Lecture 13 - Swine Feeding & Nutrition

Question 1

True or False: Pigs are monogastric species with a well-developed cecum

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or False: Fermentation of soluble fiber occurs in the colon in pigs

Answer 2

False; soluble fiber is fermented in the small intestine (ileum) or the cecum

Question 3

True or False; Fermentation of insoluble fiber largely occurs in the colon

Answer 3

True

Question 4

What is the limiting amino acid in most swine diets?

Answer 4

Lysine

Question 5

What is considered to be the most important cost in a farm? What represents a major portion of this cost?

Answer 5

FEED is considered a farm’s most important cost, and ENERGY represents a major portion of the formula’s cost

Question 6

A pig that has not had babies or been bred

Answer 6

Gilt

Question 7

What factor influences back fat at weaning?

Answer 7

Feeding in pregnancy and lactation

Question 8

What is the correlation between back fat and longevity in sows?

Answer 8

Lower back fat thickness directly correlates with low reproductive performance

(Low reproductive performance = high culling rate)

Question 9

What is “target gestation”?

Answer 9

The process of developing progeny to avoid excessive BCS at farrowing that may make farrowing difficult on the sow

Question 10

What is “target lactation”?

Answer 10

The process of maximizing intake to produce enough milk for the piglets

Question 11

True or False: Suckling sows should be fed to appetite from day 4 to 5 until weaning, and they should be at peak intake by day 10

Answer 11

True

Question 12

What are some ways to encourage suckling sows to eat? (Multiple answers)

Answer 12

• Avoid over-feeding during gestation
• Keep house cool (once youngest piglets are >2 days old)
• Water freely available and always have fresh feed
• Feed at least 2x per day (ideally 3x)
• Provide 16 hours of light

Question 13

Why is it important that all piglets get colostrum?

Answer 13

To provide energy/nutrients to avoid starvation, liquid to prevent dehydration, and antibodies to protect from infections

Question 14

When are maternal antibodies highest in the sow’s milk?

Answer 14

At birth in colostrum (100%); percentage of maternal antibodies quickly tapers off after the first 24 hours (down to 20%) as composition of milk rapidly changes

Question 15

True or False: Percentage of maternal antibodies in sow milk decrease by 25% after the first 4 hours

Answer 15

False; 50% decrease after the first 4 hours

Question 16

MMA (mastitis/metritis/agalactia) may cause failure or low production of…

Answer 16

Colostrum

Question 17

True or False: Piglet mortality is highly correlated with low/no colostrum intake

Answer 17

True

Question 18

What are the 3 primary factors that affect colostrum intake?

Answer 18

• Birth weight (heavier piglets = more competitive)
• Birth order (earlier born piglets get more/less competing)
• Litter size (reduced individual intake with more mouths)

Question 19

Gut closure can occur in piglets as early as 24 hours after birth - what does this mean for the piglet?

Answer 19

It is no longer capable of absorbing antibodies from the gut (through the colostrum)

Extra note: Colostrum intake in the first 6 hours = CRITICAL

Question 20

What is the role of iron in the blood?

Answer 20

Absorption and transfer of oxygen

Question 21

Why is iron supplementation important for piglets?

Answer 21

Piglets are born with limited iron supplies in their body, and milk does not contain iron

Question 22

Pale white mm color, breathlessness, jaundice, scour (whiteness) around 3 weeks old, low growth rate/weaning weight are all clinical signs of which condition in piglets?

Answer 22

Anemia/Iron deficiency

Question 23

How and where are iron injections given in the piglet?

(Name the injection route and anatomical location)

Answer 23

Intramuscularly into neck muscle

Question 24

The method of supplementing diets of young livestock by offering feed while they are still nursing

Answer 24

Creep feeding

Question 25

Why is creep feeding used in commercial livestock?

Answer 25

Creep feeding initiates digestive development (making weaning process smoother) and improves weaning intakes (which improves weaning weights) (Extra info: Commercial livestock are weaned at 3 to 4 weeks instead of >10 weeks, and sow milk yield peaks at 3 weeks before declining)

Question 26

What is a good protocol for creep feeding? (When to start, amounts given, when to feed, etc.)

Answer 26

- Start around 16 days old - Fresh, small amounts, 2x per day, small tray feeder - Give while sow is feeding - Keep feeder away from heated area, and head/rear of sow - Remove any uneaten food

Question 27

True or False: Uneaten creep feed can be given to any other pigs, and it is considered beneficial to sows (especially those on medication)

Answer 27

False; uneaten creep feed can ONLY be given to older pigs, and NEVER to sows (especially not those who are medicated)

Question 28

What are the legal requirements (EU) for water in regards to suckling sows and piglets over 2 weeks old?

Answer 28

They must have PERMANENT access to sufficient quantities of FRESH water

Question 29

How much water do sows require per day? (Answer in liters)

Answer 29

20 liters (or more) per day

Question 30

How should water be provided to suckling piglets?

Answer 30

Fresh/clean water should be given via a correctly positioned nipple or bowl-type drinker (Extra note: Water pipe system should be drained about 10 days after farrowing, or linked to the sow line)

Question 31

Poor performance, diarrhea, and infections associated with diet often occur as a result of low _______ ________

Answer 31

Feed intake

Question 32

What are some factors that can cause post-weaning diarrhea?

Answer 32

- Losing maternal antibodies - Moving to new environment - Stress (many possible causes) - Possible infection - Food (change in flora or composition, too much/too little)

Question 33

What is ZnO used for, and how much is generally used?

Answer 33

Used to prevent diarrhea at 10x the nutritional levels

Question 34

True or False: To support piglet gut health in food transitions, feed should be low protein and consist of extruded soy, milk products, and fish meal (or other high quality protein)

Answer 34

True

Question 35

True or False: The first week of feed for piglets should have a porridge-like presentation and be accompanied by electrolyte solutions

Answer 35

True

Question 36

Temperature below which a resting pig must increase its metabolic rate from the basal level to meet environmental demands for heat (typically by using extra feed)

Answer 36

Lower Critical Temperature (LCT)

Question 37

The range where temperature does not affect pig performance

Answer 37

Thermoneutral Zone

Question 38

Describes the air temperature in the pen and the combined effects of air speed, floor type, air to wall temperature difference, and group size

Answer 38

Effective Environmental Temperature (EET)

Question 39

________ temperatures can cause feed conversion to deteriorate, so the pig must eat more feed. Lighter pigs are more sensitive and vulnerable.

Answer 39

Cold (Extra note: Growth rate unaffected when temperatures are only moderately low)

Question 40

What can excessive air speed cause in pigs? (Multiple answers)

Answer 40

- Reduced effective temperature - Incorrect lying behavior - Vices (such as tail biting)

Question 41

How does pig lying behavior change based on temperature? (Briefly describe for comfortable, cold, and very cold)

Answer 41

Comfortable = lying apart, on side, barely touching Cold = lying on sternum Very cold = huddling, lying on top of one another

Question 42

What kind of lying behavior will you see in pigs during periods of draught (def: a constant current of unpleasantly cold wind)?

Answer 42

Aggressive behavior and tail-biting