Feed management
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
1 like•2,648 views
Dust and nutrients in the manure are a potential source of odor emissions from swine farms. Feed management practices can have a significant impact on odor and dust control.
Recommended
More Related Content
Similar to Feed management
Similar to Feed management (20)
More from National Pork Board
More from National Pork Board (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Feed management
- 1. Feed Management Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
- 2. Feed management practices • Feed/diet formulation • Split sex feeding • Phase feeding • Particle size – grinding or pelleting • Low dust emission feed system • Liquid feeding Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
- 3. Spilled feed • Attracts rodents, birds and other pests • Spoils and creates odor • Adds unnecessary nutrients to the manure Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
- 4. Spoiled feed • Feed bin management • Feed ordering • Clean out spoiled feed • Check bin structure Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
- 5. Feeder adjustments Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
- 6. Ad-lib feeders Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
- 7. Individual feeders Conclusion Individual feeders Ad-lib feeders Feeder adjustments Spilled & spoiled feed Feed management practices
Editor's Notes
- Dust and nutrients in the manure are a potential source of odor emissions from swine farms. Feed management practices can have a significant impact on odor and dust control. Nutritionists formulate diets that closely meet the pig’s requirements, without excessive nutrients, nitrogen excretion or ammonia emissions. Similarly, feed can be manufactured in fine ground or pellet form. Fine grinding will reduce particle size, increasing the surface area of the grain particles enabling the pig to more efficiently digest the feed and excrete fewer wasted nutrients. Pelleted feed reduces feed wastage and dust. Feed that is formulated for different phases in the pigs life and split sex feeding, better meets the animal’s protein and other nutrient requirements, which may result in reduced feed waste, reduced feed costs and reduced nutrients in the manure. A closed feed system in the barn and liquid feeding are options to reduce dust. Dust can potentially cause respiratory disease in the pigs and health problems for the animal caretakers. Dust can also carry gases, odors and bacteria into the environment.
- On the farm, it is the animal caretaker’s responsibility to ensure that feed is not wasted. Feed waste is costly to the operation and impacts the environment. When feed is spilled, either inside or outside of the farm, it can cause a number of problems. It can attract pests such as birds and rodents that may bring disease. As spilled feed decomposes, it causes odor and feed that falls into manure storage provides nutrients to the manure, which in turn creates more odor. It is imperative that spilled feed be cleaned up right away.
- To prevent spoiled feed it is important to manage the feed in the bins and to monitor the structure of the bins. Ordering feed regularly helps ensure feed does not sit for too long in the feed bin where it may spoil. Tandem feed bin systems make this process easier and avoid “feed out” situations. Make sure feed bin lids are closed completely to prevent both water and birds contaminating the feed. This is especially important after feed deliveries. Spoiled feed should be removed from the bin to prevent contamination of fresh feed and to prevent it accidentally being fed to animals. The structure of the feed bin should be checked regularly to ensure that damage or rust is not allowing water to enter which may cause feed spoilage. If damage or rust is found notify your supervisor to schedule repairs.
- It is essential to ensure that feeders are set correctly, to ensure the animal’s nutritional needs are met, to reduce feed wastage and to minimize costs. Studies have shown that feed waste can account for up to 8 percent of the feed offered. Feed that falls into the manure provides a readily available source of nutrients for bacteria which can result in gas emissions and odors. Checking feeders daily and adjusting as necessary ensures that pigs receive the fresh feed they require every day and reduces problems associated with wasted feed.
- Ad-lib feeders are typically found where there are growing animals such as the finishing barn, nursery or gilt development unit. Ad-lib feeders allow the pigs access to feed at all times. Pigs are messy eaters and can waste large amounts of feed as they sort through it. They get it on their snouts and face which then falls off as they move away from the feeder. Adjusting feeders correctly helps prevent this occurring as well as minimizing stale feed in the trough which pigs may root through and spill onto the floor or pit. If feed is on the floor, it is being wasted and action should be taken. Your farm may have protocols on how to set feeders and these should always be followed but, as a general rule, the feeder should be adjusted so that less than one half of the trough bottom has feed exposed. The method for adjusting the flow will vary by feeder type. It may be a bolt or crank type that needs to twisted or it may have a “lever and notch” system. Ask your supervisor to show you how to adjust the feeders on your farm. Broken or hard to adjust feeders should be reported, repaired or replaced as soon as possible to limit wasted feed. Also, if pigs have to fight for feed because of limited feeder space, significant amounts of feed can be wasted. Make sure that there is adequate feed space for the number of pigs in the pen.
- Individual feeders are typically found in the breeding, gestation and farrowing barns. In these barns animals are fed individually to better manage their nutrition needs and to keep them in a healthy condition at each production phase. Check feeders daily to be sure that all animals are receiving their daily feed requirement but that feed is not being wasted. Broken feeders should be reported, repaired or replaced as soon as possible to minimize feed waste. Clean spoiled, uneaten feed out of the feeder or trough before adding fresh feed. It is important to recognize why feed placed in front of the animal has not been consumed. It may be because the animal is sick, in which case timely and appropriate treatment may be necessary. Sows may not consume as much feed if they are in heat, or too much feed may have been provided at a prior feeding, in which case it may be appropriate to reduce the amount.
- Proper feed management and feeder adjustment is key to efficient to production and cost management but will also help to minimize odor and dust levels on the farm. Clean up feed spills promptly, use good management practices to minimize feed spoilage and always ensure all feeders are adjusted correctly.