Feeding and Management of Show Pigs

Tadd Knight

ADM Alliance Nutrition®

ShowTec® National Accounts Manager

Four Major Components of the Champion Show Livestock

Success Equation

1. Genetics

2. Management

3. Nutrition

4. Showmanship

• Good ones are bred, but CHAMPIONS are Fed!

• They are made at home!• Start with a good one• Feed manageable numbers• Realize—both a beauty and athletic contest• Know the judges’ priorities• Do your homework!

Sticking to the Basics

The Foundation for Success

• Ability to “read” livestock• Analyzing structure, design, fat, and

muscle• Students must be motivated to work

hard on a daily basis

Every Component Must be in Place

• Every day is critical

• Those students who do the little things right every day win consistently

• Sound daily management practices are key to show ring success

• Start with an individual that has the genetic potential to win!

• Start with one that is the right age for target show!

ADM Alliance Nutrition®

• Structural soundness• Squareness of Skeleton• Muscle Content• Body Capacity• Balance

Selection

Nutrition

• Without question, a sound nutrition program is crucial to maximizing the genetic potential of a show animal

Feeding Show Pigs

Three Phases

• Phase I – Purchase to approx. 100 lb

• Phase II – 100 to 200 lb

• Phase III – 200 lb to desired show weight

Nutrition Feeding

Phase I

• The time of purchasing and receiving is crucial!

Vaccinations

• Vaccinations should include: – Circo Virus– Mycoplasma Pnuemonia– Flu– Erysipelas

Minimize Stress

• Stressors include:*Pre-weaning

*Weaning

*Snaring, clipping, hauling to sales

*Co-mingling on school farm

Pigs from different herds have different degrees of

immunity to various health challenges

• A high-quality receiving ration is very important for early skeletal and muscle development

• A broad spectrum antibiotic in feed such as CTC/Denagard®* is a must

Phase I FeedingReceiving Ration

*Not a trademark of ADM.

Receiving Ration continued

• For young pigs weighing less than 50 lb or greener pigs over 50 lb, feed 24020 Burst Starter which is 21.5% crude protein and 6.5% fat

• For pigs over 50 lb or very “bloomy,” use 12006 Sale Prep with 20% crude protein with 5.5% fat

• Next feed 11148 Starter/Grower LN/FBZ (fenbendazole and lincomycin)

• Combats respiratory challenges

• Assures thorough deworming

• Should feed 1 bag per pig

Phase I Feeding continued

• Feeding “free-choice” to at least 100 lb is recommended to maximize early skeletal and muscle growth

• Clean feeders daily

Phase I Feeding continued

Managing the Feed Bucket

• Managing fat and muscle composition are keys to success

• Avoid gimmick products and stick with research-proven feed additives

Individualize Feeding Plans

• Analyze each pig early on and make a projected feeding plan for each pig

• Adjust plan as the feeding process moves along and pigs change

Managing Muscle

• Pigs over 50 lb that need to continue to develop muscle should be on 10194 Developer LN which is a 20% crude protein ration with 3.5% fat

• Once muscle development gets close to desired, feed 18241 BB 18 LN which is an 18% crude protein ration with 3.75% fat

Managing Muscle

• As pigs need more condition and need to maintain muscle, feed 18007 Hi Fat 18 LN which is an 18% crude protein ration with 7% fat

Managing Muscle

• For slightly above averaged muscled pigs and developing breeding gilts as well as very heavily muscled pigs, we recommend 14560 14.5/6 LN, a crumbled, complete feed providing 14.5% crude protein product with 6% fat

Managing Fat Composition

• Avoid feeding too high fat levels from 60 to 100 lb

• Utilize high-quality, highly digestible fat additives

• Start with a small inclusion level of additional fat in ration at 100 lb and adjust according to each pig

Begins from 100 to 125 lb

• Limit feeding often initiated at this time if needed

• Initially feed 6 lb per day

• Adjust according to desired daily gain needs

Phase II Feeding

Critical Decisions Need To Be Made

• The use of Paylean®* should be considered

• Additional fat supplementation?

Depends on each individual pig

How do I decide how much and when?

Phase III Feeding

*Not a trademark of ADM.

Paylean Feeding Options

• Feeding a complete feed with 9 grams per ton of Paylean®* is one option — 12228 Finisher TY/Paylean is recommended

• Supplementing feed with daily hand-mix Paylean product is 2nd option —

• 11102 Lean Maximizer® is hand mixing option• Some pigs may not need Paylean*!!!

.

