Gilt feeding advice

[buckibri]

Kevin

I have a few hamp gilts born early March that I would like to feed for state fair entries in mid August.

These pigs are showing good muscle and good natural body depth at 60#. Two of the gilts I would call small framed and the others are average to above average for today's show Hamps. I plan on sorting the small framed gilts out and show feeding the bigger gilts.

Just wondering if you could give me your recs on feeding these gilts to show.

[buckibri]

Should have typed that I plan on feeding honor.

[kgb]

I apologize that it's taken me a few days to respond. Basically for feeding breeding gilts in the end (Showring) you want them big, sound and broody.

Muscle yes, more cover than barrows yes. By broody I mean maternal; big bodied full bellies, low flanks, wide made. A pig that looks "productive" and "reproductive". One that a spears fast growing, fresh and youthful and will lay down have pigs and remained them.

So, grow is important and so is fat cover. That should tell us that feeding fat like High Zoctane Heavy Weight is a good thing to do. Start at about 100 lb at 4 oz per day. When they get to 150 lbs bump it to 8 oz per day. At 200 lb bump it to 12 oz per day.

Start adding High Octane Depth Charge (if needed) at 126 lb or so at 8 oz per day. Then increase if necessary at 150 and 175 lb. remember we want them to "belly down" so feeding High Zoctabe Ultra Full is also a good thing. If the gilt already had a big full flank and belly you probably won't need Ultra Full until the final 30 days at 1 - 2 lb per day. But if she's not look at adding Ultra Full about 10 - 14 days after you start Depth Charge (good idea to stagger the start of supplements so you are not starting then all at the same time).

For heavily muscled gilts I suggest feeding HSC 809 from 70 lb to show. For gilts needing help with muscle feed 708 until about 150 lb. you can also feed 909 (in deferent ways).