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KSU information
Added August 24
KSU News
Livestock Producers learn about Implementation of Nutrient Management Plans during KSU Workshop
Livestock producers from across the state attended a field day last week on the Kansas State University campus to learn how to implement their Nutrient Management Plans (NMP).
This field day was designed to assist livestock producers, nutrient management plan developers, and regulatory and Extension personnel on how to properly implement a NMP. Demonstrations on proper sampling, calibration of manure equipment, and adjusting application rates based on soil and manure analysis were discussed. In addition, the National Pork Board's Neighbor-to-Neighbor program provided information on ways to inform neighbors and other community members when concerns arise from livestock operations.
The Kansas Pork Association worked with the KSU Animal Science Department and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to plan the workshop.
Joel DeRouchey, KSU Department of Animal
Sciences and Industry, gave an overview of the
farm's Nutrient Management Plan and explained
the composting system.
Dale Leikam, KSU Departement of Agronomy, explained the basics of reading a
soil and manure sample.
Kim Claassen of Henry Creek Farms, Whitewater,
highlighted the changes the farm had made since
beginning to work with a Nutrient Management Plan.
K-State Teams With NCBA, Pork Board To Host Employee Management in Agriculture Conference
Kansas State University is joining forces with the National Pork Board and the National Cattleman’s Beef Association to offer the “Employee Management For Production Agriculture Conference” Oct. 11-12, 2007.
The conference will be held at the Kansas City (Mo.) Airport Marriott Hotel near Kansas City International Airport. The meeting begins with registration at 9 a.m., and the program is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 11. The conference ends Friday afternoon after 1 p.m. industry workshops for beef and pork producers.
The sessions will be filled with such information as working with diverse cultures in agricultural businesses, dealing with difficult times, and legal issues, said K-State Research and Extension agricultural economist Sarah Fogleman.
Fogleman, who is a K-State Research and Extension specialist in employment management issues in agriculture, is one of the conference coordinators.
One of the general sessions will focus on “Managing Across Cultures,” Fogleman said. “This session is designed to help everyone think about what makes us different and what makes us alike – and most of all, what makes us better.”
Another general session – “Getting to ‘We’” will focus on how employees make the transition from thinking of a business as “your” business to thinking of it as “our” business.
A third general session, “Dealing with Difficult Times,” will help agricultural business owners of all kinds keep morale up during uncertain times such as drought, floods and heat.
Breakout session topics will include:
* Being a Boss vs. Being a Buddy - This popular session will help managers learn to walk that fine line.
* Legal Issues 101 (emphasis on immigration) – Learn to insulate yourself from legal risks and how to navigate tricky legal waters associated with employing a non-citizen workforce.
* Family - Family workplaces are wonderful when they work and terrible when they don’t. This session will help family members recognize the pitfalls and possibilities that come from running a family business.
* Workers’ Compensation - Learn to navigate risky waters by understanding the rules and laws and learning the keys that can help you master Workers’ Compensation.
* Orientation and Training from the Ground Up - More and more agricultural employees have no agricultural experience. Learn to use this to your advantage by designing an orientation and training program that takes nothing for granted.
* Compensation - Like it or not, compensation is the one issue that ALL managers have to address sometime. This session will help producers build compensation packages that meet their employee’s needs without breaking the bank.
* Growing Your Own Replacements - People are maybe the most important resource our businesses have. But where do we go for replacements? Learn to identify, recruit, train and empower employees who will be your next managers.
* Recruiting - Most managers have broken down and hired a “warm body” at one time or another. Learn where to look, how to advertise, and how to think like a potential employee.
* Conflict Management - Conflict is everywhere. This informative session will help producers learn strategies for recognizing and diffusing workplace conflicts.
* Turnover: Symptom or Disease - People frequently think of turnover as a problem, but sometimes it’s a symptom of other problems. Learn to identify the root of turnover in your business and how to cut it off at the source.
