32 Pork News & Views Better Pork April 2021 Pork News & Views Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Better Pork | April 2024 of protein. There are 22 different amino acids that combine to make protein, 10 of which are essential, meaning they must be provided in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the pig. Diets should be balanced based on their amino acid content, and not on the total crude protein content. When a pig consumes a protein source, it is broken down into individual amino acids in the intestinal tract. The individual amino acids are transported to various tissues around the body, where they can be used for muscle protein synthesis or other protein synthesis (enzymes, transport proteins, immune proteins, milk protein, etc.). Lysine is typically the most limiting amino acid in pig diets, and thus should be used as the basis of formulations. Vitamins and Minerals Vitamins and minerals are considered micronutrients, meaning they are only required in small amounts by the animal, but are essential for proper functioning of all physiological processes within the body. Many vitamin and mineral requirements can be met through standard feed ingredients, but not all. For this reason, it is imperative that a vitamin and mineral premix be included in all swine feed. Deficiencies, excesses or imbalances of most vitamins and minerals can cause health and/or production issues. Iowa State University has an excellent resource page on nutritional deficiencies that may be encountered with pigs (https:// vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/FSVD/ swine/index-diseases/nutritional-deficiencies). Premixes will vary in composition based on the age/size of the pig and its productive function (growth vs. reproduction). If you are mixing diets on farm, you can purchase a premix from a local feed mill or store. If you are purchasing complete feed through a company, your nutritionist will have formulated the correct vitamin and mineral premix into the diets. Water Water makes up over 80% of a neonatal pig’s body weight and approximately 50% of a market pig’s body weight. Water is essential to life and is involved in many physiological processes within the body, including but not limited to: Temperature regulation of the animal Structural form via cell turgidity Movement of nutrients to cells Removal of waste products from cells Chemical reactions within the body Lubrication of joints Protective cushioning of the nervous system Pigs obtain water through three main sources: Direct consumption of water Water found in feed Metabolic water produced du- ring chemical reactions in the body Water is lost from the body by four primary routes: Respiration from the lungs Evaporation from the skin Defecation from the intestinal tract Urination from the kidneys Water consumption varies significantly between different sizes of pigs and can be impacted by the environment and dietary intake. For example, consumption can increase by 15-50% if barn temperatures are above the pig’s temperature comfort zone. Considerations for Formulating and Making Swine Diets It is recommended that pig producers work with a feed company and/or nutritionist to develop a balanced feeding program appropriate to their farming operation. Whether you are a hobby farmer, a commercial producer or anything in between, a sound nutrition program is key to being successful and raising healthy pigs. Many producers purchase complete feeds from local feed companies, while others will mix their own feed on farm using specific formulations. Either option (or a combination of both) is a valid system for feeding your pigs. Be sure to include a proper vitamin and mineral mix into your diets if mixing your own feed on farm. It is important to understand that nutrients supplied by different feed ingredients vary greatly. Grains vs. oilseeds vs. by-products used as feed ingredients all have very different nutritional profiles. Additionally, the same grain (corn for example) can vary in its nutritional content based on the cultivar, growing season, growing location, etc. If you are growing your own feed, you should have it tested for its nutritional composition before feeding it to your pigs. Sometimes, feed ingredients can become contaminated with mycotoxins, which have negative impacts on pig health and performance. When testing ingredients for their nutrient composition, it is recommended they also be tested for their mycotoxin levels. For more information on mycotoxin impacts to pigs, testing protocols and strategies to manage ingredients in years where contamination is high, visit https://www.ontario.ca/ page/effects-mycotoxins-swine and https://www.ontario.ca/page/feeding-mould-and-mycotoxin-contaminated-corn-swine. Energy and protein are the main nutrient components in a swine ration. Grains such as corn, barley, wheat, and oats traditionally supply energy, while protein typically comes from meals produced from oilseeds such as soybean and canola. Feed ingredients also supply essential vitamins and minerals to the pig.
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