Average Pig Weight Research Articles

Effect of Percent Fines in Pelleted Diets on Growth Performance of Grow-Finish Pigs During Three Phases of Production

Swine feed is commonly pelleted to improve F/G, feed handling characteristics, and bulk density. However, the degree of improvement in F/G of pigs depends on pellet quality or the percent fines at the feeder. The objective of this study was to determine if the response to pellet quality was dependent on the BW range of grow-finish pigs. Therefore, a total of 350 pigs (initially 80 lb; line 600 × 241, DNA) were randomly placed in 35 pens with 10 pigs per pen (5 barrows and 5 gilts per pen). All pigs were fed a common diet until the onset of the first experiment. At this time, pens of pigs were weighed to determine average pig weight per pen and split into 7 blocks based on average pen weight. Treatments were randomly assigned to pens within block. There was a total of 5 treatments with 7 replications per treatment. For Exp. 1, 2, and 3, pigs were fed treatments for 20 days from 96 to 150 lb, 21 days from 179 to 234 lb, and 20 days from 260 to 317 lb, respectively. Between each experiment, a 10-day washout period was utilized to mitigate any residual effects from the previous experiment and pens were rerandomized to treatment before the start of each experiment. Treatments consisted of 10% fines (screened pellets), pellets with increasing fines inclusions (45, 65, and 85% fines), and mashed feed. Experiment 1 (96 to 150 lb) treatments contained 90.4, 67.6, 46.4, and 12.5% fines at the feeder. There was no evidence of differences in ADG or ADFI in pigs fed the mash diet compared to those fed any of the pelleted treatments. However, pigs fed pellets with 12.5% fines had improved (P < 0.05) F/G compared to those fed mash diets. Pig ADFI and total feed cost increased (linear, P > 0.006) in those fed pelleted diets with an increasing percentage of fines. Pigs fed pelleted diets with increasing percentage of fines (linear, P = 0.002) had poorer F/G. Experiment 2 (179 to 235 lb) treatments consisted of 86.0, 60.5, 43.6, and 15.5% fines at the feeder. There was no evidence of differences in ADG. Pigs fed 86.0% fines had a tendency for increased (P < 0.1) ADFI and poorer F/G when compared to the mash diet. Therefore, total feed cost increased (P < 0.05) for pigs fed pellets with 86.0% fines when compared to pigs fed the

Effect of Percent Fines in Pelleted Diets on Growth Performance of Grow-Finish Pigs During Three Phases of Production

Swine feed is commonly pelleted to improve F/G, feed handling characteristics, and bulk density. However, the degree of improvement in F/G of pigs depends on pellet quality or the percent fines at the feeder. The objective of this study was to determine if the response to pellet quality was dependent on the BW range of grow-finish pigs. Therefore, a total of 350 pigs (initially 80 lb; line 600 × 241, DNA) were randomly placed in 35 pens with 10 pigs per pen (5 barrows and 5 gilts per pen). All pigs were fed a common diet until the onset of the first experiment. At this time, pens of pigs were weighed to determine average pig weight per pen and split into 7 blocks based on average pen weight. Treatments were randomly assigned to pens within block. There was a total of 5 treatments with 7 replications per treatment. For Exp. 1, 2, and 3, pigs were fed treatments for 20 days from 96 to 150 lb, 21 days from 179 to 234 lb, and 20 days from 260 to 317 lb, respectively. Between each experiment, a 10-day washout period was utilized to mitigate any residual effects from the previous experiment and pens were rerandomized to treatment before the start of each experiment. Treatments consisted of 10% fines (screened pellets), pellets with increasing fines inclusions (45, 65, and 85% fines), and mashed feed. Experiment 1 (96 to 150 lb) treatments contained 90.4, 67.6, 46.4, and 12.5% fines at the feeder. There was no evidence of differences in ADG or ADFI in pigs fed the mash diet compared to those fed any of the pelleted treatments. However, pigs fed pellets with 12.5% fines had improved (P < 0.05) F/G compared to those fed mash diets. Pig ADFI and total feed cost increased (linear, P > 0.006) in those fed pelleted diets with an increasing percentage of fines. Pigs fed pelleted diets with increasing percentage of fines (linear, P = 0.002) had poorer F/G. Experiment 2 (179 to 235 lb) treatments consisted of 86.0, 60.5, 43.6, and 15.5% fines at the feeder. There was no evidence of differences in ADG. Pigs fed 86.0% fines had a tendency for increased (P < 0.1) ADFI and poorer F/G when compared to the mash diet. Therefore, total feed cost increased (P < 0.05) for pigs fed pellets with 86.0% fines when compared to pigs fed the

