There are so many details that go into achieving success in the ring. Genetics, selection, management, healthy environment, feed, and daily care… but maybe the most important is nutrition. As a beginner, it is a great practice to understand the basic nutritional elements your pig requires and why they require them. This knowledge will not only help you gain a better understanding of what nutrients will do what for your show pig, but it will also provide you with the knowledge to help better manage your feeding program and understand what is fueling your project.

In part two of our Feeding Showpigs series - we will dive into the 6 basic nutrient requirements of pigs, what the nutrients are, what each does and how you can use this knowledge to properly read a feed tag and understand what you’re putting into your project! Let’s dig in!

Your show pig will require 6 basic nutrients; water, energy (carbohydrates), protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Ensuring your show feed ration is properly balanced with the required nutrients, and providing fresh clean water daily, is essential to help maximize their genetic potential, performance and growth. 

Water: 

While you may think your show feed will make the biggest difference in your animal’s composition, don’t overlook the fact that water is the MOST essential nutrient in the diet. It must be supplied at an optimal amount in order for your showpig to achieve proper growth, development and performance. A shortage of water will result in dehydration, sickness and other negative side effects. It is important to always ensure your pig has access to clean and fresh water at all times. Even with free access to automatic watering systems, unexpected low flow rates could cause your pig to consume inadequate levels, so it’s imperative to check and make sure your water system is functioning at every feeding! 

Energy:

Carbohydrates are the primary source for energy in the pigs diet. Energy is important to help support proper maintenance, growth and movement. Sources for carbohydrates in the diet include corn, barley, wheat and oats; the most common of these being corn. From a palatability and utilization standpoint, Grains in swine feed are ground often to a 550 to 650 micron particle size. If whole or cracked corn is present, utilization will be less, and if the feed is finely ground into flour, pigs often will have reduced intake and a higher incidence of stomach ulcers.

Fat:

Fat in the diet serves as a secondary energy source alongside carbohydrates. Fat sources in the diet actually provide over two to three times more energy than carbohydrates or proteins, but it is often included at a lower percentage in the diet due to cost of source. Fat sources in the diet can come in solid or liquid forms and are either derived from animal sources or plant sources. Choice white grease and beef tallow are considered animal derived fat sources, while corn oil, soybean oil and canola oil are often listed as plant derived sources. 

Protein: 

Protein is the building block of muscle development and repair in the showpig. More than just building muscles, protein supports hair, hooves, skin, and internal organ development. The predominant protein source in the growing and finishing showpig diet is soybean meal. One important construct to understand when evaluating a feed is the difference between crude protein and amino acids. Pigs have NO true requirement for crude protein, but rather for individual amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks that make up crude protein. There are 22 different amino acids, 10 of which are considered essential. Because amino acids are not produced by the pig, they must be supplied in the feed. When evaluating a diet, it is important to look at amino acid inclusion and levels, not crude protein, because crude protein levels tell little of the diet quality. Of the essential amino acids in the diet, lysine is the most limiting amino acid for swine, or the one that we use as the highest priority amino acid in swine diets. If a pig’s diet does not provide the proper amount of lysine and other essential amino acids it will develop less muscle, more fat, and grow more slowly than a pig that receives the proper concentration of amino acids. The total lysine percentage in the diet will ALWAYS be listed on the tag. 

Vitamins:

Just like you take your daily vitamins, livestock need it too! Even though they represent a small percentage of the diet, vitamins are vitally important for the support of normal body functions. B-Vitamins help keep eyes, skin, teeth and bones healthy. Vitamin C serves as an antioxidant and supports tissue growth and stress reduction. Vitamin A heals wounds and fights bugs. Vitamin D helps with bone and teeth support. Vitamin E supports immunity and reproductive function and Vitamin K keeps blood clotting correctly. While some vitamins are produced naturally by the pig, many others must be supplemented in the feed. It is important if restricting the feed intake of your show pig, a complete vitamin/mineral supplement should be fed as well.

Minerals:

Similar to vitamins, minerals are included in small amounts in the diet, but play an important role in bodily functions including, structural support and development, metabolic functions and regulatory functions. Mineral requirements are divided into two categories based on mineral type. Microminerals are included in the smallest amounts and include minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, manganese, iodine and selenium. Macrominerals are included in slightly larger amounts and include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium and chloride.

Evaluating the composition of your feed and nutrient profile

When it comes to actual nutrient levels of show pig diets, the majority of show pig diets are formulated in excess of the actual requirements that the pig needs. This in part is due to provide a margin of safety. Since show pigs can go through periods of stress from hauling and showing and returning back home, providing a balanced diet with all essential nutrients is very important. Most show feeds are also developed to be problem free, that is to have enough nutrients in the event that someone mismanages the feeding of their pig, the diet can help make up for those errors.

When looking at the nutritional composition of your ration or pig feed, start with evaluating the protein. Protein levels typically vary between 14 to 20 percent. These levels coincide with the lysine level listed as well. Lysine levels will typically vary from 0.8% to 1.4%. The exact level of protein and lysine can vary depending on what stage of the growth cycle your pig is in. Typically younger pigs just starting on feed will require a greater level of protein (20% CP and 1.4% lysine) to support growth and muscle development versus an older, heavier weight pig that may require less (16% CP and 0.8% lysine). Also, very heavy muscled pigs can be fed at 10% ration to prevent excess muscle from developing, which may decrease their show ring appeal. Below is an example of the approximate lysine requirement of pigs from weaning to market weight. 

As your pigs grow and age, the protein level will taper off in favor of more energy and fat. Energy and fat sources later on in life will help fill out your pigs frame. Fat should make up between 3.5 and 6.5 percent of your pig’s diet. Similar to protein, the amount of fat in the diet should gradually decrease as your pig develops and grows closer to their target show, and as a general rule of thumb, from a nutritional need prospective, the nutrient content of a diet should decrease with the increasing age of a pig. This is simply a function that an older pig consumes more feed per day, thus the diet can contain less nutrients and the pig will still meet all of its needs. However, keep in mind that as your pig grows to a heavier weight, their water intake will conversely increase.

The nutrition of show pigs can involve many decisions throughout the show season for your pigs. While feeding can quickly become complex by adding additives, it is important to start by sticking to the basis and getting a good grasp on the key nutrients that support normal health and development. For more complex feeding strategies and adjustments to fine tune your show pig - tune into our next blog Feeding Showpigs 103!