On my return from China, from visits to Provinces across the country, prices have improved in recent weeks to reflect a profit to producers. Where the price of pigs in Heilongjiang Province is now about 12 rmb/kg (ranging up to 14 rmb in southern Hubei Province) and cost of production is 10 rmb, the margin on a 100 kg pig at 200 rmb/pig represents a profit of Cdn$32.

Trait	Value
No. pigs	189
Carcass weight, kg	95.2
Backfat average, mm	17.5
Average index	112.3
Loin depth, mm	64.0
Lean Incentive, $	1.58
Lean 60-66 mm, %	35

Jul 2, 2009

Feed design

Feeder design can have a big influence on feed intake but feeder management is more important. A study of the pigs’ behavior while eating will tell you if the feeder is well designed, if there is excessive feed wastage, whether there is insufficient feeder space per pig or if the flow of feed is insufficient. With proper and regular adjustment, feeders should have a thin layer of feed covering about 60-65% of the bottom of the trough. For multi-space dry feeders, 4-5 pigs per feeder hole should be OK and for single space feeders and wet/dry feeders, 11-12 pigs per feeder space should be adequate. Wet/dry feeders are becoming more popular and can usually increase feed intake, resulting in a 5% improvement in growth rate and a 30-40% reduction in water wastage.

Feeder wastage

Feed wastage is a constant problem in all barns and therefore feeder management must be a critical part of barn management. With conventional multi-space dry feeders, that are in good condition and adjusted regularly, feed wastage will average about 3.5%. For poorly designed feeders, that are not adjusted properly, the wastage can be as high as 20% of the feed added to the feeder. If your feed use per pig in grow-finish is 263 kg, then at 3.5% waste, a pen of 20 pigs can waste about 184 kg during the grow-finish period. So it pays to spend time to properly and regularly inspect and adjust feeders. Do not assume that because you cannot see feed on the floor that there is no wastage. Even under such conditions you still probably losing 3.5% of the feed added.

Pellets versus Mash

Generally pigs can consume feed more quickly when it is in pelleted form and so they spend less time at the feeder and they waste less feed. So with pelleted feed, you can more pigs per feeder hole. Use of pellets in dry feeders will usually improve growth rate by about 5% and feed conversion efficiency by 5-6%, mostly due to decreased feed wastage. However, there is no difference in feed intake or pig performance if pigs are fed either pellets or mash when using a wet/dry feeder and feed wastage is less on the wet/dry feeder.

Water uses

Don’t take water intake of pigs for granted. Check water flow rates in drinkers throughout the barn. A flow rate of 0.75 to 1.0 litres/minute should be adequate for feeder pigs. Nipple drinkers are most commonly used but nipples within drinker bowls are becoming increasingly common. The common recommendation is 10 pigs per water source. At greater than 15 pigs per drinker, there may be an increase in the variation in weight gain. Set nipple heights at about shoulder height of the average pig in the pen. It is advisable to get water quality tested occasionally.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) should be below 7000 parts per million.

Daily Barn Check

Check barns twice per day (early morning and late afternoon)

Check feeders and drinkers twice per day to ensure feed and water are available. Set feeders so that 40% of the trough bottom is visible. Remove any feces or fouled/stale feed from feeders.
• Check temperature settings: current and maximum and minimum for the last 12 hours; adjust if necessary.
• Check environment in the room upon entry: gas levels; comfort level; condensation.
• Upon entering the barn, do a quick stock and equipment check for problems that may need immediate attention.
• Observe pig behavior: are pigs piling, lying on their sternum (barns too cold or cold air is dumping onto pigs).
• Check that drinkers are operating correctly.
• Check for empty feeders, amount of feed in the feed trough. Adjust feed plate gap as necessary.

Methods of checking pigs

The best method for checking the health of the pigs is to enter each pen and spend at least 30 seconds observing the pigs.

Alternatively, check 3 pens at a time from one (middle) pen. Use a different starting pen at each check.

• Remove dead pigs. Remove sick, injured and prolapsed pigs to hospital pens. If not removed from a pen, any pig needing treatment should be marked for later treatment.
• Record all deaths, cases of sickness and injury and any treatments given (as per CQA program requirements).