Comparison Of The Indigenous And Exotic Pure And Crossbred Sows In Southern Nigeria: Relationship Between Dam And Litter Performance

The study embraced the evaluation of reproductive efficiency of pure and crossbred exotic and indigenous sows of Nigeria. Characters studied were litter size at birth and weaning, survival at weaning, average pig weight, litter weights at 3,5 and 8 weeks of age and weight loss of the dams during lactation. Highly significant breed and seasonal effects were recorded in almost all traits studied on litter and piglet performance and the efficiency of milk utilization. No seasonal effect was reported for litter size, milk ingested per piglet and weight lost by the sow. Seasonal factors accounted for 0.43% of variation in litter size but 60.9% of litter weight. Breed differences accounted for 25.7% of birth weight and 59.8% of milk utilization efficiency and the sow age contributed 5.3% of pig birth weight and 36.0% of litter size variation. Pooled estimate indicated average pig birth weight of 1.14kg in the indigenous pigs and 1.54kg for the reciprocal Large White x Landrace piglets; average weaning weights ranged from 4.39 to 9.91kg and preweaning gain from 3.38 to 8.25kg respectively. Litter size at birth also varied from 5.2 in the landrace to 8.4 in the Duroc Large White cross with 4.6 and 7kg weights of pigs weaned respectively.

Cannula cricothyroidotomy in simulated ‘cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate’ scenarios using a live anaesthetised pig model

Despite limited evidence to guide cannot oxygenate, cannot oxygenate (CICO) management, support is growing for scalpel over cannula-based techniques.1 The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists continues to support both techniques and encourages regular CICO training.2 Our group conducts training where live anaesthetised pigs are used to recreate CICO scenarios. The porcine neck represents an impalpable anatomy model. We report a study of cannula cricothyroidotomy in simulated CICO scenarios using live anaesthetised pigs. Ethics approval was gained from both institutions, and all participants gave consent for inclusion in the study. Forty two anaesthetists were given comprehensive teaching based on the Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) CICO algorithm3. After cadaver training, each candidate was placed into a high-fidelity airway simulation. Under the management of veterinary anaesthetists, pigs were rendered apnoeic. When Spo2 decreased to 92%, candidates were instructed to gain immediate front-of-neck access after the RPH CICO Algorithm assuming impalpable anatomy (up to three attempts at cannula cricothyroidotomy within 1 min followed by a scalpel–finger–cannula technique). Percutaneous cannula cricothyroidotomy had a low success rate, with ability to re-oxygenate a hypoxaemic porcine model (SpO2>90%); highest at first attempt (first=29%). Second and third attempts had a declining ability to re-oxygenate (21% and 12%, respectively) because of critical hypoxaemia necessitating euthanasia. Percutaneous attempts (first, second, third) were started at 44, 84, and 131 s, respectively. With a successful first cannula, average time to re-oxygenation was 110 s. After three failed percutaneous cannulas, all participants performed a scalpel–finger–cannula technique, started at 166 s on average with a 44% re-oxygenate rate. Average pig weight was 16.2 kg (range 11–24 kg) with an internal tracheal diameter of 11 mm (range 9–15 mm). By following a CICO management algorithm, cannula cricothyroidotomy and scalpel-finger-cannula technique can be used to successfully ventilate and re-oxygenate a hypoxaemic ‘impalpable anatomy’ pig model. Percutaneous cannula cricothyrotomy can be swift but participants may fixate on performing additional percutaneous attempts at the expense of transitioning to scalpel-finger-cannula. Live animal simulation is an invaluable training tool that may help prepare anaesthetists for this rare, life-threatening emergency.

