Feed Products - Swine

Numerous products are available to meet swine nutritional requirements, including customized formulations. Products can include:

• Supplements
• Base mixes
• Premixes
• Pelleted starters
• Customized formulations

Call us at 1-800-533-2228 or e-mail us at feeds@hormel.com

Phytase in Swine Diets

Phytase is an enzyme that breaks down the undigestable phytate portion in grains and oil seeds releasing more nutrients for the pig. The results of numerous feed trials have shown that phytase releases phosphorus, calcium, trace minerals and protein from the phytate complexes in animal feeds. Phytase can reduce phosphorus excretion by over 30%., thus reducing environmental pollution of phosphorus. Nitrogen excretion can also be reduced. As a result, a reduction in more expensive feed ingredients results in improving profitability of livestock (swine) and poultry production. The Hormel Feed Division now offers a number of swine supplements, base mixes and premixes that include phytase.

Dried Distillers Grain with Solubles Feeding Value for Swine

Pork producers that are using high quality, golden colored corn DDGS in their swine diets, are currently adding it at a level of 10% in gestating and lactating sow diets, as well as grow-finish diets, and achieve excellent performance. Some pork producers also add high quality corn DDGS to nursery diets at a level of 5% for pigs weighing at least 15 pounds body weight with excellent results. Studies conducted at the University of Minnesota have demonstrated that higher levels of corn DDGS can be added to swine diets without compromising performance or carcass quality. These recommendations assume that high quality DDGS is free from mycotoxins and diets are formulated on a digestible amino acid and available phosphorus basis. The risk of mycotoxins in corn DDGS is very low because many ethanol plants monitor incoming corn for the presence of mycotoxins as part of their quality control program. Based upon these results the maximum recommended feeding level for high quality corn DDGS is swine diets are shown below.

Typical Analysis for High Quality
Corn DDGS (100% Dry Matter Basis)

The nutrient content of DDGS can vary by source and over time even within plants. Much of the variation can occur among varieties and geographic location where it is grown.

High Energy Swine Feeds
Feed Intake

Feed intake is used synonymously with feed disappearance from feeders or 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 five 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 proportionally.
  ==> 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 feed 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.
  
  
• Gestation Feeding
  ==> Sows that are overfed during gestation exhibit reduced feed intake during lactation.
  ==> The excess energy consumed during gestation is stored as fat and used during lactation, resulting in greater lactation weight loss.
  ==> Sows that are too fat at farrowing may cause management difficulties and are more likely to crush their pigs.
  
  
• Feed Acceptability
  ==> Pigs may reduce intake or rufuse to eat when the diet contains unpalatable or objectionable ingredients.
  ==> Certain odors, flavors and tastes may contribute to reduced feed intake.
  ==> Small quantities of mold and / or mycotoxin contaminated feeds may dramatically reduce intake.
  ==> Stale feed may be unacceptable to pigs. Fresh feed will encourage pigs to eat more.
  
  
• Other Factors
  ==> Crowding, limited feeder space and disease can often reduce intake.
  ==> Altering nutrient density will not overcome reductions resulting from overcrowding.
  ==> Feeder design may influence consumption but probably play a greater role in managing feed wastage.

REF: Nebraska and South Dakota Swine Nutrition Guide; November, 1995; Pages 20 - 21.

Molds and Mycotoxins of Concern in Swine Diets

This has been discussed in previous Hormel Feed Newsletters, but is worth a second look. Factors other than variation in nutrient content can affect corn quality and its subsequent feeding value. Under the right growing conditions, certain fungi (molds) and mycotoxins can invade corn and pose potential feeding problems. Mold spores are generally spread by water and air and can come in contact with plants in the field or with corn grain in storage facilities or feeders. Mold or fungi contamination is the cause of reduction in grain storage quality from a grading or marketing standpoint. Consumption of corn grain that contains only fungal growth generally will not harm livestock. Instead, most problems result from consumption of mycotoxins produced from specific fungi growing in corn or mixed diets. Until a laboratory test proves otherwise, the safe approach is to assume mycotoxins are present in grain when mold growth appears.

The fungus that can cause the majority of problems for Midwestern pork producers is Fusarium. Fusarium molds can produce the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) and zearalenone. Cool, wet weather conditions favor Fusarium growth, whereas Aspergillus (mold that produces aflatoxin) grows best in hot, humid weather and more often affects grains grown in the Southeastern U.S. If mycotoxins problems are suspected, it is vital to contact a qualified laboratory and submit corn samples for analysis that best represent the total volume of corn to be fed. The laboratory should include both a qualitative and quantitative analysis for mycotoxins. There is little research data available to tell the exact degree of performance loss that should be expected when varying levels of certain mycotoxins are present in the diet. It is known that quite low levels of mycotoxins can adversely affect swine performance. Recommended maximum concentrations of vomitoxin, zearalenone and aflatoxin in swine diets are present below.

Pig Deoxynivalenol ppm Zearalenone ppm Aflatoxin ppb Breeding Herd 1.0 2.0 100 Young 1.0 1.0 20 Growing 1.0 1.0 - -* Finishing 1.0 3.0 200 Young Males 1.0 3.0 - -* Old Males 1.0 3.0 - -* *Concentrations not determined.

Ref: 57th Minnesota Nutrition Conference Proceedings: September,
1996: J. D. Hawton: University of Minnesota: Pages 269-294.