Industry workshops for beef and pork producers will round out the conference on Friday afternoon. The Pork Checkoff program is hosting a producer workforce development awareness panel and will provide a farm level tool on developing leadership skills.
Early registration for the conference is $150 for the first two attendees from a business, due by Sept. 26. For businesses sending three or more participants, the group rate is $125 per person, if paid by Sept. 26. After that date, the full rate of $200 per person applies. The registration fee covers lunch on both days, refreshments at breaks and all conference materials.
More information about the conference, including links to the hotel, is available on the Web at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee or by contacting Fogleman at 620-431-1530.
Added August 24
Location: Kansas State University Animal Science Farm Shop Headquarters
(Corner of Marlett and College Avenues)
Date: August 13, 2007
This field day is designed to assist livestock producers, nutrient management plan (NMP) developers, and regulatory and Extension personnel how to properly implement a NMP. Demonstrations on proper sampling, calibration of manure equipment, and adjusting application rates based on soil and manure analysis will be discussed. In addition, a nationally successful producer program will provide information to inform neighbors and other community members when concerns arise from livestock operations will be presented. Swine producers can receive their KDHE Swine Certification Training for attending. Registration Form is due by August 8, 2007
Cost: $20 per participant.
Agenda:
8:30 Registration (Animal Science Farm)
9:00 Why we are here – Implementing your NMP
9:15 Collection and care of manure and soil samples
10:00 Understanding and utilizing your soil and manure test results
- Nutrient crediting
- Environmental considerations (N & P)
10:30 Calibration of manure equipment
- Center pivot, Box/side spreader, etc.
12:00 Lunch (Weber Hall, KSU Campus)
12:45 Producer prospective with implementing a NMP for regulatory compliance
1:00 Neighbor to Neighbor Program – Part 1 (sponsored by Kansas Pork Association)
2:00 Break
2:15 Neighbor to Neighbor Program – Part 2 (sponsored by Kansas Pork Association)
3:15 KDHE requirements for swine operations (Session and testing for only those attending for swine certification training)
For more information please contact Joel DeRouchey at 785-532-2280 or jderouch@ksu.edu
All swine producers attending for Swine Certification Training must register directly with Robert Gavin with KDHE by calling 785- 296-5557 or emailing rgavin@kdhe.state.ks.us. Applicable KDHE certification fees apply.
To download a registration form, click on Manure Workshop
Added March 16
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University researchers recently studied the effects that choice white grease (CWG) and soybean oil have on hog growth performance and fat quality, said Justin Benz, Kansas State University swine nutrition graduate student.
The study showed that hogs fed diets containing CWG, which came from a Midwest source, had a more desirable fat quality when compared to hogs that were fed diets containing soybean oil, Benz said. CWG from the Midwest could be higher in saturated fat than CWG manufactured in other areas of the country. Saturated fat is more desirable than unsaturated fat because it is firmer, which is preferred in hog carcasses.
Soybean oil and CWG, which is a pork fat, are added to swine diets as economical energy sources, Benz said. Adding fat to hog diets also improves average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency in commercial settings.
“I think some producers question the quality of CWG and one of the big issues that we need to address is that CWG, when coming from a Midwest manufacturer, isn’t a bad fat source,” Benz said. “We believe CWG from the Midwest could be more saturated than some other areas of the country.”
In the Midwest, swine producers will generally add CWG or beef tallow to hog diets because they are a more economical fat source for that area of the country. In the southeast, Benz said, a lot of poultry fat is fed, which is more unsaturated. As a result, the CWG from pork in the southeast is softer than the CWG from pork in the Midwest.
“From a consumer standpoint, thinly-sliced bacon is popular, but ‘soft’ fat is harder to slice because it tends to tear easily,” Benz said. “When the bacon tears, packing plants lose product and have lower yields. Lower yields mean higher costs for consumers,” Benz said.