483 Effects of Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine on 7-15 Kg Nursery Pigs Growth Performance.

Lysine is the first limiting amino acid in swine diets, thus providing the appropriate level in the diet is critical to growth performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys requirement of nursery pigs from 15 to 35 lb. A total of 300 maternal line barrows (200 × 400, DNA, Columbus, NE; initially 14.9 ± 0.5 lb BW) were fed six experimental diets as part of a 21-d trial. Pigs were randomly allotted to pens at weaning based on BW, and were fed a common pelleted diet for 9 d after weaning. Pens were then randomly assigned to dietary treatments (10 pens/treatment with 5 pigs/pen) based on average pig weight. The six dietary treatments had increasing SID Lys (1.05, 1.15, 1.25, 1.35, 1.45, and 1.55%) and were achieved by increasing the inclusion of crystalline AA, allowing soybean meal to stay constant across dietary treatments. Experimental data were analyzed using general linear and non-linear mixed models with heterogeneous residual variances. Competing models included linear (LM), quadratic polynomial (QP), broken-line linear (BLL), and broken-line quadratic (BLQ). For ADG, F/G, and IOFC, the best-fitting model was selected using Bayesian information criterion. Overall, increasing SID Lys improved (linear, P 1.55%) SID Lys, respectively. For F/G, the best-fitting model was the LM where F/G was improved up to at least 1.55% SID Lys. For income over feed cost (IOFC), the best-fitting model was the BLL, in which the maximum mean IOFC was estimated at 1.25% (95% CI: 1.14, 1.36%). In conclusion, the estimated SID Lys required for maximum mean ADG of these maternal line barrows was lower than the estimated mean SID Lys required for maximum mean F/G. This study provides evidence that different response variables can result in different estimates of the requirements; however, at least 1.25% SID Lys was needed to maximize IOFC.

Effects of standardized ileal digestible tryptophan: lysine ratio on growth performance of nursery pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to estimate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Trp:Lys ratio requirement for growth performance of nursery pigs. Experimental diets were formulated to ensure that lysine was the second limiting AA throughout the experiments. In Exp. 1 (6 to 10 kg BW), 255 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 6.3 ± 0.15 kg, mean ± SD) arranged in pens of 6 or 7 pigs were blocked by pen weight and assigned to experimental diets (7 pens/diet) consisting of SID Trp:Lys ratios of 14.7%, 16.5%, 18.4%, 20.3%, 22.1%, and 24.0% for 14 d with 1.30% SID Lys. In Exp. 2 (11 to 20 kg BW), 1,088 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050, initially 11.2 kg ± 1.35 BW, mean ± SD) arranged in pens of 24 to 27 pigs were blocked by average pig weight and assigned to experimental diets (6 pens/diet) consisting of SID Trp:Lys ratios of 14.5%, 16.5%, 18.0%, 19.5%, 21.0%, 22.5%, and 24.5% for 21 d with 30% dried distillers grains with solubles and 0.97% SID Lys. Each experiment was analyzed using general linear mixed models with heterogeneous residual variances. Competing heteroskedastic models included broken-line linear (BLL), broken-line quadratic (BLQ), and quadratic polynomial (QP). For each response, the best-fitting model was selected using Bayesian information criterion. In Exp. 1 (6 to 10 kg BW), increasing SID Trp:Lys ratio linearly increased ( 0.05) ADG and G:F. For ADG, the best-fitting model was a QP in which the maximum ADG was estimated at 23.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [<14.7%, >24.0%]) SID Trp:Lys ratio. For G:F, the best-fitting model was a BLL in which the maximum G:F was estimated at 20.4% (95% CI: [14.3%, 26.5%]) SID Trp:Lys. In Exp. 2 (11 to 20 kg BW), increasing SID Trp:Lys ratio increased ( 0.05) ADG and G:F in a quadratic manner. For ADG, the best-fitting model was a QP in which the maximum ADG was estimated at 21.2% (95% CI: [20.5%, 21.9%]) SID Trp:Lys. For G:F, BLL and BLQ models had comparable fit and estimated SID Trp:Lys requirements at 16.6% (95% CI: [16.0%, 17.3%]) and 17.1% (95% CI: [16.6%, 17.7%]), respectively. In conclusion, the estimated SID Trp:Lys requirement in Exp. 1 ranged from 20.4% for maximum G:F to 23.9% for maximum ADG, whereas in Exp. 2 it ranged from 16.6% for maximum G:F to 21.2% for maximum ADG. These results suggest that standard recommendations may underestimate the SID Trp:Lys requirement for nursery pigs from 11 to 20 kg BW.

