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November, 2007

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Meat & Bone Meal in Swine Diets

Porcine meat and bone meal can be a valuable addition to swine diets in terms of both performance and cost. Because of its unique combination of nutrients it can improve amino acid profiles, increase energy levels and provide an alternative source of minerals. When included in a least cost formulation for pigs weighing between 50 and 260 pounds, there is a potential savings of around $3.97 per ton of complete feed with current markets (11/2/07). Those numbers were obtained using least-cost diets with a Hormel® premix, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, corn, dehulled soybean meal, 55% meat and bone meal and synthetic lysine. Meat and bone meal was limited to a maximum of 5% of the total diet. Such a diet will reduce the amount dehulled soybean meal, dicalcium phosphate and calcium carbonate used. Lysine and energy values were kept the same for each phase of feeding.

Porcine meat and bone meal was trading at $275 per ton picked up at the plant (Austin, MN or Fremont, NE) of Friday, November 2, 2007 in semi-load lots.

Dollar Values Used For
Least-Cost Formulas

VTM Swine Premix	$94.45/cwt.
Lysine	$1.00/lb.
Corn	$3.23/bu.
Deh. Soybean Meal	$284/ton
55% Meat & Bone Meal	$275/ton
Salt	$3.00/cwt.
18.5% Dicalcium Phos.	$20.00/cwt.
Calcium Carbonate	$2.00/cwt.

Porcine meat and bone meal can be purchased in either bags or bulk. It can also be purchased included in a base mix where the additional ingredients needed to finish the diets are soybean meal, corn along with the base mix. Some of the Hormel Feed Division's more popular swine base mixes are BASEPAC® Swine Base Mix 2000 and BASEPAC Swine Base Mix 3000. A number of others are available. Porcine meat and bone meal is not a prohibited material for cattle and can be used in all species of livestock.

Suggested maximum use levels for porcine meat and bone meal are 5% for all stages of production. Gestation diets can include up to 10% of the total diet. Higher levels can be fed but, there is a concern about high mineral content and the level of Tryptophan can become limiting. Hormel meat and bone meal is processed from all fresh stock raw material. Ruminant meat and bone meal can also be used in swine diets but, may be of lesser value because of lower protein content and/or lower digestibility of amino acids present. As a quick rule of thumb meat and bone meal will have a price advantage in diets as long as it is within 110% of 44% soybean meal or 102.5% of dehulled soybean meal. Plus there is extra value in the extra mineral and energy.

Typical Nutrient Content of
Porcine Meat and Bone Meal

Protein	55.0%	Lysine	3.24%
Calcium	9.80%	Phosphorus	4.50%
Me/lb.	1,180 kcal	Fat	12.6%
Moisture	2.75%	Zinc, ppm	94.0
Net En/lb.	988.6 kcal	Iron, ppm	440

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