SWINE RATIONS

I. Breeding Herd

A. Boars

1. Protein requirement ↓ with maturity (18% at 50# to 14% at >220# BW)

2. Reduce energy intake during non-breeding season (add fiber, or restrict intake)

3. feed intake 10 to 14 days before breeding season

B. Sows & Gilts

1. Pregestation

a) feed replacement gilts with market hogs until 200 lb and then separate and restrict energy intake to 60-75% of ad-libitum until breeding. This allows for normal growth but decreases fat deposition.

2. Breeding

a) Gilts

(1) Flushing - increased energy intake around breeding (2 fold)

(a) 10 days before breeding and stop immediately after breeding

(b) improved health

(c) ovulation rate

(d) increased live embryos

b) Sows

(1) usually bred at first estrus after weaning; sow has been fed a high energy lactation diet. Simply decrease intake at weaning

3. Gestation

a) restrict energy, but not other nutrients last 1/3 of gestation

b) increase intake for gilts, for sows a constant diet appears effective (12% CP recommended - NRC)

c) How to restrict Energy Intake

(1) Individually feed - no competition & feed to individuals pig need

(2) Feed high fiber - low energy diet (free-choice)

(3) Compounds that regulate appetite (3.5% CaCl in the diet)

(4) Every third day feeding

(a) gilts should have more access (24 hr. feeding) than sows (8hr. feeding)

(b) èDo not mix sows with gilts

4. Lactation

a) Demands of milk production must be met

b) Added fat (6-8%) 10-15% is optimal - but feed deteriorates and feed is sticky (use 0-10 day prior to and 0-21 day after farrowing)

Benefits	Considerations
- fat content of colostrums	- expensive
- concentration of pigs liver glycogen	- little effect on liter size at birth, birth wts., or weaning wts.
- slight in piglet carcass fat at birth	(survivability??)
- improves baby pig survival