To test for fat quality, jowl (chin) samples were collected from 144 hog carcasses that had been fed corn-soybean meal-based dietary treatments. The hogs had an average initial weight of 88 pounds. Dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal control diet with no added fat, a corn-soybean meal diet with 5 percent CWG and a corn-soybean meal diet with 5 percent soybean oil. The two diets with added fat were also fed for different time intervals – day 0 to 26, 0 to 54, 0 to 68 and 0 to 82.
The iodine value of jowl samples was used in the study to determine fat quality in the hog carcasses. The more saturated fat there is in a hog’s diet, the firmer its carcass fat will be, Benz said. By finding the iodine value, researchers can determine the amount of unsaturated fat, or soft fat, there is in a carcass. Carcasses with low iodine values will have a firmer and more desirable quality of fat.
While pigs that were fed CWG had a more desirable fat firmness, hogs fed soybean oil tended to have an increased average daily gain (ADG) and feed-to-gain ratio (F:G), Benz said. Results also show that increasing the feeding duration of CWG did not increase ADG, but did increase F:G and dressing percentage.
Dressing percentage is the percentage of a live animal’s weight that is carcass material, or the carcass weight divided by the live weight. The higher the dressing percentage, the more pounds of carcass an animal will yield.
“I think it’s pretty clear from our research that swine producers can use CWG as a fat source for any length of time without having any negative effects on the carcasses,” Benz said. “But, the use of any highly unsaturated fat would increase iodine values and make carcass fat softer.”
See KSU Archive for past information.
added February 14
Preliminary Trials for a PCV2 Swine Vaccine Look Promising
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University researchers have developed what appears to be a promising vaccine against Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), a disease that researchers predict every swine herd in the United States is infected with.
PCV2 depletes the lymph node system so that the hog’s body can’t defend itself against other pathogens, which is why many pigs infected with the disease die. Some symptoms include anorexia, rapid weight loss, generally unhealthy pigs, skin discoloration or lesions, respiratory problems and diarrhea. However, not all hogs infected with PCV2 show signs of it. The virus has been reported to be excreted through nasal and ocular secretions, urine, feces, colostrum and semen.
In a recently completed study of the vaccine, researchers found that pigs that received the vaccine showed significant reductions in mortality, increased growth rate during the finisher pig stage and fewer light weight pigs at market, said Dr. Steve Dritz, Kansas State University Research and Extension swine specialist.
K-State researchers, Bob Rowland, Dick Hesse, Steve Dritz, Jerome Nietfeld and Kyle Horlen, conducted the wean-to-finish clinical trial on a commercial hog farm in northeast Kansas using 485 pigs. The pigs were randomly divided into six groups at the time they were weaned and were given doses of the vaccine at three and six weeks of age, said Dritz who is a swine specialist for the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. Some mortality rate prior to the trial had been as high as 20 percent.
The trial results showed that in the finisher phase, the mortality rate for vaccinated pigs was 50 percent less than for unvaccinated pigs and that the growth rate for vaccinated pigs increased by about 10 percent. Results also showed that the average market weight for vaccinated pigs was about 20 pounds heavier for the same number of days to market when compared to unvaccinated pigs.
In a separate study of the vaccine in a commercial research finishing barn, mortality, growth rate and feed efficiency improvements were calculated to result in a benefit of $3.94 per pig.
Mortality associated with PCV2 was first described in Canada in the mid 1990s. The virus has been a significant disease affecting pigs in Europe for the last 10 years. However, it has only recently become a major problem in the United States.
“In addition to demonstrating the effectiveness of the vaccine, this study really highlights the devastating impact that infection with this virus can have on swine production,” Dritz said. “Results from this study suggest that the vaccine will be an effective tool in controlling the disease in pigs caused by Porcine Circovirus Type 2.”
Researchers are unsure however, when the vaccine will be available for use among producers.
