Need as much weight as possible..

HOGMAN632 · Post by **HOGMAN632** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:28 am

I'm helping a kid with his pigs, and need some advise. The show he's going to is Feb. 9-10. They are Durocs and weigh 235lbs. and 245lbs. He can only take one pig to the show. He's gonna feed both, as if they were both going to the show then choose the best looking one to take. They are litter mates and have been on full feed since weaning. The weight limit is 280lbs. What will give the most bang for the buck for weight gain? Want to get them as heavy as possible, without sacrificing shape and tone. He just started with paylean today. It came already mixed into the feed. Should they be left on full feed, or should they be hand fed twice daily? Which will produce more gain. What other additives or supplements would help? I know we're only talking about 10 days, but with your advise what kind of gains should be expected.
Thanks..
James

sweetp17 · Post by **sweetp17** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:30 pm

I'm going to jump in here and give you advice since no one has chimed in yet. The advice I am giving you is only from my personal experience and what I have recorded based on what we are feeding. We feed Honor feed (1 lb to 1 1/2 lb), 1 lb Powerfill (made by Honor), and a fat supplement twice a day. On this we get about a 2lb a day gain. When oat groats (about 1/2 lb.) are added our pigs can gain up to 3-4 lbs a day. I know it sounds unlikely but it works. With adding the paylean you should be able to accomplish the weight gain you are looking for. When we start paylean we also add Champion Drive Topdress (also by Honor). Good luck!

sweetp17 · Post by **sweetp17** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:31 pm

Also, we use Explode (paylean) instead of using the premixed feed.

hampy622 · Post by **hampy622** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:06 pm

Sweetpea that wont give them much of a gain, over a long period it may work but not in this situation. I would feed many times a day try to get over 8lbs in your pig per day. Only feeding your regular feed and honor powerfill if you can get it. The more feed you can get in the better gains. I would also give 9grams of paylean.

HOGMAN632 · Post by **HOGMAN632** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:32 pm

Thanks for the help.. Hampy, at what ratios do you mix the feed? How much powerfill throughout the day? The feed being used has paylean in it, but only at 9 grams per ton. Are you saying give them 9 grams a day? I've seen on here in the past where someone said to mix up a cake and give it to them, does this work? Wouldn't it add too much fat? Thanks again..
James

hampy622 · Post by **hampy622** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:19 am

I believe that to get 9grams with it mixed at 9g a ton you have to 5lb a day so i would give your pig 5lb of regular feed a day. So I would give 2.5lb of regular feed and 3lbs of powerfill twice a day if your pig will eat it all if not then decrease the powerfill a little this should get you a pretty nice gain

HOGMAN632 · Post by **HOGMAN632** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:51 pm

Here's an update.. weighed them tonight (Sat.) 244 and 256.. One gained 9 lbs, the other gained 11 lbs. That's in 3 days. We left them on the feeder to see what kinda gains we could get. I called around and couldn't find any powerfill, so I just let them eat what they had.. I think I might be in good shape, but not sure.. Time will tell..

Does paylean play a role in a pig getting stressed?
Is there a way to rule out stress, and it just be cramps?
The reason I ask is that the day after starting them on the feed with paylean, the smaller pig started locking up in his back legs after taking him out to walk him. He was fine during the walk, but after putting him back in his pen he would lock up for a minute or so, and begin to walk backwards. Then he'd lay down. Seems to do fine afterwards though. Could he be cramping up? After he done it Fri. I took and fed him 3 bananas this morning.. I remember from high school sports and getting leg cramps myself, and the coaches telling me to eat bananas.. Does this work for pigs? If in fact it is cramps and not stress..
The real bad part about the whole deal is that the one acting up is the better looking of the two.. If it's stress, can anything be done to make it go away?

Thanks
James

diceman · Post by **diceman** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:08 pm

How long are you walking your pigs and when did you start. Maybe he's getting sore just like you would if you over excercise. I wouldn't think paylean would have such an immediate affect unless your accidently feeding massive amounts. Doesn't sound like it.

ONeilShowPigs · Post by **ONeilShowPigs** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:42 pm

sounds like the paylean is making him tighten up and if its not that then paylean probably isnt helping. I would take him off the paylean and go with a 19% finisher topdressed with milk replacer to keep them eating and gaining and see if he loosens up. Talk to your vet about what kind of meds you can get to help this process

hampy622 · Post by **hampy622** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:56 pm

I would go down to 18% if not lower if the pig is locking up. Lower the paylean to 4g and see if that helps. It could be stress what is your pig bred to if it is stress postive then it is probably the paylean if it is just a carrier i wouldnt worry about it. Another alternative to powerfill is the sunglo power up I think it is called. I would push your pig a little longer to get him a little longer and then put him on about three pounds of feed and all the beet pulp he will eat and some soyoil for a nice smooth cover.

Ummm · Post by **Ummm** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:07 pm

Sunglo powerup is just a 46% fat supplement,

hampy622 · Post by **hampy622** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:12 pm

nevermind then

Ummm · Post by **Ummm** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:14 pm

what is all in powerfill?

hampy622 · Post by **hampy622** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:17 pm

beet pulp, whey theres more but i couldnt name them all with out the tag. its basically a great universal feed for holding and pushing it has everything you need in it. best speciality feed in my opinion.

Ummm · Post by **Ummm** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:19 pm

You could give it in motion which will make him walk smoother. Or full tank which is pelleted beet pulp. Or 4-sure which is an VERY GOOD electrolyte, it will also help increase appetie. Those are the main specialty products from sunglo