Koudijs Pig Manual

Koudijs
Pig
Manual

INDEX
Insemination period .................................................................................................... 2
1.1 General rules ............................................................................................................................ 2
1.2 Fertility ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Gestation period ......................................................................................................... 3

2.1 General points of attention ....................................................................................................... 3
2.2 First part of gestation period .................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Last part of the gestation period .............................................................................................. 3

Lactation period .......................................................................................................... 4

3.1 Farrowing barn ......................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 After birth .................................................................................................................................. 5
3.3 Feeding the sow after delivering .............................................................................................. 5

Feeding the pigs ......................................................................................................... 6

4.1 Feeding in the farrowing pen (romelko) ................................................................................... 6
4.2 Weaning barn ........................................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Fattening barn .......................................................................................................................... 7

General rules for feeding your animals ....................................................................... 9

5.1 Why is proper feeding so important? ....................................................................................... 9

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Insemination period
(period after weaning until insemination)
1.1 GENERAL RULES
• Contact with boar from day 1 to day 5 / 6 after weaning. Restrict direct contact between boar and sow
to no more than 1 hour a day or they will no longer be eager to mate
• Ensure the sow has enough space, at least 2.5 m2
• Do not house the boar in the insemination barn. Being too close to the sow for too long will not
present an extra stimulus
• Insemination in a group is not ideal. Use a separate pen (no stress)
• Regularly remove manure from the houses ‘dry’ (e.g. shovel) and remove with water only when really
necessary. Water will stress the sow
• Feeding: see figures 1 and 2
• Make sure you create a system with a recurring routine in your farm. E.g. weaning every Thursday

1.2 FERTILITY
Is strongly influenced by:
• A healthy sow in a good condition
• No stress
• Well balanced feed
• Enough space for the sow
• A balance in the boar’s activity pattern. An overactive boar will have lower quality semen
• Vaccinations: do not vaccinate sows in the period two weeks before or in the first 5 weeks after
insemination
• Barn groups: pigs don’t like to mate in the presence of other pigs. Find a quiet spot for the mating to
happen

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Gestation period
2.1 GENERAL POINTS OF ATTENTION
• Avoid stress after insemination. Don’t move the sows to another pen or add new animals to the
group. Stress is difficult for pigs to overcome, at any stage of life!
• Feed the animals twice a day. Animals should eat together and never from the floor (hygiene)
• Feeding the sows: always follow the guideline for good feeding and your observations on the sow’s
condition

2.2 FIRST PART OF GESTATION PERIOD

• Good feed level is essential for a good connection to uterus + recovery of the sow
• Too low feed level→ poor uniformity of the litter
• During the first 60 days of the gestation period, the aim is to repair the sow’s condition. She needs to
recover following a period in which her energy balance has been negative

2.3 LAST PART OF THE GESTATION PERIOD

• As the litter grows → extra need for nutrients (energy and protein)
• Feed level affects live born weight, uniformity and vitality of the piglets. Make sure that you feed
according to the feed recommendations
• Last week gestation → an important period for the future quality of milk. A good second part of the
gestation period will also ease the delivery of new piglets

Feed recommendations Gilts (daily feed intake)

DAY GESTATION FEED LACTATION FEED

0-84 2.2 KG
85-112 2.8 KG
113 2.1 KG
114 1.6 KG
115 1.1 KG
AT DELIVERY 0.6 KG
Figure 1

Feed recommendations sows (daily feed intake)

DAY GESTATION FEED LACTATION FEED

0-84 2.6 KG
85-112 3.2 KG
113 2.5 KG
114 2.0 KG
115 1.5 KG
AT DELIVERY 1.0 KG
Figure 2

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Lactation period
3.1 FARROWING BARN
• Farrowing barn should be dry, clean and disinfected
• It should be possible to separate the piglets from the sow to avoid the risk of the sow rolling on a
piglet (figure 3)
• When the sow lies on the udder, feed consumption will probably be poor and her milk production will
be low. A sow which frequently lies on the udder may not be feeling comfortable. Check the sow’s
temperature > 39.4°C. If it is not good, consult your vet.
• Make sure that the piglets can see the sow eating. This stimulates them to eat as well

Figure 3 Figure 4 nipple for piglets at the

sows feeding place

• Reduce the amount of feed in the farrowing room a few days before weaning to reduce milk
production (33 – 50%) and thus lower the udder pressure
• The sow will then feel hungry, walk better and start eating as soon as she arrives back in the box
• Ensure fresh water 24/7, through a nipple or a covered trough (always fresh water and not a
swimming pool!)
• Feeding twice a day (lactation feed, almost ad lib, see figure 1 & 2) and add extra sugar (dextrose
200 gr/sow/day) once day. Repeat this until insemination date. We call this flushing

Why should we flush?

