169 Minimizing Sow Feeding Cost While Enhancing Production

Abstract

Abstract Strategies to minimize sow feeding cost while enhancing production are important to the overall success of an operation. Feed to the sow breeding herd accounts for approximately 15% of the total feed use and cost within a production system. Thus, a 10% improvement in sow feed efficiency can represent 0.05 points in feed efficiency for the whole herd. While advancements in knowledge around sow nutrition have been gradual, improvements in sow reproductive performance, productivity, and body composition have been substantial, yielding a remarkably efficient contemporary sow. In fact, efficiency may be key to the success of implementation of strategies that minimize feed cost and at the same time enhance production in the sow herd. In terms of minimizing sow feed usage, an important strategy is to implement feeding levels according to a body condition score in gestation to prevent over-feeding and an over-conditioned herd. It is also crucial to assess feeding levels to open sows, either in wean-to-estrus interval or in the open pool, to avoid feed wastage with ad libitum feeding. Regular feed boxes calibration in gestation and feeder adjustments in lactation are critical to allow an adequate feeding level to sows, while preventing feed wastage. In terms of minimizing feed cost, it is important to review the energy, lysine, and phosphorus requirements of sows on a daily intake basis and account for average herd weight. That provides the opportunity to estimate the ideal balance between nutrient density and feeding level to minimize overall feed cost. In addition, it is critical to understand the impact of energy density and bulk density on overall feed cost. As reduced energy and bulk density ingredients are incorporated into the feed, feeding levels should be increased and could potentially offset feed costs savings. In a dynamic economic landscape, the strategies summarized here may aid in the goal of finding opportunities to minimize sow feeding cost but at the same time provide nutritional support that enables sows to fully express their production potential.