Help! 5 of our showpigs need to gain approx 40 lbs in 20 days. Changed to all Purina diet consisting of the following things over past 3 weeks (except paylean, just added it). Seemed to speed up growth some, but need more to make min weight...
4 lbs 809
8 oz powerfill
8 oz champ drive
8 oz heavy weight
8 oz ultra full
4 oz depth charge
1 scoop (4.5g) paylean
4 eggs
1 small scoop of milk replacer
Divided in half, slopped and handfed. On concrete in a well vented barn with fans and mister system. Fresh water on demand. Clean up feed most of the time. Has been really hot temp wise so some eat better than others.
Here is a avg daily weight gain for all 5 pigs for the past 3 weeks: 2.28, 2.0, 1.9, 1.9, 2.09. End approx weights are 215, 210, 208, 208 and 211 if they continue this average. Which is very close but want to do all we can before to make sure since these are our girls 4H projects. Worried with walking more it will change avg/end result. Never have had a problem before making weight so this is stressful to our family! Any assistance, tips or tweaking to what we are currently doing is more than appreciated, thank you!
Need help gaining, use purina products!
Re: Need help gaining, use purina products!
Here is what I would do.
1. Replace 809 with 909 if possible. It is grind and mix and will slop better.
2. Remove the Powerfill. It is used for holding pigs at a weight not pushing. At least that is what I use it for.
3. Remove the depth charge and ultra full. They are fillers. I understand that you may want to increase rib shape and it will increase capacity, but at this point it won't help to make a minimum weight in my opinion.
4. Increase the 909 or 809.
Pigs should eat 4-5% of their body weight each day. So they should be eating 5-6 lbs/feeding or more if they are doing good.
I like the ground feed vs. the pellets for slopping as I can mix it like a milkshake and I think they eat it better IMO.
What I would do in your shoes. The weather has not helped this year. Good Luck!
1. Replace 809 with 909 if possible. It is grind and mix and will slop better.
2. Remove the Powerfill. It is used for holding pigs at a weight not pushing. At least that is what I use it for.
3. Remove the depth charge and ultra full. They are fillers. I understand that you may want to increase rib shape and it will increase capacity, but at this point it won't help to make a minimum weight in my opinion.
4. Increase the 909 or 809.
Pigs should eat 4-5% of their body weight each day. So they should be eating 5-6 lbs/feeding or more if they are doing good.
I like the ground feed vs. the pellets for slopping as I can mix it like a milkshake and I think they eat it better IMO.
What I would do in your shoes. The weather has not helped this year. Good Luck!
Re: Need help gaining, use purina products!
Cyclone is dead on. When you are just trying to hit the minimum weights then you have to get rid of the depth charge, powerfill, etc. They are exactly what his says "fillers". Those hogs will only eat so much wasting pounds of feed with filler are a mistake.
Sloping them also would be a good idea in my mind but you can slop with the pellets.
Sloping them also would be a good idea in my mind but you can slop with the pellets.
Re: Need help gaining, use purina products!
Whats been said so far is good advice. I would also increase your heavyweight to 1 pound a day.
and wet slop the feed to a runny oatmeal consistency. Feed as much to the hogs as they will take. If your feeding 3lbs per feeding then go to 4 lbs and keep going until they begin to leave food in the bowl.
Also are you on Paylean and can the hog handle it soundly. If so I would start today on Paylean 9gm
and wet slop the feed to a runny oatmeal consistency. Feed as much to the hogs as they will take. If your feeding 3lbs per feeding then go to 4 lbs and keep going until they begin to leave food in the bowl.
Also are you on Paylean and can the hog handle it soundly. If so I would start today on Paylean 9gm
Take something good out of every experience you have.