After weaning, sows have lost condition and have a negative energy balance.
After eating, a body reacts by producing digestive fluids, enzymes and hormones (insulin).
Insulin is made after eating starch and sugar. An insulin peak stimulates the production of
fertility hormones which will increase the chance of the sow becoming pregnant.

Result: the sow will quickly be in heat and have a higher number of released egg cells. This
should result in more (live) born piglets.

But beware: too much protein after weaning until insemination has a negative effect. The
greatest need is starch and sugar: energy!

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3.2 AFTER BIRTH

• VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SURVIVAL of the piglets is their intake of the first mother’s milk
(within 24 hours after birth), called colostrum Colostrum is high in energy and is extremely important
for the piglets’ immune system
• Check the growth of the piglets and the sow’s milk production. Write down and compare with data
from previous litters
• Keep a close eye on the condition of the sows. A negative energy balance and consumption
problems are common. If the sow stops eating, the milk production will decline and eventually stop!
• Give treatment if there are problems with piglets (diarrhoea / lung problems etc.) and if necessary
consult a vet

3.3 FEEDING THE SOW AFTER DELIVERING

• Good quality lactation feed for the sow is essential. Protein 16-18% for good milk production
• Follow feed recommendations: don’t overfeed the sow immediately after giving birth (figure 5)

Feed recommendation Lactating Sows (daily feed intake)

DAY LACTATION FEED

1 1.0 KG
2 2.0 KG
4 3.0 KG
7 4.0 KG
10< 6.0 – 7.0 KG
Figure 5

• After eating, the trough should be empty. Slowly build up the kilograms of feed after giving birth.
• Feed at least twice a day and a maximum of 3 times a day
• Give extra water until 3 days after birth, at least twice a day in the trough (feeding bin). This will
dilute the feed and facilitate the intake
• Ensure clean water is available 24/7, not too warm!
• Quality and taste of lactation feed are very important. Grind the feed finely
• Measure and record how much feed the sow consumes daily per day
• Check the quality of the manure daily. Manure should be ‘creamy’ (figures 6 & 7)

Figure 6 good manure Figure 7 manure too hard

Too hard? Possible causes: not enough feed, not sufficient fibre, indigestible feed (too
coarse, inferior quality of raw materials, not enough clean water)

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Feeding the pigs

4.1 FEEDING IN THE FARROWING PEN (ROMELKO)
• Feed in little trough (max. height 8 cm)
• Fresh feed, at least twice a day
• Keep clean at all times!
• Start feeding Romelko 3 comfort from 10 days before weaning until 17-20 kg body weight.
Then follow the recommended mixes (see mix instructions page 9)

Feed recommendations romelko 3 comfort

WEEKLY FEED INTAKE FOR PIGLETS WEANED AT 28 DAYS

PERIOD MINIMUM MAXIMUM
Before weaning* 300 grams 500 grams
Week 1 1.25 kg 1.75 kg
Week 2 2.50 kg 3.00 kg
Week 3 3.50 kg 4.50 kg
Week 4 4.75 kg 5.75 kg
Week 5 5.75 kg 7.00 kg
Figure 8

* Recommended to feed Romelko from 10 days before weaning

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4.2 WEANING BARN

After the farrowing pen, the weaners are moved to the weaning barn. A suggestion of how to
arrange the weaning barn is given below.

• Pen size 10-50 piglets, compartments all in, all out

• Feed Romelko 3 Comfort
• Minimum space 0.30 m2 per piglet
• Water nipple optimum 1 per 10 piglets with a capacity of 0.7
l/minute
• Feeder optimum 1 per 10 piglets
• Full plastic slats on the floor is good possibility
• Consider good heating and ventilation
• Keep weaners' feed and water separated

Figure 9
4.3 FATTENING BARN
After the weaning barn, the pigs are moved to the fattening barn. A suggestion of how to
arrange the fattening barn is given below.
• Small groups 10 to 12 pigs
• Intake of air: (under) corridor
• Corridor: 0.8 m
• Minimum 0.7 m2 space/ pig until 110 kg
• If possible 40% solid floor/ 60% slats (or 100% slats)
• Closed walls 1.00 m high on solid floors, open walls at slats side, front closed 0.80 m – 1.00 m.
• Nipple 1 l water/minute

Figure 10

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Recommended feed intake in weaning/fattening barn

