Creep feeding pigs is one of several ways to reduce
overall feed costs, discussed by nutritionist Dr Steve Jagger from ABN during our
latest live online workshop.
Steve said that: ”Starter feed for pre-weaning
piglets is small proportion of all feed costs at 4% and the improved growth
post-weaning means it is well worth it.
“One trial showed that piglets eating 4.55kg each of
starter feed are worth £1.21 more per pig, as margin over feed, than piglets eating
just 3.89kg each.”
This equated to a saving of £266 per tonne of overall
feed costs, because the pigs’ feed conversion efficiency, growth rate and value
at slaughter were improved, without intakes of grower feed having to increase
significantly in the later stages.
Steve continued to show how priorities change at
different stages between birth and slaughter. “It is important to know the
growth curve for your particular unit. For, example, there are major
differences in dietary requirements in the late finishing stage, especially
when taking pigs to higher slaughter weights, so producers could consider a
late finishing diet.
“We should also be feeding pigs according to current,
achieved performance at each stage. High specification diets can have a lot
higher potential than is actually being achieved. Once you’ve assessed
requirements you can adjust the feeding programme, try an alternative diet or
maybe increase the number of diets. The aim is to reduce oversupply of
nutrients to therefore reduce feed costs and improve efficiency.”
Steve concluded with how important it is to measure
growth performance and feed usage. “There should be a continual cycle of
measurement and improvement.”
If you have any questions or thoughts on this, please
use the comments box below and, to find out more about more, download the
presentation and listen to the workshop here.
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