Quick facts
- The National Organic Program (NOP) provides guidelines for your ingredients, production protocols and other practices to qualify for organic certification.
- Keep records of your livestock and feeding operations to prove your animals have been raised according to certified practices.
- There are many different diets you can use in natural or organic pork production.
- You can use pasture forage in complete feeds and silage for pork production.
What does it mean to raise organic pork?
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) defines "natural" as a product that
- Does not contain artificial ingredients.
- Has no added color.
- Is minimally processed: processing does not fundamentally alter the product.
“Natural” applies only to the processing stage of meat production and marketing. The label must state the meaning of “natural” such as “no artificial ingredients” or “minimally processed."
The National Organic Program (NOP) provides guidelines for ingredients, production protocols and other practices to qualify for organic certification. The United States National Organic Standards are outlined in Part 205 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 205).
Organic pork comes from pigs raised on a certified organic farm that follows organic management requirements. These requirements address many parts of pig production including the use of feed ingredients.
The NOP lists ingredients for livestock feed products that must be organically produced. This includes any pasture used for feed, forage or housing swine. You must manage existing pastures using organic practices for three years before it can qualify as certified organic.
Becoming an organic producer
If you wish to produce certified organic pork, you must complete the organic certification process. You can find information, including a list of certifiers, on the NOP's website.
The certifying agency makes sure your production practices follow the National Organic Standards. This agency does not certify the purity of organic products. They certify the production process.
Five steps of the organic certification process
- Complete an application and develop an Organic System Plan (OSP).
- Implement the OSP and have the certifier review it.
- Allow the certifying inspector to complete an onsite inspection of your farm. They will evaluate the OSP in effect and your compliance with USDA’s organic regulations.
- The certifying agent will review the inspection report.
- The certifying agent decides whether to grant certification to your farm.
An organic certified farm must submit an updated OSP and fees to its certifying agent at least once per year and have an inspection by a certifying agent to maintain its organic certification. A certifying agent must approve any changes you make, such as adding new animal species, fields or facilities.
Documentation and records needed
The National Organic Standards requires organic producers to keep records of their operations. You can have written, visual (e.g. photos) or electronic records. The certifying agency will review these records during certification. You must keep the records for at least five years. This will provide as an audit for tracing:
- Sources of animals.
- Sources of feed.
- The amount of feed fed.
- Forage.
- Feed supplements.
- Treatments.
- Medications.
- Animal health.
Thorough records ensure the following:
- No co-mingling of non-organic livestock or feed ingredients occurs.
- Allowable medications are identified.
- Sick animals receive proper medical care regardless of certification status.
These records also give the farmer a paper trail to prove that his or her animals have been raised according to certified practices.
When does it start?
Pigs must be born organic. This means they must come from a sow raised organically starting no later than the last third of gestation. Documentation must begin at the last third of gestation or when you purchase the animal.
A sow may never be organic but her piglets can be. For people who use natural service, the boars do not have to be organic.
What should it include?
- Date of birth
- Date purchased
- Date sold and the buyer’s name
- Death date
- Breeding date
- Farrowing date
- Weaning date
- Date of slaughter and processor’s and buyer’s names
- All medical care (vaccinations, veterinary care, etc.)
- Disease diagnosis
- Treatment date
- Medication and dosage used
- Time of withdrawal period
- Copies of medication labels
Feeding programs
To document feeding programs, you must list
- Diet formulations.
- Feed ingredient sources with organic certificates.
- Dates of purchases.
- Copies of ingredient labels.
- Locations of feed storage.
- Crop production certification if you produce on-farm ingredients.
Synthetic substances
Certified organic crops serve as the base feedstuffs for organic livestock nutrition, but some synthetic substances are allowed. Consult the National Organic Standards and your certifying agency for specifics on allowances during the period of conversion to organic status.
