by Blake Sandnes
Animal Feed

Josh recently spoke with Dr. Chad Paulk from Kansas State University to discuss swine feeding and nutrition. Dr. Paulk is a professor at KSU in the Department of Grain Science. He specializes in swine production, and shared his expertise with us. We talked about pig feed nutritional requirements, ideal particle size, feed consistency, and more.

What is in the Best Feed for Swine?

A farmer holds ground corn feed in two outstretched hands. Dr. Paulk explained that swine nutrition varies depending on location, but that corn is the primary ingredient for most producers in the U.S. Pigs here are usually fed a basic cereal grain diet. It is mostly corn, but might also include sorghum or other grains depending on market prices.

Added to the grain is soybean meal for protein, a source of fat, and any necessary vitamins and minerals. An important aspect of feeding efficiency in swine is being able to change ingredients based on price while still maintaining optimal nutrition.

What is the Ideal Particle Size for Swine?

A large feed mill is surrounded by a grain field. According to Dr. Paulk, there is no single best particle size because of the many factors involved in making the best feed for pigs. Ideal particle size depends on the nutritional needs of the swine. Gestating and lactating sows, for instance, do best with a different particle size than nursery pigs or finishing pigs.

In general, Dr. Paulk says, an ideal particle range to aim for is between 550 and 650 microns if a facility can only produce one type of feed. If the facility can produce multiple feeds, they can create different particle ranges for different swine.

How Does Particle Size Affect Swine Health and Growth Efficiency?

Dr. Palk explained how particle size is a balance between growing healthy swine, reducing their mortality rate, and feeding livestock efficiently. When grain is milled too coarsely, feed efficiency suffers. Feeding pigs at 750 microns to 550 microns results in a 2.0% to 2.4% reduction in efficiency and pig growth. He sees a 1.0 % to 1.2% feed efficiency improvement with every decrease of 100 microns in particle size. However, when particles are too fine, they can cause or exacerbate gastric ulcers, leading to higher mortality in the pigs.

Consistent Particle Size and Feed Mill Operations

A farmer holds a handful of ground feed in front of pigs on a farm. Particle size in swine feed also affects and is affected by how a feed mill operates. For example, particles that are too fine can create flowability issues in the mill. Creating a consistent product within particle size specifications also depends on how the mill operates.

One important choice for a producer is the use of a feed roller mill or a feed hammer mill. Hammer mills can process a wider variety of materials and can produce a wide range of particle sizes. On the other hand, changing the feed grinder screen size for hog feed and other materials is time consuming and often requires shutting down the operation.

Roller mills have several advantages over hammer mills. Changing the grind is easier and only requires adjusting the roll mills. The RMS VersaMill offers an additional advantage in that it allows the operator to change roller speed differentials. This means the machine can create an even finer grind with greater control.

According to Dr. Paulk, the operation of the feed mill is also important for creating a consistent product in spec. Regardless of the type of mill used, consistency and accuracy depend on setting up the equipment correctly, maintaining it regularly, and periodically monitoring particle size.

Set up and maintenance ensure the feed mill operates as it is supposed to. Periodic monitoring allows producers to find issues and correct them quickly. For instance, if corn is particularly dirty, debris can push rollers out of their correct positions.

We know that producing consistently and efficiently is vital to your business. If you have questions about our roller mills or a problem we can help you solve, contact us today to bring your animal feed operations to the next level.

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