Blog Archive

Central Michigan Swine Feed Costs
As of the week of 3.30.09

Given the following local feedstuff prices (an average of available purchase quotes):

Corn- $142.88/ton
Soybean meal (47.5% CP)- $372/ton
DDGS- $128/ton
Choice white grease- $400/ton

Our complete feed costs for sows and finishing pigs, with and without DDGS, are estimated to be:

--Choice white grease is included in diets in the following proportions: Gestation-3% Lactation-4% Grower-5% Finisher-2%--

-- Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles are included in diets in the following proportions: Gestation-13% Lactation-14% Grower-48% Finisher-26% --

Markets and Messages
Ron Bates 3.27.09

I recently had the opportunity to be on a panel with Gene Baur from Farm Sanctuary addressing students at the MSU College of Law who are interested in animal law. Nathan Creswick from Ravenna, MI was also on this panel. Mr. Baur was certainly passionate regarding his message and appears to view the entire modern pork industry through the one view finder. Mr. Creswick has a developed a direct marketing business of farm products, including pork, produced following many of organic standards and appears to have a growing clientele. This experience solidified two opinions that I have had for some time. The first is that there is room within the industry for multiple pork chains. The viability of those will be determined by consumer acceptance and the ability of the people within different chains to connect with their customers. The second is that the modern pork industry is not telling their story very well. The Pork Industry has to better relate to typical consumers and answer their questions. The “We Care” program is a good start.

Central Michigan Swine Feed Costs
As of the week of 3.16.09


Given the following local feedstuff prices (an average of available purchase quotes):

Corn- $135.83/ton
Soybean meal (47.5% CP)- $367/ton
DDGS- $125/ton
Choice white grease- $400/ton

Our complete feed costs for sows and finishing pigs, with and without DDGS, are estimated to be:

--Choice white grease is included in diets in the following proportions: Gestation-3% Lactation-4% Grower-5% Finisher-3%--

-- Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles are included in diets in the following proportions: Gestation-13% Lactation-14% Grower-48% Finisher-26% --

Central Michigan Swine Feed Costs
As of the week of 3.2.09

Given the following local feedstuff prices (an average of available purchase quotes):

Corn- $149.65/ton
Soybean meal (47.5% CP)- $380/ton
DDGS- $126/ton
Choice white grease- $400/ton

Our complete feed costs for sows and finishing pigs, with and without DDGS, are estimated to be:

--Choice white grease is included in diets in the following proportions: Gestation-3% Lactation-4% Grower-5% Finisher-3%--

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Tom Guthrie 11.5.08

The 2008 Farm Bill amended the 2002 Act to require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of beef (including veal), lamb, pork, fish, shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) was implemented on September 30, 2008. Livestock producers will be required to provide information on the origin of their livestock. It is imperative that producers communicate with their packer regarding the packer’s decision on how they will comply with the new COOL regulations. For more information regarding COOL, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/ Scroll down to 'Spotlights' and look for the COOL information.

More from the Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference
Tom Guthrie 10.30.08

I also was fortunate enough to attend the 8th Annual Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference in Indianapolis along with Dr. Rozeboom. Dr. Richard Coffey from the University of Kentucky gave a presentation on Tools to Cope with Current Economics. As we are all well aware, production costs are escalating, especially feed input costs. The one single practice that Dr. Coffey mentioned throughout his presentation is that the most applicable to all operations regardless of size or type is feeder adjustment. Research documentation states that weanling pig performance was maximized when the feeder opening was adjusted so that the feeder gap allowed 40% of the trough to be covered with feed. In addition, properly adjusted feeders reduce the time pig spends eating and increases the number of pigs that may be fed per feeder space. Here is a feed wastage example: A 3% feed wastage equates to approximately 30 lbs. of feed for a growing-finishing pig from 50 to 250 lbs. with a 3:1 feed:gain ratio. For easy figuring, feed costs are $0.10/lb. This equals $3.00 lost per pig to feed wastage. Take home message— checking and adjusting feeders should be a normal part of daily routine!

Dust Control
D.W. Rozeboom 10.15.08

Last month I was cleaning my office and came across a letter to the editor of National Hog Farmer, dated August 15, 1990; it was about reducing dust. It was back then that a number of university research groups were evaluating the effect of adding fat to the diet on dust. Kansas State University had shown that 80% of the dust present in the buildings (and leaving the buildings via the fans - my assumption) comes from feed. That was followed by research here at Michigan State that showed that 2% fat eliminates 98% of the feed dust. So, I pulled an article I had written for the 1994 Professional Pork Producers Symposium here in Lansing and found a little more information. In the MSU study, ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations decreased as well, approximately 42% with fat inclusion, regardless of inclusion level. Results were similar for soybean oil and animal tallow. Then, at the University of Minnesota in 1992, researchers reported that: 1) adding more than 2% soybean oil did not decrease dust levels, 2) the longer feed was stored the less effective the fat was in reducing dust, and 3) particle size had no effect on dust levels. In a 1994 study at Minnesota, they concluded that there was no evidence of increased dustiness with longer feed storage times. Air quality is getting more and more pressing as of late, in relation to emissions and human health primarily, however animal respiratory health is another benefit we shouldn’t forget. Fat costs have risen and, hence, some are dropping fat from the diet of finishing pigs. Remember, though, it is hard to put a value on dust control.