“The next steps are to continue to evaluate the vaccine under different field conditions to ensure that it is broadly applicable across the industry,” Dritz said. “We’re looking for more herds that have a less significant rise in mortality, but do have infection with the virus to see if it is still economical to vaccinate.”
Research also still needs to be done to further evaluate molecular characteristics of the virus and to develop diagnostic tools, Dritz said. The diagnostic tools will aid in the investigation of how the virus spreads from herd to herd or how the infection develops into severe forms of the disease.
The researchers, who are all on faculty at K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, collaborated on the study with partial funding provided by the National Pork Board.
A PCV2 vaccine for use in sows and gilts has been available in France and Germany for about two years, Dritz said. In one study from France, the average weaning to slaughter mortality rate of offspring dropped from 11.0 to 7.7 percent in 15 herds where the vaccine was used. German studies used 38 herds and found that the birth to slaughter mortality rate dropped from 28.7 to 17.9 percent in groups where the vaccine was used.
added January 24
SWINE PROFITABILITY CONFERENCE
February 6, 2007
K-State Union
9:15 a.m. Coffee and Donuts
9:30 a.m. Special Lecture: Jack and Pat Anderson Lecture in Swine Health Management: Current Understanding of the Transmission and Control of PCVAD
Dr. Robert Desrosiers, Boehringer-Ingelheim (Canada)
10:30 a.m. How We’ve Grown Our Agri-Business with the Help of Family and Friends
Alan Haverkamp, Bern, Kansas
11:15 a.m. Troubleshooting Growing-Finishing Production
Dr. Mike Brumm, Brumm Swine Consultancy
12:00 noon Lunch
1:15 p.m. Will There be Enough Corn to Go Around? – Impact of Biofuels on Corn and Soybean Meal Prices
Dr. John Lawrence, Iowa State University
2:15 p.m. Life Lessons That Can be Learned from the History of K-State Football
Stan Weber, Color Announcer on Radio Network for
K-State Sports
For registration information, contact Lois at 785-532-1267.
added November 23
K-State Names Odde as New Animal Sciences Department Head
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University has named Ken Odde head of its Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. He will take on his new duties Feb. 26, 2007.
 Odde has been a professor and director of North Dakota State University’s Beef Systems Center of Excellence since June 2005. The center is a public-private partnership designed to increase cattle feeding and processing in North Dakota. Prior to that, he served as head of NDSU’s Department of Animal and Range Sciences.
The new department head also has been a manager of cow-calf technical services at Pfizer Animal Health and worked as a senior veterinarian with the Livestock Technical Services division of SmithKline Beecham-Pfizer Animal Health.
Prior to those positions he was on faculty at Colorado State University for 11 years (1983-1994) in a teaching and research position specializing in beef cattle reproduction.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry and KSU. My wife, Arlene, and I are enthused about returning to Manhattan,” said Odde, who earned a DVM degree from K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982 and a Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology at K-State in 1983.
He also earned a master’s degree in reproductive physiology from K-State in 1978 and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from South Dakota State University in 1973.
“Livestock production is one of the most important industries we have in Kansas, and we’re pleased that Dr. Odde has agreed to join us as we work to stay on the cutting edge of new developments in animal husbandry and in food safety and security. As head of animal sciences and industry, he’ll be leading the department with the largest number of undergraduates in the college,” said K-State College of Agriculture Dean Fred Cholick.
Odde has conducted research in such areas as artificial insemination, calving difficulty, endocrine control of postpartum anestrus, estrous synchronization, and factors influencing colostrum production. He has taught numerous courses and authored many scientific papers during his career.
He is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, among others. He has been a frequent speaker at veterinary and cattle producer meetings.
Ken Odde and Arlene, his wife of 34 years, have three children and a grandchild. Their daughter, Sarah, lives in Minneapolis, Minn., where she works in marketing. Their son Carl and his wife, Lyndee, have a 10-month-old son; they live in Brookings, S.D., where Carl works for a soybean processing company. The couple’s youngest child, John, is a junior at South Dakota State University in Brookings.
