Feeding On A Curve: Savings In The Finisher
By Corey Jones, Feedlogic Corp.
With high feed prices, the temptation is to take cost out of finishing diets by reducing inclusion rates or eliminating certain ingredients. But that carries with it the risk of poor performance and health issues.
What if there was a way to stick with the same proven ingredients, but just feed them in a more efficient way? We believe there is – by feeding on a curve using FeedSaver and NutriSync technology.
The principal is quite simple. We have known about phase or step feeding for years – the idea that diet changes as the growing pigs’ nutritional needs change with age and weight. Feeding on a curve takes it a step further (no pun intended). Rather than changing the diet five or six times during a typical finishing period, curve feeding allows far more frequent diet changes to more closely match requirements at different stages of growth (see Figure 1). This has the potential to lower feed cost by reducing the amount of overfeeding of nutrients and improve performance by maintaining a correct lysine/energy balance for longer periods.
Figure 1
The challenge with curve feeding is logistics. Feed mills have enough trouble today manufacturing six diets, let alone over 20 diets. Managing feed budgets also gets messier when more diets are added. The only way it can work is if the diets are “manufactured” and the feed budgets managed at the barn level. FeedSaver and NutriSync can do this.
Here’s how it works: Two base diets are manufactured at the mill – one a high protein/lysine, the other a low protein/lysine. Each typically contains similar base ingredients (corn, soy, minerals, vitamins) in different amounts.
Using NutriSync software, we create a feed curve which combines the high and low base diets in varying ratios to match the pig needs. The curve is divided into segments which can be managed separately to accommodate different stages of growth. You can adjust the frequency of diet changes and the level of ratio changes within each segment.
With these tools, it’s possible to create curves specific to different genetics (to account for different feed intakes and feed conversion rates), to different sexes (barrows vs. gilts), and to different performing pigs (lights sorted off and fed differently).
Once the curve has been programmed, it’s entered into the FeedSaver delivery system and the rest of the process is automatic. The feed mill doesn’t have to manage a budget – it simply needs to keep the same feed in the same bin for the entire finishing period. Additionally, the FeedSaver system can monitor bin inventories and notify the feed mill or site manager via email when bin levels reach a critical low point. The FeedSaver system blends the correct diet into each feeder and tracks total consumption for each group of pigs.
FeedSaver also allows you to track total feed cost to date per pig based on actual invoiced feed pricing. This allows you to realize the impact of ingredient pricing changes before you ship a particular group of pigs – important if you have pigs contracted at a specific price or your packer grids are tight.
The first FeedSaver system is currently operational in a finisher barn in Minnesota which is getting close to the end of its first turn. Barrows and gilts are being fed on different feed curves using just two base diets. The preliminary results look good – feed costs are lower than three other barns on the same site being fed the standard stepped diets and performance is comparable or better.
We will have more data and more information on FeedSaver strategies in future articles.
Corey Jones is Service Manager for Feedlogic Corporation. He has a Masters Degree in Swine Nutrition from Kansas State University. Contact: cjones@feedlogic.com or 515-418-2153
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