Newsletters

April, 2005

Optaflexx® Available For Use
In Beef Cattle

Optaflexx (Ractopamine Hydrochloride) has been cleared for use in beef cattle. Optaflexx is a registered trademark of Elanco Animal Health. It can be utilized by itself, or in combination with Monensin or Monensin and Tylosin. It should be fed continuously for the last 28 to 42 days on feed. The use level is 70 - 430 mg/head/day. The claim for Optaflexx is for increased rate of weight gain, improved feed efficiency and increased carcass leanness. It is not for animals intended for breeding. If fed in combination with Monensin or Monensin and Tylosin all the normal warnings and cautions that apply to those two additives also apply with Optaflexx included.

WHOLE COTTONSEED
IN DAIRY DIETS

Many dairymen like to include whole cottonseed in their lactating cow diets. Whole cottonseed is a unique ingredient in that it furnishes good levels of protein, energy and fiber in a form that cows find palatable. It does tend to vary in its nutrient analysis and has a problem with a toxin named gossypol. The average amount of free gossypol in cottonseed kernels is 0.89%. Most nutritionists suggest free gossypol should be kept below 24 grams/cow/day to be safe. Most of the gossypol is contained in the kernel of the cottonseed. Stick to 6 pounds (or less) per cow daily. Don't go over 10 pounds of seed and meal together. Don't feed cottonseed to bulls.

Typical Nutrient Profile For 2005 Corn (As Fed)
(Minnesota - Iowa - Wisconsin)

Swine Feed Intake

Feed intake tends to be synonymous with feed disappearance from feeders and storage bins. It includes feed that is eaten and feed that is wasted and probably overestimates actual feed consumed. A number of factors may alter feed consumption, resulting in greater or lesser amounts of feed consumed than expected. Pigs consume feed in meals. As pigs advance from weaning to slaughter weight, meal frequency decreases from about 12 to 5 meals per day. Factors that can affect feed consumption are listed below:

Energy Density

• Pigs typically eat until their energy requirement is satisfied.
  
• Adding fat to a diet reduces feed intake because energy density increases.
• Fibrous feeds dilute energy density. Energy dilution can be of particular concern for pigs under 80 pounds and for most lactating sows.

Temperature

• As environmental temperature increases from comfortable to moderately stressful, feed consumption declines proportionately.
• Heat stress causes a reduction in feed consumption.
• Decreasing temperature tends to increase consumption. Cold stressed pigs may not grow well because they can't eat sufficient amounts of energy above their maintenance requirement.
  

Gender

Probably not of practical importance until pigs weigh about 80 pounds.
Barrows will consume more than gilts.

Genetics

• Genetic lines selected primarily for improved feed efficiency or leanness may be indirectly selected for low feed consumption.
• It is not possible to make general statements about differences in feed intake among genetic lines. Feed intake patterns should be determined from previous records.
  

Weaning

• Restricted consumption at weaning is common and the principal cause of post-weaning lag.
  
• Diets should be highly palatable at this stage.
  
  

Amino Acids

• Pigs fed diets that are not balanced for amino acids may exhibit reduced intake.
• The severity of reduced intake can depend on the amino acid involved.
  

METRIC CONVERSIONS

DID YOU KNOW??

Where did Wall Street get its name? Free-roaming pigs were notorious for rampaging through the grain fields of colonial New York City farmers. The Manhattan Island residents chose to limit the forays of those notorious hogs by erecting a long, permanent wall on the northern edge of what is now Lower Manhattan. A street came to border this wall - aptly named, Wall Street.

 
For More Information
Contact:
Hormel Foods Corporation
Feed Division
1 Hormel Place
Austin, MN 55912
PH: 800-533-2228
Website: www.hormelfeeds.com