Birth Weight and Pork Quality
D.W. Rozeboom 10.2.08

Birth weight has no relationship to the eventual eating quality of the meat. Researchers evaluated the chemical and taste attributes of over 1200 pigs of various birth weights. This is a nice research project recently completed Dr.’s Patience, Beaulieu, and Aalhus at the Prairie Swine Center in Saskatchewan looking at litter size and birth weight. Increased litter size resulted in decreased average piglet birth weight, but not an increase in variation. Lighter pigs at birth continued to be lighter at weaning, when exiting the nursery, and at first market cut. They took up to a week longer to reach a market weight of 265 pounds. The researchers conclude by stating that we should not try to avoid large litters. We should select pigs at birth based on body weight and sort them when going to grow-finish or wean-finish based on days to market.

Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference
D.W. Rozeboom 9.10.08

On September 4 th I was fortunate to attend the 8 th Annual Midwest Swine Nutrition Conference in Indianapolis. This year’s conference focused on nutrition for the current times. The keynote speaker was Dr. Bart Borg of Murphy Brown, L.L.C., Ames Iowa, who emphasized, among several things, the importance of particle size on feed efficiency and feed cost. He stated that decreasing particle size from 800 to 400 micron increases dietary ME by 5% and decreases the cost of production by $2.96 per head (diets of similar energy content and additional milling costs for micron reduction accounted for). He states “The value in moving micron size lower is tremendous.”

Pseudorabies Update-IMPORTANT!
June 2008

Recently, pseudorabies has been found in pigs on Michigan game farms. Pigs raised on game farms resemble their wild ancestors and may be a cross between these and domestic pigs. Currently, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, Michigan’s commercial and club pig herds remain free of the pseudorabies virus but we can not rest assured that the virus is contained on the four identified herds until MDA completes their planned testing. For more information, please see the article below written by MSU Extension Swine Veterinarian, Dr. Barbara Straw.

Pseudorabies Report

Avoid wasteful nitrogen applications this spring
Jerry May 5.28.08

With this spring’s extremely high nitrogen fertilizer prices, if pre-side dress nitrogen testing (PSNT) is not already a regular farm practice, this is the year to start. Fields that received manure last fall or early this spring will have nitrogen available for corn production. In some instances there will ample nitrogen available to meet the planned yield goal. Fields that were in wheat last year or that had manure applied after harvest, may still have nitrogen available for this year’s corn crop. On those fields a PSNT will guide your decision making process prior to making additional nitrogen applications this summer. Soil samples for PSNT’s must be taken after the soil has warmed and just prior to nitrogen side-dressing. For more information on PSNT timing, sampling and test results check out the linked article by Natalie Rector, MSU Nutrient Management Specialist.

http://portal.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.250942/workspace_id.212414/howtosample.doc/

Loading and Transportation
Beth Franz 4.25.08

Handling and transportation of swine at all stages affects the end pork product, ease of handling the animals, employee safety and carcass quality. Gentle handling, good husbandry skills and proper facility design improve the overall productivity of the animal and help to diminish any setbacks that the animal might encounter. When reviewing your building design, an area to consider is your loading and unloading ramps. In order to ease the handling process on ramps it is suggested to utilized a ramp with an elevation degree that is no larger then 20 degrees. This, in turn, will allow the animals to easily make their way onto the truck, decrease stress and remove some of the handling challenges on swine farms. Take the time, review your handling and transportation protocols and make adjustments on your farm that, in the end, will affect employee satisfaction, animal-welfare and overall profitability.

Power-Washing
Beth Franz 4.3.08

Washing, cleaning and disinfecting swine barns or rooms is a routine step in pig production. Power-washing cleans the area, removing the organic matter from previous residents. Cleaning also helps to remove the bacteria, viruses, molds and parasites that resulted from the last group of animals in the area. Finally, disinfecting uses chemicals that destroy microbial life in the barn. Combining these practices decreases the bacteria level in the room, which results in a lesser impact on the next group of pigs and improves productivity.

The length of survival of an organism must be kept in mind and depends on various factors including: protection by organic matter, sunlight and exposure to drying. If a completely washed and disinfected room is not allowed proper drying time, the pathogens in the room may not be killed and can be transmitted to incoming stock.

The power-washing methods that are present on your farm affect sanitation, prevent disease, influence growth rate and are associated with cost. Evaluation of your current washing practice should be done to maximize disease prevention by ensuring a complete wash and determining a proper disinfectant. Time should be taken to develop a washing protocol and properly train all employees in the production practice. In the end, employing the proper washing and disinfectant techniques will influence the productivity on your farm.

Proper Swine Handling
Beth Franz 3.11.08

With the public eye looking closer and closer at the agricultural industry, livestock producers within the industry need to review and update their practices. One such production practice is animal handling. We can all agree that moving and transportation of an animal can be a stressful event, but by following simple practices we can decrease that stress and make it a positive experience for the animal and handler. A few simple steps are:

• Use correct and well maintained equipment
• Keep alleyways and loading dock dry and free of loose objects
• Move pigs using the “flight zone”
• Train your animal handlers to expect common pig behaviors
• Stay calm

Take the time and review your handling protocol and the methods used on your farm; even the slightest changes can have a positive impact.

