Nutritional Program for Nursery Pigs
Ingredients | Nutritional programs for newly weaned pigs are very different from those for older pigs because of the immaturity and rapid development of the digestive and immune systems of the young pigs. While nutrient levels are important in all diets, the focus in designing diet for young pigs is on nutrient sources (ingredients). In fact, we use several special (and expensive) ingredients in diets for nursery pigs that we do not use in diets for older pigs. The younger the pig is a weaning; the more important are these special ingredients.
Specific ingredients appear important in the diet of new weaned pigs, although we do not clearly understand the physiological mechanisms. That includes spray-dried plasma, soy products and a small amount fish meal. High levels of soybean meal should be avoided. The ingredients can supply the bioavailable amino acids needed, including pet food-grade poultry meal, further-processed soy product, spray-dried blood cells, dried porcine solubles, higher levels of fish meal and crystalline amino acids.
Phase feeding | The special ingredients become gradually less important as the pig matures after weaning. They are expensive, so it is important to use as little of them as necessary. Therefore, we use a small amount (perhaps only a pound per pig) of an expensive diet containing high levels of these ingredients immediately after weaning, then move promptly through a series of diets with declining cost and declining levels of special ingredients, using a feed budget. Note that phase feeding for nursery pigs changes primarily nutrient sources, while phase feeding for finishing pigs changes nutrient level. Both are designed to control costs.
April 09 2008 08:38 pm | Swine