31 Pork News & Views Pork News & Views Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Better Pork | April 2024 How much nutrient is being removed over the period of a rotation? Where in the rotation is manure added? Where in the rotation is commer- cial fertilizer added? At the end of a rotation, how much change is there in soil ferti- lity status? When is it more economical to sell or trade manure? Timing of application to maximize nutrient availability Liquid and solid manure composition affects nutrient - but especially nitrogen – availability. Timing of application will affect how much nitrogen is available to a subsequent crop of corn or wheat. What are the factors that influence availability of all nutrients, but especially nitrogen? What impacts nutrient losses and when are those losses a concern? Some of the strategies for determining proper nitrogen rates of commercial fertilizer for corn or cereal crops can also be used when utilizing manure with commercial nitrogen. Timing of application Incorporation Placement Nitrogen credits Use of nitrogen inhibitors Weather New Technology What are some of the new features in manure handling that may improve the economics and/or logistics of manure handling? Strategies to improve 4R (time and place) Strategies for reducing GHG emissions Strategies for moving manure (i.e., from high fertility fields to low fertility fields) Application equipment (i.e., frac tanks, pipelines, toolbars, robo- tics etc.) Manure and Soil Health Soil health = adding carbon. Where does manure fit? Solid manure vs liquid manure Microbial diversity – (adding diversity vs feeding diversity) Synergy with liquid manure and cover crops (Figure 3) Christine Brown, Field Crops Sustainability Specialist, OMAFRA christine.brown1@ontario.ca A Pig Feeding Primer in Two Parts Part 1: Nutrient Requirements of Pigs and Considerations for Making Diets Introduction Pigs are omnivores, which means they can eat foods of both plant and animal-based origin. They are also a monogastric species, meaning they have a stomach with a single compartment, like humans. Because of how the digestive system of the pig is designed, they are not suited to rely only on forage or pasture-based diets to meet their nutrient requirements. For a pig to thrive, they must be fed a balanced diet which contains: Energy (fats and carbohydrates) Amino Acids (protein) Vitamins Minerals Water Feeding pigs correctly will impact how long it takes for a hog to go to market, their meat quality, breeding success and health. No single diet will suit all farming operations because nutrient requirements will vary according to many different factors such as: The breed or genetics of the animal The type of housing system they are in (indoor, outdoor, mixed) How they are managed The health status of the animals The season/time of year or climate they are raised in The age of the animal The reproductive status of the animal The purpose of this article is to outline the basic nutrient requirements of pigs and important considerations when formulating and making diets. Nutrient Requirements for Pigs Energy Energy is needed for maintenance and growth, as well as reproductive functions. Energy needs are primarily met by fats and carbohydrates, although a small amount can be generated from dietary amino acids. Fats provide high levels of energy. Carbohydrates can be divided into ‘high energy’ and ‘low energy’ carbohydrates. Starches and sugars are considered high energy, whereas fibre is considered low energy because they are harder for the pig to digest and utilize as nutrients. Protein Amino acids are the building blocks Figure 3: Impact of liquid manure on cover crops.
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