Top-Dress Options

• Top-dress options exist to “tweak”

a pig in terms of gut fill, muscle

and/or fat composition, as well as

vitamin/mineral supplementation

MoorMan’s® MoorFat™

#235AAA77

Now offered in a 20-lb pail

• Use MoorFat to achieve desire show cover

• Top-dress 2-4 oz per feeding – not to exceed 10% of daily intake

• May be fed to exhibition swine, sheep, and goats

• 50-lb bag also available (235AA)

ShowTec® MoorBody™

#12111AAA15

Offered in a 40-lb bag• Provides high fat and high energy chips along with choice white

grease and palm oil• Contains citrus and beet pulp • Citrus scent• Flexible usage• Dense texture• Feed ½ to 2 lb of MoorBody in conjunction with a

ShowTec Developer Feed• Product designed for developing extra body fill and

cover as desired• 14% crude protein, 0.9% lysine, 19.5% crude fat,

13.5% crude fiber

ShowTec Navigator

• Top-dress exhibition swine at 4-8 oz/hd/day as a replacement for 1-2 lb of complete feed

• Contains Blue Lite Electrolytes™*

Tissue rehydration Use during periods of stress

• Provides complexed trace minerals Promotes healthy skin and hair growth

• Contains L-carnitine, chromium picolinate, and essential amino acids

• Contains yeast cultures and an acidifier Promotes proper intestinal pH and feed intake

• Contains Appetein™**Not trademarks of ADM.

#10200DB Offered in a 25-lb pail

Show Prep for Swine

• Latest and most desired product on market

• Complete feed with enhanced energy and balanced amino acid/electrolyte package

• Eliminates the need for multiple top-dress products

• Designed to be fed the night before and the morning of the show (2.5 lb/feeding); can also be fed 3-4 days prior to show

• Convenient, affordable

#12303AAAMB Offered in a 5-lb pouch

For more flexibility in motion . . . Command attention from the first step into the show ring with MoorFlex!

• One-of-a-kind, unique, top-dress supplement for show swine, beef cattle, goats, and lambs.

• It provides nutritional support for joint flexibility, helping show animals move with ease and comfort.

• It contains an ingredient approved for livestock feed that provides a source of natural substances recognized to influence joint health.

• Supplies Cell-Rate®, a source of nucleotides that may help fuel natural metabolic processes involved in stress, immunity, and production.

• The complexed zinc source helps optimize integrity of the hoof, gut, and skin. Plus, MoorFlex is loaded with essential vitamins.

#12298AAA5E Offered in a 3.75-lb pouch

• Feeding Directions– Show Swine: 2 to 4 oz/head/day– Show Cattle: 2 to 8 oz/head/day– Show Sheep: 2 to 4 oz/head/day– Show Goats: 2 to 4 oz/head/day

• Ordering process and for more information, log on to www.cellarator.com/MoorFlex.– Retail customers may log on at

www.cellarator.com/MoorFlex to purchase on-line or call 877-788-4448 to place an order.

– ADM ANI Dealers must call 877-788-4448 to place orders. Dealer pricing not available for on-line ordering.

Other Products• ShowTec Lean Maximizer #11102DB

Daily hand mixing of Paylean supplementation

25-lb pail• Firewater™* #11110BC

Rehydrates and expands animals at show time 36-oz container

• Alliance 3-D™ #12079AAA Liquid (oil-based) energy supplement Available in one-gal. and 40-gal. containers

*Not a trademark of ADM.

Daily Management

• Daily Management is crucial to show ring success!

• Those who do the little things right every day are usually the ones who win

• Cutting corners will cost you more in the end than paying a little more to make sure pigs are properly cared for

• Encourage students to gentle pigs down by getting into pen on a daily basis at a young age

• Bed pigs on high-quality bedding to prevent staining

• Clean area where pigs defecate on a daily basis

• Observe daily for signs of illness or lameness

Phase IManagement Tips

Phase 1 Management continued

• Utilize shade cloth for light breeds• Separate pigs in to individual pens as

early as possible to prevent injury and calm them down

• Introduce pigs to scales at early age and continue on a consistent basis

• Begin training pigs to show

• Work with pigs 15 to 20 minutes per day in a show ring environment

• Weigh the pigs weekly and chart gain

Phase II Management

Phase II

• Wash regularly and apply hair and skin conditioning products regularly

• First hair cut usually given around 125 lb

• Do not trim with less than 1A guard

Phase III Management

• Wash pigs twice per week if possible• Apply oil every day and brush at

feeding time• Keep all pigs out of elements and away

from sun exposure• Heavy pigs should be monitored more

closely on weight and rations adjusted perhaps twice per week

• Showing an animal to its potential is critical

• Possessing “ring awareness” is very important

• Accentuate the good qualities and cover up

negative ones!

• Young exhibitors should watch more experienced

showmen and learn from them!

• Train pigs to show at early age

• The more you handle the pigs the better

Showmanship

Thank You and Good Luck!