Effects of electrostatic particle ionization on air quality, emissions, and growth performance of pigs housed in a thermo-regulated facility (2014)

Two identical 200-head nurseries at the Kansas State University Segregated Early Weaning Facility were used for 5 consecutive all-in, all-out groups to determine the effect of electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) on air quality, emissions, and growth performance of pigs housed in a thermo-regulated facility. During five 6-wk periods (13 to 51 lb BW), the EPI system was used in one barn for a complete group and then used in the other barn for the next group. At the beginning of each 6-wk trial period, pigs were randomly allotted to pens based on average pig weight. Air measurements and pig growth were measured every week throughout the studies. Overall, when active, the EPI system reduced (P < 0.05) 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μ dust particles in the barn and dust particles/ft3 at the exhaust fan. There were no differences (P > 0.10) for in-barn air ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations and no significant differences (P > 0.10) in ammonia concentrations in the dust between the control and EPI barn. The EPI system tended to improve (P = 0.09) ADG, which led to a tendency for improved (P = 0.06) final BW. No differences were detected (P > 0.10) for ADFI or F/G. The EPI system improved barn and exhaust air by removing particulate matter from suspension, which tended to improve growth rate in 13- to 51-lb pigs.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 2014

Effects of copper sources (copper sulfate and Mintrex Cu) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, barn cleaning, and economics in finishing pigs (2014)

A total of 1,196 mixed-sex pigs (PIC 337 × 1050, initially 56.7 lb) were used in a 111-d study. Pens of pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a randomized incomplete block design, with 26 pigs per pen (similar number of barrows and gilts) and 7 to 8 pens per treatment. All diets contained 17 ppm copper from copper sulfate (CuSO4) in the premix and were formulated on a standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine basis at 0.05% below the estimated requirement of the average pig weight during each feeding phase. Treatments included a control diet with no added Cu, diets with either 50 ppm of added Cu from CuSO4 or Mintrex Cu (Novus International, Inc., St. Charles, MO), or 125 ppm of added Cu from CuSO4. The diet containing 50 ppm of Cu from Mintrex Cu and the diet with 125 ppm of Cu from CuSO4 were fed for either the first half of the finishing period (d 0 to 42), at which time they were switched to the control diet, or for the entire duration of the finishing period (d 0 to 111). Overall (d 0 to 111), ADG did not differ among treatments; however, pigs fed either 50 or 125 ppm of Cu from CuSO4 throughout the study had greater ADFI (P < 0.05) than pigs fed either the control or diet with 50 ppm of added Cu from Mintrex Cu fed only in early finishing. As a result, F/G was poorer (P < 0.05) for pigs fed either 50 or 125 ppm of added Cu from CuSO4 fed continuously compared with those fed 50 ppm of Cu from Mintrex Cu only in early finishing. Manure texture, and more importantly, pen wash time, did not differ among treatments, but manure buildup was 1.44 times more likely (P < 0.05) to occur in pens where pigs were fed 125 ppm of added Cu from CuSO4 for the first 42 d of the finishing period compared with those fed no added Cu. For carcass characteristics, pigs fed 50 ppm of Cu from Mintrex Cu in early finishing had reduced backfat (P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed the control or 50 ppm of added Cu from CuSO4 or Mintrex Cu throughout the study. For economics, pigs fed 50 ppm of Cu from CuSO4 throughout the study had a higher (P < 0.05) total feed cost than the

Effects of added zinc and copper on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs fed ractopamine HCl (2013)

A total of 253 finishing pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initial BW 204 lb) were used in a 28-d study to determine the effects of added Zn (Availa-Zn; Zinpro Corp., Eden Prairie, MN), Cu (Availa-Cu; Zinpro Corp.), or both to diets containing ractopamine HCl (RAC; Paylean; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments and balanced on average pig weight with 7 to 8 pigs per pen. Treatments included a control diet without RAC (negative control) and 4 diets containing 9 g/ton RAC with or without added Zn (50 ppm) or Cu (125 ppm) in a 2 × 2 factorial.

