Feed costs are one of the main expenses in swine production, so a lot of research has been done to help reduce this constant strain on producers. Feeding low, constant net energy diets is a cheaper alternative to feeding higher net energy levels in grow out hogs. This is true when the lower dietary energy density can be compensated for by an increased feed intake. This can be difficult for the pigs to achieve if pens are crowded or there is not much access to the feeder. Results show that the lower net energy diet resulted to an increased feed intake with the same growth rate. Overcrowding the pigs leads to a decrease in growth and slightly more feed waste was found when an extra feeder was added. The low net energy diet does well in many conditions, including overcrowding and less feeder access situations. Ensure that the amino acid to energy ratio is not altered or performance could be affected when using this diet. Overall, a lower net energy diet may help reduce feed costs while maintaining performance.
Fed Up With High Feed Costs, Chew On This (full article)