Feeds can include synthetic and nonsynthetic substances as described:
- You cannot use synthetic substances unless specifically allowed by NOP. Consult the complete list. Allowed examples: vaccines, iodine, electrolytes.
- Natural substances are allowed unless specifically prohibited by NOP. Consult the complete list. Prohibited example: strychnine.
Third party certification
A third party must certify that you follow NOP regulations if you want to sell as “certified organic pork” and carry the USDA Organic seal. While only NOP standards are enforced, how certifying agencies interpret them may differ.
Be familiar with the national standards and connect with their certifying agency to avoid practices that may disqualify your products from organic certification. You can review the third party certification process at the USDA-NOP website.
Medication
Antibiotic and drug use is not allowed in animals for organic markets, but you still must maintain animal welfare when an animal is sick or injured. In fact, the National Organic Standards requires you to give vaccines as needed to protect the well-being of animals in your care.
If care practices and vaccines cannot prevent sickness, you may give medicine included on the National List of Synthetic Substances for use in organic production. You cannot withhold medical treatment from a sick animal to maintain organic status.
When organic status fails, use all appropriate medications and treatment to restore the animal’s health. Make sure to identify all livestock you treat with prohibited materials and do not sell, label or represent them as organic.
Managing pig health without antibiotics and animal-derived ingredients
Pigs in organic systems often get weaned no earlier than 28 days old. After 28 days, the young pig’s digestive system can effectively digest cereal grain diets without harming health or performance. Some advisors recommend weaning at 35 days old or more.
Preventing disease is key to healthy pigs and reducing the potential use of prohibited medications in organic production.
Biosecurity
All swine operations should maintain strict biosecurity. Below is a brief summary of key factors in a biosecurity program. For a more detailed description, see biosecurity practices.
Closed herds
Keep your herds closed to reduce disease risk. Try to limit or avoid adding animals from other farms. Isolate any replacement animals from outside sources. Keep them in separate facilities (preferably off-farm) for 60 days. Have them blood tested for any disease agents.
Artificial insemination is a good choice to prevent introducing new boars to a closed herd. If you want to establish a new organic herd, select breeding stock with high health status. This will prevent poor pig performance typically caused by disease and parasites.
Traffic control
- Restrict visitor access to animal facilities.
- Post signs telling visitors where to report.
- Make sure delivery trucks, especially those that visit other animal sites, are clean before entering animal areas.
- Put procedures in place that prevent rendering trucks from entering areas around pig facilities.
- On-farm methods (composting, burial and incineration) for disposing swine mortalities eliminates the risks related to rendering trucks entering the farm.
- Limit the contact of dogs, cats, birds and wild animals with pigs to lower disease risk.
Excellent sanitation
Keep facilities as clean as possible to reduce the amount of pathogens in animal living areas. Always dispose of dead animals using approved disposal methods.
Providing the proper environment
You must meet the pigs’ temperature, space, nutrition and ventilation needs to limit stress and disease risk.
Consider these practices where appropriate and permitted:
- Pasture rotation: limits parasite load on pigs.
- Farrowing once per year or twice per year (March/April and August/September in the Midwest U.S.): achieves a form of all-in/all-out production.
- Moderate climates allow greater flexibility in favorable outdoor or extensive farrowing.
- In some cases you can use year-round farrowing, with outdoor or extensive environments providing a measure of disease control.
- Use standard vaccines and parasite control on sows not to be sold as organic (up to third trimester).
- Use organically approved substances that may enhance health and performance such as diet acidifiers, oligosaccharides, enzymes, herbs, probiotics, etc.
- The certifying agency must approve these substances, guaranteeing no use of grain from genetically modified organisms in swine diets.
A few feed ingredients can be grown organically and used in swine diets, see below.
Tables 1 and 2 list approximate nutrient content of these feed ingredients. The best way to determine the nutrient content of a feed is to submit a sample to a laboratory for testing.