K-State Studies Show Distillers Grains Have Variable Results on Hog Growth
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Feeding dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to nursery and grow-finish hogs had variable effects on growth performance, according to four Kansas State University studies.
DDGS are a byproduct of ethanol manufacturing and their availability for use in swine diets has increased in recent years because of surges in ethanol production, said Joel DeRouchey, K-State Research and Extension livestock production specialist.
In the study conducted on grow-finish hogs, there were three individual experiments, DeRouchey said. Experiment one consisted of 1,050 pigs with an average beginning weight of 104.9 pounds and lasted 28 days. The pigs were fed diets either 0 or 15 percent DDGS and 0, 3, or 6 percent added fat.
In the second experiment, 1,038 pigs with an average weight of 102.1 pounds were divided into groups and fed diets with either 0, 10, 20, or 30 percent DDGS for 56 days.
Experiment three lasted 21 days and used a total of 120 grower pigs with an average initial weight of 48.7 pounds. The pigs were randomly put into different pens, each containing four feeders to determine if pigs would selectively prefer to consume diets with 0, 10, 20 and 30 percent DDGS.
The first experiment showed no improvement in average daily gain (ADG) or the feed to gain ratio (F/G) as added fat was increased regardless if DDGS were included in the diet. There was also no difference in growth performance between pigs fed 0 or 15 percent DDGS.
In study two there was an overall decrease in ADG and average daily feed intake (ADFI) as the percent of DDGS increased in the diets. This reduction was due to depressed feed intake and daily gain for pig’s fed more than 10 percent DDGS.
In study three pigs had depressed feed intake at any level DDGS in the diet, therefore indicating that if given a choice, the pigs would prefer to consume feed without DDGS.
These results suggest that DDGS from the plants evaluated in this study can be included in the diet of commercial and finishing pigs at 10-15 percent without decreasing performance, DeRouchey said.
A 22-day study conducted on nursery pigs evaluating DDGS from a different ethanol manufacturing facility from that in the grow-finish studies. A total of 482 pigs with an average initial weight of 21.9 pounds were randomly allotted to one of two dietary treatments. The corn-soybean meal based diets contained either 0 or 10 percent DDGS.
Results from the nursery pig experiment showed that pigs fed 10 percent DDGS were on average 1.5 pounds lighter at the end of the 22 day period. When evaluating economics of DDGS use by margin over feed, pigs fed DDGS were approximately $0.54 less profitable, DeRouchey said. K-State continues to conduct research to determine the reasons for the variability in response in feeding DDGS and why pigs prefer to consume a diet without DDGS.
These studies are part of a group of recently conducted experiments that will be presented at the K-State Swine Industry Day on Nov. 16 at the K-State Alumni Center.
Early registration fees are $15 per person and due by Nov. 10. Registration at the door will be accepted at $25. There is no charge for students who pre-register. Forms can be found at www.asi.ksu.edu. Click on “Swine Day,” located under the Upcoming Events section.
More information is available by calling Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267.
added August 4
POSTWEANING MULTISYSTEMIC WASTING SYNDROME (PMWS) IN PIGS: AN UP-DATE WITH STILL QUESTIONS
F. Madec, N. Rose
AFSSA (French Food Safety Agency), Zoopole les Croix, BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
An unknown health problem was described first in Canada in 1996 (Harding 1996, Clark 1996) and soon after it was recognized in other countries throughout the world (Daft et al., 1996, Le Cann et al., 1997, Segales et al., 1997, Choi and Chae 1999).
The well targeted age of the affected pigs, the clinical signs and the lesions induced lead the veterinarians to name it “Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome” (PMWS). Until 1998 the situation was rather confusing although the role of a porcine circovirus was rapidly pointed out (Daft et al., 1996, Allan et al., 1998, Ellis et al., 1998). Confusion came from the detection of two types of circovirus (PCV1 and PCV2) and also from the involvement of other pathogens in most of the concerned herds, PRRS virus in particular. This paper is intended to briefly recall the description of the syndrome but above all the emphasis will be placed on the current knowledge that could help in finding solutions for prevention.