Effects of porcine circovirus type 2 and mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccines on nursery pig performance (2009)

A total of 360 weanling barrows (PIC 1050, 21 d of age and 13.0 lb) were used in a 35-d study to evaluate the effects of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) vaccines on nursery pig growth performance. Two commercial PCV2 vaccines were evaluated in this study: (1) a 2-dose product, Circumvent PCV (Circumvent; Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Millsboro, DE) and (2) a 1-dose product, Ingelvac CircoFLEX (CircoFLEX; Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc, St. Joseph, MO). For the M. hyo vaccine, RespiSure (Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY), a single 2-dose product, was used. At weaning (d 0), pens of pigs were blocked by average pig weight and randomly allotted to 1 of 6 treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement composed of a combination of PCV2 vaccine (Circumvent, CircoFLEX, or non-PCV2-vaccinated control) and M. hyo vaccine (RespiSure or non-M. hyo-vaccinated control). There were 5 pigs per pen and 12 pens per PCV2 × M. hyo vaccine treatment. All vaccines were administered according to label directions—CircoFLEX at weaning and Circumvent and RespiSure at weaning and 21 d later. Common diets were fed by phase to all pigs.

Lactational Performance for Improving Postweaning Reproductive Performance and Lifetime Performance on Swine Commercial Farms

We studied the associations of the weaning litter weight (WLWt) and number of pigs weaned (PW) with measurements of postweaning reproductive performance and examined the repeatability of WLWt, PW and average pig weight at weaning (PIGWt) on commercial swine farms. This study spanned 6 years and was conducted using 57,611 weaning records from 11,574 sows born in 1999 on 92 farms. Variance components analysis was used to determine the repeatability of measurements of lactational performance. Mixed-effects models were used to analyze the associations of measurements of lactational performance with farrowing rate and weaning-to-first-mating interval. The values for repeatability of WLWt, PIGWt and PW were 0.31, 0.34 and 0.17, respectively. No differences in weaning-to-first-mating intervals were found among the five PW groups (< or = 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, 11 and 12 to 14 pigs) or among the three WLWt groups (< or = 48.0, 48.0 to 69.0 and > or = 69.0 kg). Sows with 12 to 14 PW had farrowing rates similar to those with 9 to 11 PW. Sows with a WLWt > or = 69.0 kg had the highest farrowing rate (P<0.01). However, sows with 11 PW had an approximately 100 to 200 g lighter PIGWt than those with 4 to 10 PW (P<0.01). This study suggests that increased WLWt and PW do not impair postweaning reproductive performance, but instead decrease PIGWt.

Evaluation of a pcv2 vaccine on finishing pig growth performance and mortality rate (2007)

A total of 2,553 pigs (PIC L337 × C22) were used in two experiments in a commercial research barn to evaluate the effects of a commercially available Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) vaccine on finisher pig growth rate, feed efficiency, and mortality rate. Pigs in Exp. 1 were vaccinated at 9 and 11 wk of age while pigs in Exp. 2 were vaccinated earlier at 5 and 7 wk of age. In Exp. 1, 1,300 pigs were individually weighed and the vaccine treatment administered 15 and 1 d before being placed on test in the finisher. In Exp. 2 1,253 pigs were used and randomly allotted based on nursery pen average pig weight and the vaccine treatment administered 41 and 27 d before being placed on test in the finisher. Pen weights were obtained on d 0 and every 2 weeks until the end of the trial. Feed intake was recorded on a pen basis. In Exp 1, growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency, and mortality were improved (P<0.05) in vaccinated pigs compared to unvaccinated pigs. In Exp. 2, there was a vaccine by sex interaction (P<0.01) for ADG 2. The interaction was the result of the vaccine increasing ADG to a greater extent in barrows than in gilts. The interaction for ADG resulted in a vaccine by sex interaction for market weight (P<0.05). Vaccinated barrows were 10.6 lb heavier compared to unvaccinated control barrows while vaccinated gilts were only 2.1 lb heavier than unvaccinated gilts at market. In Exp. 2, ADFI and F/G were numerically better and mortality rate was decreased for vaccinated pigs compared to control pigs. In both experiments, mortality rates were lower (P<0.05) in vaccinated pigs. Vaccinated pigs had 2.6 and 5.9% less mortality than non-vaccinated pigs in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. The commercial PCV2 vaccine used in this study was effective at reducing mortality and increasing growth rate in finisher pigs with histopathologic lesions suggestive of Porcine Circoviral Disease (PCVD).

