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Author: Walter Scharlach - Spesfeed, PO Box 48, Rivonia 2128
The following article is a special collaboration
from AFMA (Animal Feed Manufacturers Association) www.afma.co.za
We thank their kind support.
Feed constitutes the major variable production cost (70%) and skillful management
of feed has a major impact on profitability (Brumm, 1994). If one looks at international
published values of feed efficiency, there is a 20 to 25% variation in feed utilisation
within the pork industry between good and bad production units (Lattz, 1997).
South Africa is no exception with a national average Dead Weight Feed Conversion
(DWFC) of approximately 4.2:1 while more efficient producers realise conversions
of 3.6:1.
The current average cost of pig feed in South Africa is around R1000/t (this includes
a mixing and milling fee). It follows that the feed production cost per kg pork
may vary from R3.50/kg (R1000/t @3.5 DWFC) in the case of good units to R4.20/kg
(R1000/t @4.2 DWFC) in the case of an average unit. The good units are competitive
with international feed costs for pork production, which, according to Pig International
(Nov, 1998), vary between R3.00 and R5.00/kg (Canada is the cheapest at R2.93/kg,
the USA is at R3.70/kg, Argentina at R3.91 and the Netherlands at R4.97). Although
it is recognised that the diet that results in the best feed efficiency may not
be the diet that produces optimal performance and carcass quality at minimal cost,
the available ingredients and costs are such that only minor changes in dietary
density are cost effective. The achievable standards for growth and feed conversion
are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Slaughter
pig standards for 1997 (Gadd, 1996):
|
Phase
|
Weight
|
Gain
|
FCR
|
Food Eaten
|
|
(kg)
|
g/d
|
g/g
|
kg
|
%
|
| Weaner |
6 - 30
|
490
|
1.58
|
36
|
14
|
| Grower/Finisher |
30 -100
|
929
|
2.46
|
172
|
65
|
| Breeder Feed @55kg per
pig produced |
55
|
21
|
| Total Feed per pig marketed |
264
|
100
|
A suckling piglet would consume about 5kg of milk dry matter (Close, 1994) to
be weaned at 6kg. A further intake of 208kg of feed (table 1) is needed to reach
a live weight of 100kg. At a total feed intake of 213kg per pig the live feed
conversion is 2.1:1. If the breeder feed is added (55kg per pig marketed) the
live weight feed conversion increases to 2.7:1. This live weight feed conversion
as well as the corresponding DWFC, at a 76% kill out percentage, is shown in Table
2. The DWFC standard is therefor about 3.5:1.
Table 2:
Total grower and herd feed efficiency expressed on an live and dead weight basis.
| |
Feed Conversion
|
| |
Live FC
|
DWFC
|
| |
100kg live weight
|
76 kg carcass
|
| Growing pigs
only |
2.1
|
2.7
|
| Growing and Breeding |
2.7
|
3.5
|
It is important to notice that the breeding pigs consume approximately 20% of
the total feed, whereas the growing/finishing pigs consume about two thirds of
the feed (table 1). The most important factors that impact on feed efficiency
are highlighted below:
Breeder herd
The productivity of the sows and the breeding policy of the unit affect the amount
of breeder feed per pig marketed.
Productivity of sows
If the number of pigs sold per sow per year is reduced by 10%, sows will consume
10 percent more feed per pig sold. This will increase the breeder feed by about
6kg per pig sold and increase the DWFC by 0.07 points.
Breeding Policy
If replacement gilts are purchased (at 100kg live weight) and not reared on farm,
the DWFC should be adjusted downwards by approximately 0.09 points.
Grower herd
The biggest overhead on a pig farm is the daily maintenance requirement, which
uses feed but generates no saleable product. Studies reported by Close (1997)
suggest that the maintenance requirement of modern genotypes represent almost
40 percent of the total feed intake, compared to only 25 percent of unimproved
pigs. As the maintenance portion is mainly a function of live weight, is becomes
clear that a slow down in growth rate towards the end of the growing period will
invariably reduce feed efficiency.
Fast Growth rate
Fast Growth reduces the grow-out time and thereby the feed required for maintenance.
