Abstract
A total of 283 pigs (PIC TR4 × 1050, initially 77.2 ± 1.4 lb BW) were used to compare phase feeding with blending finishing diets by using the FeedPro system (Feedlogic Corporation, Willmar, MN). There were 3 experimental treatments: (1) a standard 4-phase complete feed program, (2) blending highand low-lysine complete diets over the entire experiment, and (3) blending ground corn and a separate complete supplement within each phase. FeedPro is an integrated feed dispensing system that can deliver and blend 2 separate diets while dispensing. The 4 phases were 77 to 120, 120 to 175, 175 to 221, and 221 to 278 lb. Each treatment had 12 replicate pens and 8 pigs per pen. Overall (77 to 278 lb), ADG and ADFI were similar (P > 0.24) across treatments. However, pigs fed the ground corn-supplement blend had poorer (P 0.70) in HCW, percentage yield, and loin depth across treatments. Pigs fed using phase feeding of the ground corn-supplement blend had greater (P 0.28) statistical differences in total revenue and income over feed costs (IOFC) across treatments. However, the highest IOFC was obtained from diet blending, which had a numeric advantage of $1.44 to $2.32/pig over other treatments. In conclusion, the FeedPro system blended separate complete diets and a ground corn-supplement combination without adversely affecting growth performance and carcass characteristics.
Highlights
Pig growth and efficiency are maximized and nutrient excretion is reduced when pigs are fed diets that match their nutrient requirements
The highest income over feed costs (IOFC) was obtained from diet blending, which had a numeric advantage of $1.44 to $2.32/pig over other treatments
For Phase 3 (175 to 221 lb), F/G was higher (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the cornsupplement blend than for pigs fed with phase feeding of complete diets or with diet blending
Summary
Pig growth and efficiency are maximized and nutrient excretion is reduced when pigs are fed diets that match their nutrient requirements. The optimal concentration of nutrients required by growing pigs generally decreases over the growing-finishing period, and phase feeding is practiced to accurately adjust to these requirements. Phase feeding commonly involves feeding a series of 2 to 5 diets, each differing in energy or amino acid balance to match nutrient requirements at each phase. Blend feeding, which involves mixing 2 base diets in proportionate ratios, can potentially increase the number of phases to more accurately meet pigs’ nutrient requirements. Recent automatic feeding systems, such as the FeedPro system, have dietblending capabilities that provide a practical means of feeding diets in multiple phases. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the benefits of complete diet blending in multiple phases by using an automatic feeding system
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