WEEK BODY WEIGHT FEED INTAKE

(AFTER WEANING) (KG) PER DAY (KG)
6 17 0.80
7 21 1.00
8* 25 1.20
9 29 1.40
10 35 1.60
11 40 1.80
12 46 1.95
13 52 2.05
14 57 2.15
15 62 2.25
16 68 2.25
17 73 2.35
18 78 2.35
19 83 2.40
20 87 2.40
21 91 2.45
22 95 2.45
23 100 2.45
24 105 2.5
Figure 11

* Move to fattening barn

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General rules for feeding your animals

5.1 WHY IS PROPER FEEDING SO IMPORTANT?
If the sow or gilt becomes too fat, the following problems may occur on your farm:
• Delivery of the piglets takes longer than it should
• More stillborn piglets
• A poorly developed udder
• Lower milk production which will result in
underdeveloped piglets!

If the sow or gilt will become too thin, the following

problems may occur on your farm:
• Next litter will be smaller, fewer piglets
• More re-insemination is required, fertility will become
lower
• Weaning needs to be done earlier because the sow is no
longer producing milk

Always try to feed according to Koudijs recommendations and with Koudijs concentrates. The
mixes produced by Koudijs are compatible with each other and should give you the expected
results. Points of attention:
• Always check the sows and gilts and feed according to their condition
• Make sure the feed is milled finely enough => particle size <2 mm. Coarse feed cannot be digested
by pigs. No whole maize particles
• Use enough fibre in the feed. This will leave the sows and gilts feeling more satisfied and keep them
quieter
• Fresh feed is essential. Allow the pigs to finish the feed regularly to ensure that all the ingredients are
consumed
• Fresh clean drinking water must be available 24/7
As a general rule for every animal, input = output! Good management with proper feed and
excellent hygiene will generate more profit for our farm!

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Pig mixes KBC/KLC concentrate

FEED FOR PIGS (PIGLETS, HOGS AND SOWS)

PIGLETS
PIGLETS 10 DAYS 5 – 12 WEEKS FATTENING FINISHER
PREGNANT LACTATING BEFORE WEANING – AFTER 12 -17 >17
FEEDING PERIOD SOWS SOWS 5 WEEKS WEANING WEEKS WEEKS

ROMELKO 3 ……………. ……………. SEE FIGURE 11 ……………. ……………. …………….

COMFORT
KLC20 NO. 9564 150 KG 225 KG ……………. ……………. ……………. …………….
KB35 NO. 9452 ……………. ……………. ……………. 273 KG 230 KG 170 KG
CORN 8.5 CP 475 KG 500 KG ……………. 600 KG 566 KG 576 KG
WHEAT BRAN 356.5 KG 255 KG ……………. 125 KG 200 KG 250 KG
17CP
SALT-NACL 3.5 KG 2.5 KG ……………. 2 KG 2 KG 2 KG
SEASHELL FINE 15 KG 17.5 KG ……………. ……………. 2 KG 2 KG

_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______

1000 KG 1000 KG 1000 KG 1000 KG 1000 KG

M.E. KCAL PIGS /KILO FEED 3010 3090 3330 3280 3200 3170

CRUDE PROTEIN 16.60 % 18.30 % 18.00 % 19.10 % 18.25 % 16.55 %

CRUDE FAT 3.75 % 3.85 % 6.00 % 3.95 % 3.90 % 3.85 %

CRUDE FIBRE 4.80 % 4.45 % 3.50 % 3.40 % 3.80 % 4.00 %

ASH 5.60 % 6.00 % 5.50 % 5.30 % 5.20 % 4.60 %

LYSINE 0.73 % 0.86 % 1.20 % 1.05 % 0.97 % 0.82 %

METHIONINE 0.34 % 0.40 % 0.51 % 0.47 % 0.43 % 0.37 %

CALCIUM 0.71 % 0.85 % 0.52 % 0.73 % 0.70 % 0.55 %

PHOSPHORUS 0.62 % 0.60 % 0.50 % 0.59 % 0.60 % 0.58 %

SODIUM 0.25 % 0.26 % 0.25 % 0.21 % 0.20 % 0.16 %

SALINOMYCIN NOT ADDED NOT ADDED NOT ADDED ADDED ADDED ADDED

Mix instructions may change according to the price, quality and availability of local raw
materials
Above mix is the most optimal mix we advise, given the cost of raw materials. Please notify us of any
changes in the raw material market.
 Salinomycin is added to our KBC products. The use of Tiamulin (antibiotic) in combination with
Salinomycin is very dangerous for pigs!
 MAKE SURE THE PIGS ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH AND CLEAN WATER!
 It’s important to use this mix from day 1 until the end of production. The feed mix in the starter period is
perfectly geared to the feed given to the animals in the finisher period

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