy is the weight distribution of pigs entering the nursery. Although the average weight may be 12 lb., the smallest pigs may weigh 9 lb. and the heaviest 15 lb. In order to effectively capitalize on the higher quality nursery diets, we must distribute the feed according to weight of the pigs. For example, we want to target 6 lb. of the Phase Ib for our 12 lb. pigs in order to get them up to 15 lb. Although some of the pigs already weigh 15 lb., we will probably want to give them 1 to 2 lb. of the Phase Ib to get them started. Furthermore, for pigs weighing 9 lb., we will want to supply 7 to 9 lb. of feed in order to achieve the 15 lb. target. Knowing that pigs are penned by size or weight, it is very practical to distribute the feed within the room according to size (i.e., the smallest pigs receive more of the Phase Ib than the larger pigs). The weight/size distribution of the pigs probably is very consistent across groups, which makes planning the amount to feed each pen very easy.
In summary, target feeding nursery pigs will allow producers to capitalize on the value of high quality feeds for the very early weaned pig, while reducing the risk of overfeeding these expensive diets. This type of system is a very good management tool which can facilitate better management of feed manufacturing and delivery. Target feeding will also facilitate the determination of optimal cost feeding strategies in the nursery.
Jeffrey A. Hansen