Effect of Nursery Phase Feeding Budget on Growth Performance and Economics in Nursery Pigs Raised Under Commercial Conditions

Abstract This experiment was conducted under commercial conditions to validate the results of two previous studies conducted at Kansas State University swine facilities that observed no difference in overall growth performance, but better economic outcomes when a simple phase feeding program was used compared to a more traditional complex program. A total of 1,170 pigs (initially 5.7 ± 0.32kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 nursery phase feeding budgets under a randomized complete block design in a 63-d experiment. There were 26 pigs per pen and 15 pens per treatment. The feed budgets for high, medium, and low programs were 1.8, 0.9, and 0 kg/pig for phases 1 and 5.4, 3.6, and 1.8 kg/pig for phase 2, respectively. All pigs were then fed common phase 3 and 4 diets thereafter. Phase 1 was formulated with specialty animal protein and lactose products and contained 18.0% lactose and 16.3% soybean meal. In phase 2, specialty protein sources and the lactose level were reduced, with diets containing 7.2% lactose and 22.5% soybean meal. Phases 3 and 4 were corn-soybean meal-based diets with no specialty protein or lactose sources. Phases 1 to 3 were fed in pellet form, and phase 4 in mash form. Pigs fed the high-budget program tended (P 0.10) to have increased average daily gain and feed intake during period 2 (d 14 to 33); however, by d 63 no differences (P 0.10) between nursery budget programs were observed for any of the performance parameters. There was no difference (P 0.10) in body weight coefficient of variation at d 42. Feed cost and feed cost per kilogram of gain decreased (P 0.001) as the budget for phases 1 and 2 was reduced. Revenue from pigs fed the high-budget program was greater than those fed the medium-budget program (P 0.05); however, no differences were observed between the low-budget and the other programs (P 0.10). As a result, the use of a low-budget program resulted in greater (P 0.05) income over feed cost (IOFC) than the other programs. In conclusion, under commercial conditions, reducing phase 1 and 2 nursery feed budgets did not impact overall growth performance, while improving economic return. Therefore, strategic adjustment of budgets for the early dietary phases could be a tool to improve economic return without compromising growth performance.