On-Farm Strategies to Mitigate ADG & Cost during Processing Plant Interruptions due to COVID-19

On-Farm Strategies to Mitigate ADG & Cost during Processing Plant Interruptions due to COVID-19 Bruce Schumann MSc., Nutritionist April 28, 2020 We are facing unprecedented times in the agriculture industry. Our industry has already witnessed the Olymel plant closure three weeks ago, numerous closures and slow-downs of processing plants in the USA and, this past Friday, we had the announcement that Conestoga Meat Packers, in Breslau, ON, has voluntarily closed their facility for one week due to COVID-19 related issues. Rolling plant closures in Canada and the USA are now our new reality and these are likely to continue for numerous weeks ahead.

Plant closures in the USA and the backing up of hogs, directly impacts the Canadian market and the prices for our hogs. It is estimated that 10-30% of the USA hog market (240,000 – 720,000 pigs) per week will be unable to be processed for the next number of weeks. In light of this situation, we need to have both feeding and management strategies in place to significantly reduce cost of production and to slow hog growth.

There are many strategies that you as a producer can implement. Using current research trials from industry, we have compiled numerous feeding strategies and barn management strategies that you can use on-farm to help mitigate your costs and hog growth during processing plant closures and slow-downs due to COVID-19.

The first is to make your diets as cost efficient as possible. For those producers who have opportunity bins and can utilize different ingredients, we can assist in formulating diets that minimize your input costs.

For some producers feeding liquid ingredients, you may wish to capitalize on maximizing your co-products that are available. Secondly, there are multiple strategies we can use to slow growth of your hogs if processing has been delayed, such as increasing the fibre content of the diet, or lowering the nutrient density of the diet (energy and amino acids). Lastly, there are critical strategies that can be taken to significantly impair or stop growth by adding certain ingredients (such as calcium chloride) or moving to all barley or wheat diets.

Many of these strategies have associated pros and cons (such as additional costs, increases in feed conversion), which have been outlined in the attached ADG Reduction Action Plan. All options must be assessed on an individual producer basis and discussed with your nutritionist prior to any changes being made to your feeding and management program.

There are management strategies that can also be implemented (outlined in the chart following) which focus on creating extra space, using the environment/feeder management to help restrict growth, and in the extreme cases, ideas that can act as an impetus for the industry to temporarily set aside the current codes of practice, specifically around temporary pig space allowances during emergency situations. For more information, please contact your Fortified Nutrition Limited Swine Sales Specialist or Monogastric Nutritionist.

ADG Reduction Action Plan Building in Feed Efficiencies 1. Maximize amino acid additions to reduce soybean meal use 2. Use xylanase enzyme to release energy from diet - Allows the reduced usage of tallow or roasted beans 3. Use phytase at “superdose” levels to reduce SBM in diet

C AUTION

Slowing Down Growth 1. Increase NDF to 30% using fibrous ingredients - 33.5% Soy Hulls - 31% Oat Hulls - 25% Ground/Chopped Oat, Barley, or Wheat Straw - Watch for mycotoxin levels - will see reduced carcass yield of 1% 2. Decrease Crude Protein & Amino Acids by ~25% - Reducing Lysine decreases ADG by 10% - Reducing Amino Acids by 25% and Energy by 8% decreases ADG by 20% 4. Use all Barley or Wheat Diets + Supplement Vit/Min/AA - Only use for 2-3 weeks ADFI will decrease by ~5%, ADG will decrease ~19%, F/C ~3.05 5. Lower copper from 125 ppm to 15-25 ppm - Reduces ADG and Feed Intake

CRITIC AL

Stopping Growth 1. Add 40 kg Calcium Chloride - Use for no more than 3-4 weeks, pigs go into acidosis - Must be balanced with monosodium phosphate - Study shows reduction in ADFI by 47% and reduction in ADG by 95% - Feed intake crashes in first week - Required full access to fresh water - Cannot be put into premix because it is hygroscopic

M A N A G E M E N T S T R AT E G I E S

F E E D S T R AT E G I E S

CONTINUOUS

CON TIN U OU S

Building in Feed Efficiencies 1. Remove aisleways in rooms to create more space - Allows for more square footage in each room to increase weight of pigs - Additional waters and/or feeders may be required

C AU TION

Slowing Down Growth 1. Negotiate with Packing Plant on Advanced Notice of Closure - Ship lighter pigs ahead of closure without penalty - Ship heavier pigs after re-opening without penalty 2. Restrict feeders 10 - 20% of trough coverage - Need to monitor closely - High herd weight variability due to hierarchy - Increased social vices 3. Elevate barn temperature above thermal neutral zone - Should not be too excessive - 2° F above thermal neutral zone will decrease ~50 g/day greater if humidity is high - Temperature must be maintained or else feed intake will be compensated for - Requires reduction in ventilation rates - higher moisture, higher ammonia - Worker and pig safety is a concern - Works best in summer months

C RITI C AL

Stopping Growth 1. Double or triple stock weaners < 20 kg and then split down - Welfare issues - Outside of Code of Practice - Additional waterers and feeders may be needed - Consider nursery floor strength 2. Double stock growers < 60 kg - Welfare issues - Outside of Code of Practice - Additional waterers and feeders may be needed 3. Temporary outdoor accomodation of pigs - Coverall buildings - Potential biosecurity risk

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