BU-07736     2002

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Designing Feeding Programs for Natural and Organic Pork Production

Suggested Diets

Example diets for the growing pig, gestating sow, and lactating sow are provided in Tables 2 – 7. These diets have been formulated to provide complete nutrition for the animal, without forage or pasture supplementation, and serve as only a few examples of how many different ingredients might be used in various combinations for natural or organic pork production. The example diets are based on tabular values for total nutrient content of the selected ingredients and do not consider differences in nutrient digestibility of ingredients. Once one determines which ingredients will be used in a particular diet, final diet formulations should be calculated on a digestible amino acid and digestible phosphorus basis to ensure optimal pig performance. Diets have been provided for summer and winter (assuming 32° F environmental temperature). During the winter months, pigs will consume additional feed to meet increased maintenance energy requirements, and therefore a lower amino acid concentration is necessary in the feed to meet the pig’s amino acid requirement for growth. A variety of feed ingredients can be incorporated into swine diets, but correct formulation is key to ensuring animals satisfy their nutritional requirements. Individual ingredients will vary somewhat from nutrient levels assumed in these example diets, and therefore sampling and nutrient analysis of these feedstuffs should be conducted prior to formulation. In addition, the pig’s nutrient requirements will vary depending on genetics, environment, phase of growth, and age of animal. Producers should survey available ingredients that meet organic specifications, and then formulate diets utilizing those ingredients based on nutritional requirements for their operation and cost of nutrients supplied by the ingredients. Diets formulated to meet organic requirements may reduce performance as compared to traditional diets because of difficulties in meeting all nutritional needs. Producers are encouraged to use a diet formulation program or seek assistance from an experienced nutritionist when formulating diets.

Table 2. Early grower diet formulations for organic swine production, assuming no pasture supplementation (30 lb–75 lb pigs)

(1) Low energy density may result in slower growth and poorer feed conversion than desired.

 

Table 3. Late grower diet formulations for organic swine production, assuming no pasture supplementation (75 lb–125 lb pigs)

(1) Low energy density may result in slower growth and poorer feed conversion than desired.

 

Table 4. Early finisher diet formulations for organic swine production, assuming no pasture supplementation (125 lb–175 lb pigs).

(1) Low energy density may result in slower growth and poorer feed conversion than desired.

 

Table 5. Late finisher diet formulations for organic swine production, assuming no pasture supplementation (175 lb–250 lb pigs).

(1) Low energy density may result in slower growth and poorer feed conversion than desired.

 

Table 6. Gestation diet formulations for organic swine production, assuming no pasture supplementation. (1)

(1) Assumes a feeding level of 4.5 lb/sow/day for summer and 7.5 lb/sow/day for winter.
Initial sow weight of 350 lbs, an additional 40 lb gestation weight gain, and expected litter size of 10 pigs.

 

Table 7. Lactation diet formulations for organic swine production. (1)

(1) Assumes no winter farrowing, unless sow and litter are housed indoors.

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Challenges in Feeding Organically Raised Pigs

Forages in Swine Diets

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