The Wednesday Group met in Norfolk to discuss ad lib feeding, with Philip Van den Brink, Tim Rymer and Len Phoenix of JSR.
Using sugar beet and soya hulls in rations can bring particular benefits. Sugar beet aids slower digestion in the colon and reduction of straw intake can help with mycotoxin concerns. Soya hulls are good when fed to finishers for the control of prolapsed pigs.
The group heard that the Dutch feed their gilts ad lib and, to stimulate sows
from weaning to mating, top dress feeding at 1/2kg/day was suggested.
Plus, the importance of vermin control when ad lib feeding was highlighted.
The January 2010 meeting of the Wednesday Pig Group will be a maize
workshop. Colin Stone will provide photos of recent visit to contractor
where they grow maize under polythene and the group will look at crimped maize
analysis. 1kg crimped maize is equal to 4kg wheat in feed
value.