Nutritional strategies to improve the growth performance of pigs marketed in summer

Abstract

To improve the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs and maximize economic returns for summer marketing, producers can feed increased dietary energy while pigs are still in their energy dependent growth phase. Removal of high-fiber ingredients such as dried distillers’ grains with solubles can increase dietary energy and improve gain. During the summer when feed intake is low, formulating diets at or slightly above amino acid requirements may be beneficial. Feed additives that increase growth rate should be considered to improve market weight. Market prices and optimal market weights should drive formulation decisions to maximize income over feed costs.