Effect of floor space during transport of market-weight pigs on the incidence of transport losses at the packing plant and the relationships between transport conditions and losses1

Data on 74 trailer loads of finishing pigs (mean BW = 129.0, SEM = 0.63 kg) from wean-to-finish buildings on 2 farms within 1 production system were collected to investigate the effect of amount of floor space on the trailer (0.39 or 0.48 m2/pig) during transport on the incidence of losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) at the packing plant and to study the relationships between transport conditions and losses. Pigs were loaded using standard commercial procedures for pig handling and transportation. Two designs of flat-deck trailers with 2 decks were used. Floor space treatments were compared in 2 similarly sized compartments on each deck of each trailer type. Differences in floor space were created by varying the number of pigs in each compartment. The incidence of nonambulatory pigs at the farm during loading and at the plant after unloading, average load weight, load number within each day, event times, and temperature and relative humidity in the trailer from loading to unloading were recorded. Of the 12,511 pigs transported, 0.26% were non-ambulatory at the farm, 0.23% were dead on arrival, and 0.85% were nonambulatory at the plant. Increasing transport floor space from 0.39 to 0.48 m2/pig reduced the percentage of total nonambulatory pigs (0.62 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.13%, respectively; P < 0.05), nonambulatory, noninjured pigs (0.52 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.11%, respectively; P < 0.01), and total losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) at the plant (0.88 vs. 0.36 +/- 0.16%, respectively; P < 0.05) and tended to reduce dead pigs (0.27 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.08%, respectively; P = 0.06). However, transport floor space did not affect the percentage of nonambulatory, injured pigs at the plant. Nonambulatory pigs at the farm were positively correlated with relative humidity during loading and load number within the day (r = 0.46 and 0.25, respectively; P < 0.05). The percentage of total losses at the plant was positively correlated to waiting time at the plant, unloading time, and total time from loading to unloading (r = 0.24, 0.51, and 0.36, respectively; P < 0.05). Average temperature during loading, waiting at the farm, transport, waiting at the plant, unloading, and average pig weight on the trailer were not correlated to losses. These results suggest that floor space per pig on the trailer and transport conditions can affect transport losses.

Effects of increasing dietary lysine in transition diets on nursery pig growth performance (2003)

A total of 1,400 weanling pigs (initially 13.6 lb) was used in a 9 d growth assay (d 4 to 13 postweaning) to determine the effects of increasing lysine in the transition diet on nursery pig growth performance. All pigs were fed a common SEW diet until d 4 after weaning. Pigs were then switched to experimental diets with total dietary lysine levels of 1.40, 1.50, 1.60, 1.70 or 1.80%. All diets were formulated to contain 20% soybean meal, with increasing amounts of synthetic amino acids to achieve desired amino acid concentrations in the diets. From d 4 to 9 postweaning, increasing lysine increased ADG (linear, P<0.03) and improved feed efficiency (linear, P<0.001), but ADFI was not affected. Overall (d 4 to 13 postweaning), pigs fed diets containing increasing dietary lysine had improved ADG (linear, P<0.03) and feed efficiency (linear, P<0.001), with no differences in ADFI. Although responses to increasing dietary lysine were linear, there was little improvement either ADG or F/G above 1.7% lysine. There was no difference in average pig weight at the end of the trial, probably because of the short duration of the study. In conclusion, increasing dietary lysine up to 1.7% in transition diets (13 to 19 lb) for nursery pigs maximized growth performance.; Swine Day, 2003, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2003