To download more information, click on PMWS british pig executive paper or MADEC Sept 2005 Paper
Sow body condition: lifetime sow performance risk factors
Dr. Emma Clowes
Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, Airdrie, AB
Email: emma.clowes@gov.ab.ca
Introduction
Many factors contribute to a production system attaining high production targets (e.g. 50+ pigs weaned per sow lifetime) and good sow longevity. These include genetics, facilities, management, sow condition (weight and backfat depth), nutrition, lactation length etc. Without all or most of these factors in place high production targets and good sow longevity are difficult to achieve. Bioeconomic models indicate that production systems with the lowest commercial replacement rates are the most profitable (Faust et al., 1993; Faust et al., 1992), because it is more economically important to retain a young sow than an old sow (Deen and Matzat, 2003). Retaining old, less productive, sows in the herd just improves herd parity or age structure, but not productivity.
To download article, click on Sow Body Condition
added June 6
Maintaining Hog Market Weights over the Summer Months
For swine producers, we typically see the highest market prices during the summer months. But because of the hot weather, we also see the lowest average daily gain and lightest market weights. Therefore, to try to maintain optimal market weights during the most profitable (summer) months, look at options to increase energy (feed) intake. Adding 5% fat to diets can increase market weights by up to 10 lb. Adding Paylean® (Ractopamine HCl) in finishing diets the last 21 days before market will also increase market weights by approximately 6 lb. Other options to increase market weights during the summer include: keeping pigs cool via sprinklers and proper ventilation. Looking at increasing days on feed by faster barn turn-around time or marketing pigs over a shorter period of time (i.e., dumping a barn in only 2 to 3 weeks vs 4 or 5). Hopefully these nutrition and management steps will help producers maintain optimal market weights during the summer months.
See KSU Archive for pa
Swine Information from Kansas State University
added June 6
Maintaining Hog Market Weights over the Summer Months
For swine producers, we typically see the highest market prices during the summer months. But because of the hot weather, we also see the lowest average daily gain and lightest market weights. Therefore, to try to maintain optimal market weights during the most profitable (summer) months, look at options to increase energy (feed) intake. Adding 5% fat to diets can increase market weights by up to 10 lb. Adding Paylean® (Ractopamine HCl) in finishing diets the last 21 days before market will also increase market weights by approximately 6 lb. Other options to increase market weights during the summer include: keeping pigs cool via sprinklers and proper ventilation. Looking at increasing days on feed by faster barn turn-around time or marketing pigs over a shorter period of time (i.e., dumping a barn in only 2 to 3 weeks vs 4 or 5). Hopefully these nutrition and management steps will help producers maintain optimal market weights during the summer months.
added May 12
Think about Summer Infertility for 2007 Now!
Many pork producers are aware of decreased sow farrowing rate during the months of June, July, August, and September. This is typically referred to as summer or seasonal infertility. There is little known as to its exact causes, but very likely low lactation feed intake during the summer months results in increased sow weight loss and thus lower fertility. This is why we emphasize producers doing everything possible to maximize sow feed intake in lactation.