Feral Swine in Michigan
Tom Guthrie 2.27.08

Wild or free ranging pigs (feral swine) are a growing concern in Michigan. The risks to our state associated with feral swine include: 1) the potential to carry many diseases that pose a serious threat to the domestic swine population, 2) negative impacts on wildlife populations and ecosystems, 3) crop damage and 4) feral swine can be aggressive animals which poses a safety risk to humans. For more information on feral swine in Michigan, you may visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources feral swine information page: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr. Click on the hunting and trapping tab, then click on the feral swine information link.

Electronic Sow Feeders
Gerald May 11.26.07

In late October, Pork Team members Beth Franz, Ron Bates and Jerry May visited Tosh Farms, a 22,000 sow farm in northwest Tennessee. The purpose of our trip was to visit Tosh’s 3,400 sow farm that is using group gestation and electronic sow feeders (ESF) for the entire gestation phase.

Sixty-five sows are grouped 48 to 72 hours post breeding into 21’ by 48’ pen ( nearly 18 sq. ft. per sow), with one ESF set in the center of the pen. A 12 to 15% removal (rebreeds, culls etc.) is anticipated throughout gestation, so then by late gestation there will be 49 – 50 sows per pen (about 20 sq. ft. per sow). Once a group is formed there isn’t any addition to the group (stable). If a sow is removed to be rebred or receive intensive care she is not returned to that group. A group may include all parities. Gilts are acclimated and trained on the ESF for two weeks prior to entering the breeding line.

Sows on the ESF were clean, appeared comfortable with very few scratches from fighting. The farm appears to have successfully implemented the ESF technology. Our host, James Coates, credits the success of the ESF to dedication of the farm’s employees. Tosh Farms did face challenges with the ESF during start up but Coates says currently the site we visited is the best performing sow unit within the Tosh Farms system.

DDGS and Swine Diet Formulation
Tom Guthrie 10.26.07

I recently had the opportunity to attend the International Distillers Grains Conference held in Schaumburg, IL. There were representatives from all aspects of the ethanol and feed industry present which included over 100 international participants from 17 different countries. Here are a few key points extrapolated from presentations given throughout the conference when formulating swine diets containing DDGS. Key Point #1: Swine diets containing DDGS should be formulated on a digestible amino acid and digestible phosphorus basis. Key Point # 2: DDGS diets formulated for nursery pigs, grow-finish pigs and lactating sows need additional crystalline L-lysine (0.10% L-lysine for each 10% DDGS) because the protein in DDGS is low in lysine. Key Point # 3: A recent DDGS withdrawal study from the University of Minnesota suggests that DDGS can be fed to grow-finish pigs at the level 30% and then total withdrawal of DDGS for the last 21 days had no effect on pig performance. In addition, carcass characteristics (Iodine Value and pork fat quality) returned to acceptable ranges.

Top-Dress in Lactation
D.W. Rozeboom 10.8.07

Many are expressing concern about feed prices for the upcoming year. Using current futures prices for corn and soybean meal and adjusting for the expected basis, total costs during the next 12 months are estimated at $51.50 per live hundredweight (Chris Hurt, Purdue University). One cost saving measure may be daily topdressing lactating P1 and P2 sow feed with soybean meal and then formulating the lactation diet for older sows with less soybean meal. Older sows have greater feed intakes and require less dense diets. Younger sows need the additional amino acid density to help avoid poorer milk production, extended return-to-estrus, and less subsequent litter size. Top-dressing is the practice of twice-a-day walking through the lactation room and adding a cupful of 48% soybean meal to the feeders of P1 and P2 sows. If you top-dress 1 cup of 48% soybean meal at AM and PM feedings, then you are providing these sows with about 9.5 grams more lysine and also other amino acids; the equivalent of raising dietary lysine from 0.8% to 1.0%. Consequently, you are not over-feeding older sows and adding to your overall cost of production.

Young Parity Management
D.W. Rozeboom 9.17.07

A good deal of discussion at last week’s Discover Conference on “Sow Productive Lifetime” focused on keeping young sows (parity one and two) in the breeding herd. Several speakers from various farms mentioned that their breeding herd farms had a goal of having 75% of all incoming gilts farrow a third litter or, in other words, have a retention rate to P3 of 75% and 10% or less sow removal per parity. How do they plan on achieving this goal? Here are just a few proposed ideas:

• Stimulate gilts for early estrus and record number of estrous cycles
• Breed gilts at third estrus
• Target gilt body weight at first farrowing of 170 kg
• Parity segregated farms – separate sites for P’s 1 & 2
• Manage body condition and adjust gestation feed intake
• Monitor feed boxes every 30 days, checking bulk density
• Utilize ad-libitum feeders in lactation
• For P1 and P2 sows use unique diets for and measure feed intake
• Treat health problems quickly and effectively

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