Effect of Lactation Diet Fat Level on Sow and Litter Performance

The primary objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplemental dietary fat during lactation on sow BW, sow backfat thickness, sow feed consumption, litter size, and pig growth rate. Dietary treatments included 0, 3, 6, and 9% supplemental low acid yellow fat in a traditional corn-soybean meal basal lactation diet. A total of 160 Landrace and crossbred sows (approximately 40 per treatment) were included in the study. Sows fed 3 and 6% supplemental fat had greater (P<0.10) average backfat thickness at weaning. Sow weight change and feed consumption were inconsistent among dietary fat levels. Dietary fat level during lactation did not affect number of pigs born alive or number of stillborns. However, the 9% fat level was associated with more mummified pigs at birth. Number of pigs weaned was greater for the 0% supplemental fat than for the 9% fat level. The largest average pig weights at 21 (5.8±0.29 kg) and 28 (7.48±0.38) d of age were those from sows fed the 3% added fat diet. Sows with ≤25.4mm backfat at farrowing had more pigs born alive (P<0.05), had less backfat at 21 and 28 d of lactation (P<0.05), and consumed more feed during wk 2 and 3 of lactation. Of all sows fed the control diet, sows with >25.4mm backfat at farrowing consistently had heavier pigs throughout the lactation phase (P<0.05). Backfat loss during lactation was lower (P<0.05) for sows with ≤25.4mm at farrowing within all dietary treatments. Consistent significant differences were not observed in sow weight loss or feed consumption between low and high backfat sows for each dietary treatment. Sow backfat loss during lactation is dependent on body condition at farrowing, in that, fatter sows at farrowing have greater backfat loss during lactation. Sows with ≤25.4mm of backfat at farrowing responded to added dietary fat treatments and produced heavier pigs throughout the lactation period.

Factors associated with average pig weight at weaning on farms using early weaning

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various factors on average pig weight at weaning on farms using early weaning. Farms were selected based on average weaning age and whether they recorded lactation food intake and litter weights at weaning. The database contained 9834 litter weights and 8903 food intake records. Average pig weight at weaning, litter size at weaning, weaning age, and average daily food intake during lactation (ADFl) were 4·9 (s.d. 1·0) kg, 9·3 (s.d. 1·6) pigs, 16·8 (s.d. 2·8) days, and 4·9 (s.d. 1·1) kg, respectively. Litter size, weaning age, parity, farrowing season, and ADFl groups influenced average pig weight at weaning (P &lt; 0·01). Three two-way interactions between parity and season, weaning age and farrowing season, and weaning age and ADFl groups were found fP &lt; 0·01). Average pig weights for litter sizes between six and 10 were higher than those between litter sizes one and four, and 11 and 22. Parity 1 sows produced lighter pig weights than any other parity group during any other season (P &lt; 0·01). Average weights of weaned pigs farrowed during the summer in all parities groups were lighter (P &lt; 0·01) than those during the autumn. Pig weights for weaning ages between 22 and 21 days during the summer tended to be lighter than those during the autumn. Pigs weaned between days 16 and 22 of age in the high ADFI group (&gt;5·6 kg) were heavier (P &lt; 0·01) than those in the low ADFl (&gt; 4·2 kg) group.

Effect of supplemental pig milk replacer on litter performance: seasonal variation in response.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplemental milk replacer on sow and litter performance. The study was conducted in 12 farrowing groups (171 litters) over a 3.5-yr period (October 1990 to April 1994). Commercial milk replacer was prepared fresh daily (150 g/L) and offered with ad libitum access in the farrowing crates within 24 h of parturition and was continued through weaning (d 21). Average pig weight (control, 5.5 kg/pig; supplemented, 6.4 kg/pig; P < .001) and total litter weight (control, 52.2 kg/litter; supplemented, 60.9 kg/litter; P < .001) at weaning were greater for litters receiving supplemental milk replacer. There was no effect (P > .2) of supplemental milk replacer on feed intake, backfat thickness, or body weight loss in the sow. Consumption of milk replacer varied greatly among litters. A portion of this variation in intake was accounted for by differences in ambient temperature among farrowing groups. Average milk replacer intakes (liters per pig) from birth to d 21 were 2.5 L/pig (.375 kg dry matter) and 9.9 L/pig (1.49 kg dry matter) for pigs born during the cool and warm seasons, respectively (P < .001). The weaning weight advantage conferred by milk replacer was most evident during the warmer months. Sow feed intakes averaged 5.8 and 3.9 kg/d over the same periods (P < .001). These results demonstrate the advantage of milk replacer on weaning weight and indicate that the greatest benefit from the supplement is during the warmer months when sow feed intake and subsequent milk production are lower.