However, what many producers do to attempt to keep hitting breeding targets during the summer is to have “extra” gilts on hand to compensate for decreased farrowing rates. Unfortunately we forget to plan ahead and often end up pulling terminal market gilts and adding them to our breeding herd. If we want extra gilts for breeding in June of 2007, we need to back up approximately 11 months: approximately 4 months of gestation and 7 months from weaning to breeding. Therefore July and August 2006 breedings will farrow potential replacement gilts in November, and these gilts will be ready to breed at 7 months in June 2007. The bottom line is that this summer and fall we need to be keeping back extra gilts for next summer’s breeding to help keep the farrowing house full!
added March 10
Keeping Feed Flowing
Maintaining diet particle size at approximately 700 microns is extremely important to lower feed costs as well as reduce nutrient excretion in swine waste. Studies have shown that for every 100 micron increase in particle size, it will cost $.50 per pig in added feed cost. To put this in perspective, the difference in feed cost in a 1,000 head finisher barn from reducing grain particle size from 1,000 to 700 microns will be $1,500 per turn or $4,500 per year. This does not include any potential added reduced costs in waste handling if crop ground around the barn is at its upper limits for N and P and manure would have to be hauled farther.
Like decreasing particle size, adding fat to swine diets has also been proven to be economical. Adding 5% fat to finishing diets is estimated to increase profitability by $2 to $3 per pig. Unfortunately, decreasing grain particle size and increasing added fat have a negative impact on the flow ability of feed. Fine grinding and adding fat will result in a greater potential for feed bridging in bulk bins and feeders (Figure 1). Therefore the economics of fine grinding and added fat must be weighed against decreased feed flow ability.
To demonstrate the effects of particle size, added fat, and mill type (hammer mill vs roller milled ground feed) a recent study was conducted at Kansas State University to examine these factors on feed flow ability. Hammer mill ground feed is represented by the three dashed lines and roller mill ground feed by the three solid lines (Figure 2).
Figure 1 – Feed bridging in a feeder.
Figure 2. Effects of mill type, particle size, and added fat on flow ability characteristics of ground corn.
Feed without added fat is represented by the blue lines, 3% added fat by the red lines, and 6% added fat by the purple lines. This data suggests that as particle size decreases, flow ability (measured by angle of repose) becomes poorer. It also tells us that as added fat increases, flow ability becomes poorer. The data also suggests that feed ground with a roller mill will flow better than feed ground with a hammer mill. This is speculated to be a result of roller milled feed having greater particle uniformity. Lastly, the most important finding of this study is that roller mill ground grain with 6% added fat will have similar flow ability as hammer mill ground grain without added fat.
Steps for Proper Bin Management
Ideal bin specifications to keep feed flowing should include cone with a 60 degree angle with an outlet to the side rather than in the center. Plastic cones will generally be slicker than metal. Agitators to help minimize bridging also can be installed. Recently, clear boots have been introduced. These have the advantage of both slickness as well as the ability to see if a bin is empty or bridged (Figure 3).
Figure 3. A clear boot can help in easily identifying feed flow ability problems.
Worn galvanized metal can become rusty or corroded. This surface will be less slippery and more conducive to bridging. These bins will need to have the rust removed with a wire brush and sealed with an epoxy or latex paint. Also a plastic PVC insert can be used to cover the rust and corrosion.
It also is important to monthly inspect your bins for rust and leaks. Completely empty bins at least once per month. Use of tandem bins facilitate complete emptying of bins (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Let one bin empty before ordering more feed to prevent bridging and moldy feed accumulation.
Summary
- Using finely ground grain and added fat are important for maintaining profitability.
- More uniform particle size such as that obtained with roller milled grain will decrease flow ability problems.
- Bin design and maintenance can minimize flow ability problems.
- Frequent emptying and cleaning of bins is essential to prevent bridging and mold problems.
An Update of Practical Information on Pig Nutrition
M.D. Tokach, R.D. Goodband, J.M. DeRouchey, S.S. Dritz, and J.L. Nelssen
Kansas State University, Manhattan
Introduction
We were asked to address the latest research on pig nutrition. Because there are so many potential topics that could be discussed, we have decided to concentrate on two main themes within each of the production areas in this paper. The first section within each production area will briefly review the basic areas that must be considered in designing a nutritional program. The second section will highlight specifications and recommendations for diets, vitamin and trace mineral premixes, and finally base mix specifications. More detailed information and additional information can be found at the KSU Swine website at: http://www.asi.k-state.edu/swine.