Energy sources
Cereal grains serve as the major energy source in swine diets. They are high in carbohydrates (starch), palatable and highly digestible. However, they are low in lysine (and other amino acids), vitamins and minerals compared to the pig's need.
Supplement cereal grain-based diets with other ingredients to meet amino acid, vitamin and mineral needs for optimal health and performance.
Table 1. Nutritional content of energy sources for use in organic swine feeding systems<sup>1, 2</sup>
Ingredient | DE (kcal/kg) | ME (kcal/kg) | CP (%) | Lys (%) | Ca (%) | P (%) | Fat (%) | Anti-nutritional factors3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barley | 3150 | 3073 | 11.3 | 0.4 | 0.06 | 0.35 | 2.11 | ---- |
Barley, hulless | 3266 | 3179 | 12.7 | 0.51 | 0.06 | 0.36 | 3.2 | ---- |
Buckwheat4 | 2999 | NA5 | 12.0 | 0.77 | 0.10 | 0.35 | 2.1 | Fagopyrin, trypsin inhibitor, tannins |
Corn | 3451 | 3395 | 8.2 | 0.25 | 0.02 | 0.26 | 3.5 | ---- |
Corn and cob meal6 | 3109 | 2779 | 7.8 | 0.17 | 0.06 | 0.24 | 3.2 | ---- |
Oats | 2627 | 2551 | 11.2 | 0.49 | 0.03 | 0.35 | 5.4 | ---- |
Oats, naked | 4126 | 4026 | 14.7 | 0.56 | 0.08 | 0.38 | 10.6 | ---- |
Rye | 3270 | 3191 | 11.7 | 0.43 | 0.08 | 0.30 | 2.0 | Trypsin inhibitors, ergot, soluble pentosans |
Sorghum, grain | 3596 | 3532 | 9.4 | 0.22 | 0.02 | 0.27 | 3.4 | Tannins |
Triticale | 3320 | 3228 | 13.6 | 0.46 | 0.04 | 0.33 | 1.8 | Trypsin inhibitors, soluble pentosans |
Wheat, hard red spring | 3313 | 3215 | 14.5 | 0.39 | 0.06 | 0.39 | 1.8 | ---- |
1Nutrient values presented on an as-fed basis derived from NRC (2012). DE = Digestible energy, ME = Metabolizable energy, CP = Crude protein, Lys = Total lysine, Ca = Total calcium, P = Total phosphorus.
2For limits on dietary concentration of individual ingredients see discussions of individual grains on pages 11-14.
3All cereal grains contain varying levels of phytate and may contain mycotoxins.
4Values obtained from Nontraditional Feed Sources for Use in Swine Production, P.A. Thacker and R.N. Kirkwood (eds.), 1990, Butterworth Publishers, Stoneham, MA.
5NA = Not available.
6Values obtained from NRC (1982) U.S. – Canadian Tables of Feed Composition, 3rd Ed.
Barley
Barley is higher in fiber and protein than corn. Because of its higher fiber content, the energy value ranges from 90 to 100 percent of corn. High quality barley can be an excellent grain source for swine diets.
Hulless barley
Hulless barley contains more protein and less fiber than normal barley. Despite its higher nutritional value in relation to barley, performance of pigs is generally similar when fed either barley or hulless barley.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is commonly grown for human consumption. It has the best protein quality in the plant kingdom but is low in energy due to its high fiber and low oil content.
Fagopyrin is a chemical that naturally occurs in buckwheat. Its presence causes skin lesions and intense itching when pigs are exposed to sunlight. Fagopyrin limits the use of buckwheat in swine diets. Make sure grow-finish and gestation diets contain less than 50 and 80 percent fagopyrin, respectively.
Do not use buckwheat in starter and sow lactation diets.
Corn
Corn has the highest energy value of all cereal grains. It is generally the most economical grain source in swine diets in Minnesota.