Effects of adding medium-chain triglycerides to sow diets during late gestation and early lactation on litter performance1

This experiment was conducted to determine whether feeding medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) to sows during late gestation and early lactation would improve neonatal pig survival. Beginning on d 91 of gestation and continuing through d 7 of lactation, sows were fed isoenergetic (7,000 kcal of ME/d) and isonitrogenous (278 g of CP/d) amounts of either control (19% starch, 2% soybean oil), long-chain triglycerides (LCT, soybean oil, 12%), or MCT (10% MCT, 2% soybean oil) diets. Sows (n = 18, 19, and 17, respectively) were induced to farrow on d 112 of gestation. Litters were weighed at birth, before suckling, and on d 1, 3, 7, and 21 of lactation. There was no effect of treatment on average pig weight at any time and no difference in the number of live pigs at birth. Beginning on d 3 (P < .05) and continuing through weaning (d 21, P < .02) survival was improved in litters from sows fed MCT relative to litters from sows fed the control diet. Overall survival rates were 80, 81, and 90% in control, LCT, and MCT groups, respectively. The greatest improvement in survival was observed in pigs weighing < 900 g at birth. Survival of pigs in this weight range was 32, 53, and 68% in control, LCT, and MCT treatments, respectively. Although feeding MCT resulted in an increase in content of medium-chain fatty acids in milk, these accounted for < 5% of the fatty acids in milk and likely cannot account for the improved survival rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Performance of pigs with mixed nematode infections before and after ivermectin treatment

Ninety crossbred parasitized pigs were used in two controlled experiments to compare performance before and after ivermectin treatment. Four groups of 15 pigs were sequentially infected with 2000 Ascaris suum, 10 000 Oesophagostomum spp. and 10 000 Strongyloides ransomi beginning at average pig weights of either 38 kg (Experiment I) or 14 kg (Experiment II). Two infected groups of pigs were treated with ivermectin on Day 34 (Experiment I) or 37 (Experiment II) of the experiments and all pigs were fed to slaughter weights of approximately 100 kg. Average daily gain (ADG) of heavier ivermectin-treated pigs was greater than that of infected non-treated pigs ( P < 0.03) and feed conversion was numerically greater by 5% ( P > 0.10). ADG was not different between lighter treated or non-treated pigs, but feed conversion was numerically 4% greater in ivermectin-treated compared to non-treated pigs ( P > 0.10). No differences existed in carcass dressing percentage among the three groups of heavier pigs, but among the lighter groups ivermectin-treated pigs had a higher dressing percentage ( P < 0.03) than infected non-treated or control pigs. Results of the calculation of production costs based on combined data from the two experiments for the post-treatment period, including feed, drug and maintenance costs, indicate that the production cost for ivermectin-treated pigs was $1.53 per pig less than that for infected non-treated pigs when the cost for each group to attain control pig weights is compared with the actual cost for control pigs.

Effect of lysine level and supplemental soybean oil fed during lactation on sow and litter performance through two parities (1989)

A total of 158 gilts were fed ad libitum one of the following four diets during lactation: .65% lysine, .75% lysine, .65% lysine + 3% soybean oil, and .75% lysine + 3% soybean oil. These same sows were carried through a second parity on the same lactation diet treatments. In parity 1, lysine level had no effect on feed intake or interval from weaning to estrus. Addition of 3% soybean oil increased the weaning to estrus interval and decreased feed intake, although caloric intake was not different. In parity 2, there was no effect on feed intake from 3% supplemental soybean oil; however, the weaning to estrus interval was still delayed by 2.5 d. Overall, there were no interaction effects from increasing the lysine level and adding 3% soybean oil. Increasing lysine to .75% and adding 3% soybean oil had no effect on sow weight loss, sow backfat loss, pig survivability, litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning, or average pig weight at weaning. Based on the results of this experiment, it appears that a .65% lysine diet without supplemental fat is adequate during lactation.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 16, 1989