Blend feeding-an economic option for growing pigs
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1997
Conference Title
Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia (RAAN)
Place of Publication
Armidale
Keywords
Pigs, Diets, Economic options, Amino acid, Blend feeding
Disciplines
Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Agriculture | Animal Sciences | Food Science | Meat Science | Nutrition
Abstract
It is customary to feed pigs three different diets between weaning and slaughter, but since the amino acid requirements are constantly changing during this period the pig is frequently fed a diet that is supplying excess amino acids. Phase feeding incorporates a greater number of diets between weaning and sale to overcome this problem, with diets being changed about every four weeks. Blend feeding, by which two diets are mixed together in varying ratios, can mean a change in diet to a group of pigs at least weekly. This has the potential to reduce feed costs and the nitrogen content of the effluent. Simulation models, such as AUSPIG, can be used to calculate the amino acid requirements at any live weight (IN) and hence provide the means by which a blend feeding system can be designed. The aim of this experiment was to compare the performance of pigs fed diets based on a blend feeding system to the more traditional system of feeding only a grower and a finisher diet.
Recommended Citation
Mullan, B.P., Pluske, J.R., Hooper, J. and Wilson, R.H. (1997). Blend feeding – an economic option for growing pigs. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia ‘97, University of New England, Armidale, p241.
