Electrolytes & Joint supplements

Basic nutrition information, show pig, sow, and boar feeding advice
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alink19
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Electrolytes & Joint supplements

Post by alink19 » Tue May 15, 2018 2:21 pm

What are the general thoughts on electrolytes and joint supplements? When should you start using them? Should it be based off need or as a routine use?

bhls
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Re: Electrolytes & Joint supplements

Post by bhls » Thu Jun 14, 2018 9:56 pm

I would recommend that all pigs who are suspect on feet and leg structure and/ or being fed Paylean be provided with a daily joint supplement (on a routine basis). Essential Equex or Stroll’n are both great options for this.

Electrolytes should be used just prior to a show and at the show. An electrolyte such as Essential Revive can keep a pig’s muscle hydrated during travel to the show if it is provided a couple days before leaving (reducing the “melt” factor sometimes caused by travel). Essential Keep ‘n On is a tremendous product to use at the show to provide body fill and a fresh look. That product is particularly beneficial when trying to prepare a hog for show when a weigh back must be accounted for.

Mary-Okie
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Re: Electrolytes & Joint supplements

Post by Mary-Okie » Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:41 am

I would concur with the previous post. We only use Electrolytes at the show. All you are trying to do is to hydrate the muscle which in turn will give you a more defined muscle pattern. Feeding/including them in their water significantly before going to a show, can actually cause more harm than good. You can lock one up by using too much electrolyte. If you are like most county fairs and you have an official weigh-in, many times you will bring one in empty to try to hit a specific weight range or try to get under the max weight. Electrolytes work well in re-hydrating a pig after weigh-in. just be careful to do it slowly and not in a massive dose all at once.

As far as joint supplements, we use Tru-Track and LubriSyn. We've tried pretty much all of them, and we have found ourselves coming back to these most consistently. It's pretty tough to beat LubriSyn in Crossbred barrows. Especially those big legged, massive guys.
Colby Ferguson
Mary-Okie Farm
cferg615@outlook.com

“Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.” Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant

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