April 15, 2009
Blueprint focus
The volatility of feed prices in recent years has heightened producers’ awareness of the need for continual improvement in the efficiency of feed use. The use of alternative dietary components challenges nutritionists and feed processors to target performance and financial benchmarks without disrupting throughput or sacrificing pork quality.
Overview
More Efficient Use of Feed
Apr 15, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mike Tokach, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Living through the volatility of feed prices over the last two years has heightened producers' awareness of the need for continual improvement in the...
Nutrient Efficiency
Rethinking the Measures Of Dietary Efficiency
Apr 15, 2009 12:00 PM, By John Patience, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
The livestock industry has always competed with other sectors of the economy for corn and other feed ingredients. The most common example is the broad...
Feed Manufacturing
Optimizing Feed Manufacturing, Transport Options
Apr 15, 2009 12:00 PM, By Charles Stark, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Rising ingredient, energy (petroleum) and transportation costs are changing feed manufacturing practices across the U.S. pork industry. Feedmill and production...
Genetics
Understanding The Genetics of Feed Efficiency
Apr 15, 2009 12:00 PM, By Jim Schneider Genetic Consultant, Onalaska, WI
The genetic makeup of maternal (sow) lines and terminal sire lines used to produce market hogs has a considerable bearing on how efficiently their progeny...
Feeder Management
Feeder Adjustments Optimize Growth, Reduce Feed Wastage
Apr 15, 2009 12:00 PM
Recent studies at Kansas State University took a closer look at how feeder adjustments affected pig performance and feed wastage. In those studies, pigs...