Fast growth is always important, but more so at the end of the growing cycle when
the maintenance cost's are highest. Some of the most important factors that may
reduce the growth performance are listed below:
Temperature
Fast growing pigs are very sensitive to high temperature especially during
the last month of growth. A 1øC increase in temperature above the comfort
temperature will reduce feed intake and hence growth by 30g. This is shown in
table 3:
Table 3: Effect of temperature on
growth performance of pigs (Ohio, 1991)
|
Temp
°C
|
Growth
(g/d)
|
FCR
g/g
|
|
10
|
800
|
4.38
|
|
20
|
850
|
3.79
|
|
30
|
441
|
5.02
|
Stocking density
The actual space allowance per pig is more critical than the number of pigs in
a group. The recommended stocking densities in the Canadian Code of Practice for
the care and handling of pigs (Patience et al, 1997) are shown in table 4. At
higher stocking densities feed intake will be reduced by approximately 3% per
0.1 m2 reduction in floor allowance.
Table 4: Recommended stocking densities
in the Canadian Code of Practice (Patience, 1997)
|
Body Weight
(kg/pig)
|
Floor space
m2/pig
|
|
25
|
0.33
|
|
50
|
0.53
|
|
75
|
0.70
|
|
100
|
0.85
|
Fatness
The synthesis of fatty tissue requires approximately 3.5kg feed per kg, while
lean tissue only requires 1.25kg feed per kg (Whittemore, 1993). It follows that
any reduction in grading (increase in fatness) will invariably reduce the feed
efficiency.
Feed Wastage
Recent work has shown that the average Australian pig farm wastes approximately
10 percent of the feed. The local figure for feed wastage may be similar. The
mechanical adjustment and repair of feeders should therefor be a daily management
priority. A standard rule is that about 50% of self-feeder trough bottom should
be visible. Trough bottoms that are completely covered with feed are probably
wasteful.
Loss in Protein deposition
A pig's genetic merit is determined by its ability to deposit lean meat. Lean
deposition follows a rainbow-like curve. For improved animals the lean deposition
may peak higher and decline slower. Any decline in lean meat deposition during
the finishing stage reduces feed efficiency.
Conclusion
The breeding herd consumes about 20% of all feed and is therefor a relatively
small contributor to feed efficiency. Poor feed efficiency is almost always
caused by the feeder herd.
Due to the high cost of maintenance of modern genotypes, fast growth rate is
of utmost importance. It is important to ensure that there is no slow-down in
growth towards the end of the growing cycle.
For good feed efficiency the difference between good and poor finishers should
be known. "Cramming" pigs through inefficient growing/finishing facilities
will only add cost and decrease profitability.
References
Brumm, M. 1994. Pork Expo, gopher://gopher.ext.vt.edu70/00/docs/aps/aps-522.
Close, W.H. 1994. Personal communication.
Close, W.H. 1997. Feeding new genotypes: Establishing amino acid/energy requirements
pp123-140 In: Principles of Pig Science. Editors, Cole, D.J.A., Wiseman, J.,
Varley, M.A.,
Butterworths, London
Gadd, J. 1996. Slaughter pig nutrition. In: The Pig Pen. Volume 4, No 1.
Lattz, D.H. 1997. The Economics and Profit Potential of Hog Production. http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~pork/HOGPROD97.aspl
Ohio, 1991 gopher://gopher.ext.vt.edu70/00/docs/aps/aps-522
Patience J.F., Thacker, P.A. and de Lange, C.F.M. 1995. Swine Nutrition Guide
2nd Edition.
Prairie Swine Centre inc.
Pig International Nov, 1998. The production cost comparison. Nov 1998, Volume
28, 11. Whittemore, C.T. 1993. The science and practice of pig production. Longman
Group UK.
Author: Walter Scharlach - Spesfeed, PO Box 48, Rivonia 2128
Who saw this article? New!
 DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE.
| 02/25/2005 |
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|
Michelle Asistido
Philippines |
|
I want to know your specific internal control policies and procedures regarding the conversion cycle.
| Answer Checked by Engormix.com  |
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