To download entire article, click on Nutrition Information
added February 13
Particle Size and Mixer Efficiency Testing
We recommend that stationary mills and feed mills check ground grain at least weekly with an on-farm 3-screen testing procedure (www.asi.k-state.edu/swine) and then send a sample to a commercial lab for testing with a full, 10 to 13 screen tester once a month. The three screen procedure has been demonstrated to be more accurate than a single screen test.
 Producers with portable grinding feed equipment may test less frequently (every other week and send in a sample every other month) because typically they are grinding less grain than stationary mill. Producers can select from several commercial labs and feed companies who routinely analyze feed for particle size. K-State also analyzes samples at a cost of $10 per sample. A small zip lock bag of ground grain is needed (no more than 1 lb) and samples can be sent to KSU Swine Lab, Room 206 Weber Hall, Department of Animal Science, Kansas State University,
 Manhattan, KS 66505, Attention: Particle Size. If you include your e-mail address results can be sent electronically.
All mixers should be tested upon purchase and on an annual schedule to ensure adequate performance of mixing equipment. Salt is an excellent ingredient to use for mixer efficiency testing because it is a relatively inexpensive and simple procedure. Salt can be analyzed with Quantab ® chloride titrators (Environmental Test System, Elkhart, IN) onsite or sent to a laboratory for analysis (the K-State Swine Lab can also help you with this). Quantab® analysis is comparable to both a salt meter test and laboratory analysis whereas analyses for other nutrients are variable. Results for other ingredient like Ca or P have been shown to have a large variability in analytical values between procedures and laboratories. K-State can also help with mixer efficiency analysis, please contact Bob Goodband 785-532-1228 (Goodband@ksu.edu) for information about conducting this test.
added January 21
For many years we have been discussing the importance of maximizing lactation
feed intake as well as the value of not over-feeding during gestation. To assist
with determining gestation and lactation feed intakes, we have recently put
together two spreadsheets to assist in calculating these variables. Production
criteria can easily be obtained form your current record keeping program. There
is one spreadsheet for calculating lactation feed intake as well as a second for calculating gestation feed intake. To obtain a copy of the program, please e-mail Bob Goodband at
Goodband@ksu.edu.
Bob Goodband, Steve Dritz, Mike Tokach, Joel DeRouchey, and Jim Nelssen
Department of Animal Science and Industry and Food Animal Health and
Management Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
The sorting and grouping of pigs by body weight is a common management
technique believed to minimize variation in final pig body weights, and therefore to
more efficiently achieve packer weight specifications. Thus, pigs commonly are
regrouped at several stages during the production cycle (i.e., at weaning,
placement into the grower and (or) finisher unit, and possibly again after an initial
marketing of pigs from a barn).Reductions in weight gain as a result of regrouping
pigs either have been undetected;1 evident only within the first week or two after
regrouping;2,3 or apparent only when coupled with other stressors such as limit
feeding, increased stocking density, or high ambient temperatures.4,5,6 However,
Stookey and Gonyou7 proposed that pigs should not be regrouped after marketing
heavier pen mates because of the associated physical and social stresses.
Results of other studies have been inconsistent when pigs were sorted into
uniform groups by body weight. An early study from Great Britain8 utilized groups
of pigs that initially were of identical average weight but with high or low variation
in weights. The uniformity in body weights was lost by the end of the study.
Similarly, Gonyou9 concluded that sorting pigs by weight was not necessary,
because productivity was not affected negatively by within-pen weight variability.
However, a report from the Netherlands10 indicated that growth performance was
better when initial within-pen weights were uniform than when weight variability
was high. In a literature summary, Gonyou concluded that it was not possible to
determine what effect variation in weight might have within a particular group of
finishing pigs.9
Therefore we conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of initial withinpen
pig weight variation on growth performance and weight variation in nursery
and finishing pigs.
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