BPEX

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Nutrition and Feeding

Feed represents the single largest cost element in pig production, accounting for more than 50% of the total cost of pig meat production in the UK. Any producer seeking to improve the competitive position of a pig enterprise should review feeding costs and how these could be reduced through more competitive purchase of either raw feed ingredients or complete diets, and improvements in the efficiency with which feed is converted to edible meat.

Feed is also the primary source of emissions to soils, water and air and as environmental legislations tightens to limit emissions, such as nitrate, ammonia and phosphorous, producers must continue to explore ways of improving nutrient capture for meat production and minimise the proportion that is excreted to the environment.

BPEX funded research has included a wide range of projects focused on the nutritional and feeding management of pigs to improve productivity and reduce costs. Results of these projects can be found on this website by clicking on the following links.

  • Reduce Feed Wastage
    There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of damaging feed on-farm. If 5% of feed is damaged and lost to dust and waste it can cost up to £5000/year on a 500 sow unit; this could increase to £20000 plus if finishers are included, equating to an extra cost of 1 p/kg deadweight. BPEX has produced a simple guide which you can use to walk your system and look at ways of reducing the risk of waste.
  • Knoweldge transfer bulletin 1: Nutritional Terms - Energy
    This factsheet explains what the different terms relating to energy mean and provides target dietary energy levels for each category of pig.
  • Video - Improve digestibility of milled feed by up to 10%
    You can now view a video of Stuart Bosworth using the Bygholm sieve to monitor the degree of coarseness of feed, cereal and other feed products
  • Nutrition of the young breeding pig
    Rearing ? Feed to maximise protein gain ? Restrict feeding can reduce lameness ? Use a gilt rearing diet from 60 or 100 kg live weight First pregnancy ? Optimise protein supply ? Do not over feed energy ? Feed a gilt rearing diet First lactation ? Encourage high feed intake ? Feed a gilt lactation diet
  • 18. Efficient feed usage
    Feed costs have risen to represent nearly 80% of the variable costs of producing a pig and over 50% of total costs. Consequently any fluctuation in feed prices has a greater impact on production costs and profitability than any other single factor. While it may be possible to decrease the cost of production (COP) by reducing input prices eg switching to a cheaper ration or purchasing in larger quantities, it can also be achieved through simple practical actions to minimise feed wastage and to improve the efficiency of utilisation.
  • Phase-feeding
    Matching the protein requirements of growing and finishing pigs for lean growth at least cost
  • Breeding Herd Calculator
    (Excel and Flash files)
  • Feeding Herd Calculator
    (Excel and Flash files)
  • 8. Feed and Straw Management to Reduce the Risk of Mycotoxins
    Poor feed and straw quality can be a real threat to the physical performance of both breeding and finishing herds. Download the publication for more information.
  • 5. Creep Feeding
    Creep feeding is the practice of feeding a solid diet to piglets whilst they are suckling the sow, preparing their digestive system for weaning. Creep feeding initiates and promotes gut and digestive enzyme development, which enables the piglet to digest nutrients from food sources other than that of milk. Download this publication for more information.

Lupins in Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) Defra LINK Programme LK0950
The five-year project is the first comprehensive evaluation of the benefits and disbenefits of this crop for organic and conventional use in the UK. Comparisons with other grain legumes will analyse on-farm nutrient budgets, feed utilisation, emissions from animal wastes and agronomic factors. Molecular markers for key traits will be identified and brought together as a ‘breeder’s toolkit’ available for lupin improvement.

For more information click here