Traditionally, pig prices follow a seasonal pattern, with the highest annual prices occurring in the summer and the lowest prices occurring in the fall and winter. This phenomenon is caused by multiple factors, including:
- Demand for pork increases in summer for grilling and outdoor activities
- Reduced reproductive and calving performance observed during hot seasons, known as seasonal infertility syndrome
- Voluntary feed intake is reduced and growth is slower in all pig categories during periods of heat stress.
In summer, additional environmental stressors such as heat can severely impact growth performance. Of course, during this period it is necessary to ensure that the animal has a constant supply of fresh water. But nutrition also plays a surprisingly important role in preventing problems related to heat stress.
During hot seasons, growing pigs in particular significantly reduce their voluntary feed intake. Therefore, if the aim is to take advantage of the summer market, nutritionists need to carefully rebalance the nutrient composition to meet the specific requirements at different stages of growth, taking into account changes in feed intake. there is. This includes optimizing energy, amino acid, and mineral levels to support healthy growth, efficient feed utilization, and overall health.
Nutritional strategies such as dried distillers grains (DDGS) with solubles, soybean meal, fat, and feed additive adjustments have all been proven to help maximize growth and performance in summer market pigs. I am. Reducing DDGS and increasing the amount of corn can increase the net energy of the diet and ensure that pigs receive adequate nutrition even if feed intake is reduced. Similar to DDGS, we recommend offsetting soybean meal with an increase in synthetic amino acids. Pigs fed high crude protein diets tend to have higher estrus levels, which is counterproductive, especially in hot weather.
Additionally, incorporating fat or oil into pig diets creates a more energy-dense diet and reduces the total amount of feed needed to meet the pig’s requirements for optimal growth. The rule of thumb that nutritionists use to determine the price of fat to be rationed is if the fat is less than four times the price of corn. Although a simplistic approach, it is easy to understand the economics of fat. More complex economic models have been developed and are available for further analysis.
Although fat can improve feed efficiency in growing pigs at any time of the year, it is usually most cost effective when fed in the summer when pigs tend to eat less. On average, each 1% increase in added fat increases feed efficiency by 2%. This varies quite a bit, but for every 1% added fat he is likely to improve his average daily gain by 1% as well.
In addition to adjusting macronutrients, feed additives can be used to enhance growth performance during summer heat stress. For example, the inclusion of tribasic copper chloride in growing diets has consistently shown positive results, increasing hot carcass weight, average daily gain, and feed intake; are all extremely important in the summer. Some supplements available from Hubbard, such as Assist™ and Opti-Pak® Efficiency, have been shown to enhance growth performance by optimizing pH levels in the gastrointestinal tract and increasing nutrient utilization.
It takes approximately 115 to 120 days for a pig to grow from 50 pounds to 280 pounds. Therefore, to take full advantage of the summer market profits, he should consider changing his growing season feed as early as February.
A variety of beneficial feed additives are available on the market. Consult a nutritionist to identify the best feed additive for your specific needs.
nutritional value of ingredients
The accurate nutritional value of the raw materials is of paramount importance in formulating a pig feed that accurately meets the nutritional requirements of the pig. Each component contributes differently to the overall nutritional profile, and variations in nutrient content can have a significant impact on pig performance and feed costs. Overestimating or underestimating the value of raw materials can cause you to miss out on optimal market opportunities and face discounts at packaging plants. Relying on accurate nutritional values ensures that feeds are formulated correctly to promote optimal growth rates, feed efficiency, and feed costs.
Regular sampling and testing of raw materials provides accurate nutritional values and allows nutritionists to adjust nutrient loads as needed. For example, if a nutritionist uses soybean meal (SBM) whose ingredient profile lists a crude protein level of 48%, but the actual crude protein content is 46%, the discrepancy may cause producers to This can result in an additional cost of approximately $0.20 per pig. Inaccuracies in ingredient profiles increase the cost of feeding pigs weighing between 50 and 280 pounds. This reduction in crude protein can also reduce growth performance and disrupt ideal marketing opportunities.
If a dietitian knows the correct nutritional loading of each ingredient, they can more accurately predict pig performance (ADG and F/G). This allows for continuous nutritional adjustment and helps pigs reach their desired market weight within an optimal time frame. This not only maximizes profitability, but also minimizes production costs associated with long hours in the barn.
With the help of feed formulation technology, nutritional profiles of raw materials can be uploaded along with growth prediction formulas in order to more accurately formulate minimum cost feeds to maximize economic efficiency and sustainability indicators. In addition to using standard ingredients for all pigs, we can formulate feeds that maximize producer profits as a result of targeted and predictable animal performance.