Genetically modified corn varieties are grown widely under commercial conditions. Unintended cross-pollination can occur between organic corn and genetically modified corn. This cross-pollinated corn is currently considered organic since it was produced in a certified organic production system.
Corn and cob meal
Corn and cob meal is a feedstuff that you can produce on the farm and use in swine diets. It is lower in energy than most other energy sources, and fits well in late finishing and gestation diets.
Oats
Oats, like barley, are higher in fiber and protein than corn, but have only 80 percent of the energy value of corn.
Naked oats (hulless oats)
Hulless oats are much lower in fiber content, but are higher in oil and protein content than oats. Their digestible energy content is 30 to 35 percent higher than conventional oats. Hulless oats have a good balance of amino acids, but their lysine and methionine content will not meet the pig's needs.
Hulless oats can support satisfactory growth performance when used as the sole grain source for grow-finish pigs, with almost no supplemental protein required. Although naked oats have been grown successfully in Canada and the northern U.S., poor yields sometimes occur.
Rye
Rye has an intermediate energy value of wheat and barley. Its protein content is similar to barley and oats. While its amino acid balance is similar to barley and wheat, its amino acid digestibility is 5 to 10 percent lower.
Rye is very prone to ergot, a fungus that reduces pig health and performance. Rye also contains several toxic anti-nutritional factors that reduce its nutritional value for swine. There is not a limit on how much rye you can feed gestating sows, but grow-finish and lactation diets should contain less than 50 and 40 percent rye, respectively.
Grain sorghum
Grain sorghum is similar to corn in nutritional value and can completely replace corn in swine diets. There are specially developed bird-resistant varieties, which are high in tannins have only 80 to 90 percent of the feeding value of corn.
You must grind this grain for efficient use in swine because it is small and very hard.
Triticale
Triticale is a grain produced by crossing Durum wheat with rye. Its energy value is similar to wheat but has several of rye’s anti-nutritional factors and proneness to ergot. Few grow triticale in the northern U.S. and Canada.
Wheat
Wheat is equal to corn in feeding value and is very palatable if not ground too finely. It is usually a more costly energy source than corn and thus is not commonly used in Minnesota.
Protein sources
Table 2. Nutritional content of protein sources for use in organic swine feeding systems<sup>1, 2</sup>
Ingredient | DE (kcal/kg) | ME (kcal/kg) | CP (%) | Lys (%) | Ca (%) | P (%) | Fat (%) | Anti-nutritional factors3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfalfa | 1830 | 1720 | 16.2 | 0.74 | 1.14 | 0.3 | 1.7 | Saponins, tannins |
Canola, full fat | 5234 | 5084 | 22.1 | 1.01 | 0.36 | 0.7 | 43.6 | Glucosinolates, tannins, myrosinase |
Faba beans3 | 3263 | NA4 | 26 | 1.68 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1 | Trypsin inhibitor, hemagglutinin, tannins |
Lentil, seeds | 3540 | 3363 | 26 | 1.71 | 0.1 | 0.38 | 1.3 | Trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor, tannins |
Peas, field | 3504 | 3353 | 22.2 | 1.63 | 0.09 | 0.42 | 1.2 | ---- |
Soybeans, full-fat | 4193 | 3938 | 37.6 | 2.23 | 0.31 | 0.53 | 20.2 | Trypsin inhibitor, urease, hemagglutinin, lectins |
Soybean meal, expelled | 3876 | 3573 | 44.6 | 2.85 | 0.28 | 0.66 | 5.7 | ---- |
Sunflower seeds, full-fat | 4517 | 4404 | 16.6 | 0.54 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 42.7 | ---- |
1Nutrient values presented on an as-fed basis derived from NRC (2012). DE = Digestible energy, ME = Metabolizable energy, CP = Crude protein, Lys = Total lysine, Ca = Total calcium, P = Total phosphorus.
2For limits on dietary concentration of individual ingredients see discussions of individual grains below.
