Changes in the way gilts and sows are fed prompts need for training
By Mary Lou Peter, K-State Research and Extension housing, computerized feeding programs U.S. pork producers are transitioning will offer opportunities to really fine tune away from using individual gestation gestation feeding programs for sows.” crates and instead housing gilts and sows In one of the studies, gilts spent 10 weeks in groups, but the change poses challenges, in pre-training, two weeks in training, then including the ability to monitor feed conmoved into post-training when the animals sumption for each animal. To remedy that, were bred and moved into gestation. The producers increasingly have started using cooperator farm had six ESF feeding staelectronic sow feeding systems (ESF) in tions per pen. The researchers were looktheir farms. ing at patterns of feed intake and growth Even when sows or gilts are kept together of animals. in large groups, ESF systems allow animals “Training gilts how to use this system is to move into individual feeding stations one important so their nutritional needs are met at a time. Once a sow enters a station, the later, after they’ve been inseminated and go gate locks behind her and she is identified through gestation in the ESF pens,” said electronically by a transponder in her ear Goodband, who is a nutrition specialist with tag. The computer-controlled feeder disK-State Research and Extension. penses the specific amount of feed allotted The cooperator farm had implemented a for that animal. The sow may leave at any fairly simple feeding program for determintime, ending the dispensing of feed and ing the amount of feed to provide gestating unlocking the entrance for the next sow. sows and it worked well, he added. In the Kansas State University researchers study, gilts received 4.4 pounds of feed per along with K-State graduate students Lori day and sows received 5 pounds. Once gilts Thomas and Carine Vier conducted studand sows finished at a feeding station, they ies at a cooperator swine operation using walked through an alley and over a scale ESFs to look at feed efficiency by stage of where each animal was weighed. gestation and to examine the importance of One thing that surprised the researchers training gilts and sows to use such systems was that the sows and gilts did not eat their before they are bred and begin gestation. full feed allotment or gain much weight in The studies followed 300 gilts and 550 the first 10 days in the pen. After the first 10 sows. days, each sow and gilt generally consumed “To our knowledge, no one has ever her whole ration. looked at gestation feed efficiency by stage “We found significant changes in average of gestation, and we thought it would help daily weight gain following the initial 10 with determining nutrient requirements and days in the pen. Thereafter, females were feeding recommendations,” said K-State consistently eating and gaining for the reanimal science professor Bob Goodband. As the swine industry transitions to group CONTINUED ON PAGE B12
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