3Values obtained from Nontraditional Feed Sources for Use in Swine Production, P.A. Thacker and R.N. Kirkwood (eds.), 1990, Butterworth Publishers, Stoneham, MA.
4NA = Not available.
Alfalfa
The nutritional quality of alfalfa changes with the following:
- Stage of maturity.
- Soil fertility.
- Harvesting method.
- Handling method.
- Storage method.
Nutrient content
As alfalfa matures, its nutritional value for swine declines. Mature alfalfa is higher in fiber and lower in protein than less mature alfalfa. Alfalfa has a low digestible energy that is only half the energy of cereal grains.
Alfalfa is a good source of most vitamins, and is an excellent source of vitamins A, E and K. Alfalfa is high in calcium, but has only moderate amounts of phosphorus. Supplement diets containing alfalfa with phosphorus to maintain a 1:1 to 1.5:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Alfalfa also contains anti-nutritional factors that reduce pig growth rates.
Adding alfalfa to swine diets
Alfalfa’s low energy, poor palatability and presence of anti-nutritional factors makes it not ideal for weanling and young growing pig diets.
Alfalfa better fits sow diets than diets for growing pigs. Sows can better digest the fiber and use the energy in alfalfa than younger pigs. University of Minnesota research shows that alfalfa haylage increased litter size and lactation feed intake when fed to sows during gestation.
Canola
Canola is high in energy (40 percent oil) and moderately high in protein (20 percent protein). Gestating and lactating sows should have diets with no more than 10 percent canola. You can use up to 15 percent canola in diets for all other production phases.
Faba beans
Faba beans contain 24 to 30 percent protein with an energy level between soybean meal and barley. Faba beans are low in oil (1.5 percent), which is high in unsaturated fatty acids. This oil makes faba beans prone to rancidity if stored longer than a week after grinding.
Faba beans contain several anti-nutritional factors. For the best nutritional value, you should roast or extrude—force the beans through a hole in a perforated plate or die, then cut to a specific size—faba beans before feeding. You can effectively add faba beans up to the following for each diet without harming performance.
- 15 percent of starter diets.
- 20 percent of grower diets.
- 15 percent of sow diets.
Lentils
Lentils contain less lysine, methionine and threonine than peas. However, you can include lentils at up to 30 percent in diets for swine. You must make sure you carefully formulate the diets to make sure amino acid levels are adequate.
Field peas
Field peas are mainly grown for human consumption, but can effectively replace a portion of the grain and protein supplement in swine diets. Peas are high in energy and provide a good source of lysine. They are low in methionine and tryptophan, which limits their use in most swine diets.
Up to 15 percent of starter pig and sow diets can contain peas. Peas can completely replace soybean meal in grow-finish diets. Peas contain anti-nutritional factors including trypsin inhibitors and hemagglutinin, but at very low levels that should not reduce performance.
Many producers may choose to raise field peas with barley as you can successfully use both in swine feeding programs.
Full-fat soybeans
Full-fat soybeans contain about 18 percent oil. They are most valuable in weaned pig and lactating sow diets.
University of Nebraska research shows feeding diets with raw (unheated) soybeans to gestating sows will produce satisfactory performance. Soybeans must be heat-treated for success in diets for other production phases. Properly heat-treated soybeans are an excellent protein source for swine.
Soybeans contain a few anti-nutritional factors:
- Trypsin inhibitors
- Urease
- Hemagglutinin
Proper roasting or extruding can destroy trypsin inhibitors and urease. However, you should avoid overheating to maintain amino acid digestibility. For the best quality, roast the soybeans for three to five minutes with an exit temperature of 240° to 260° F. Extruded soybeans should have an exit temperature of 280° F.
Soybeans contain 13 to 15 percent more energy than soybean meal. You must properly increase the amount of other dietary nutrients to compensate for the lower feed intake related to feeding a high-energy diet.
Mechanically-extruded soybean meal
Mechanically-extruded soybean meal (non-solvent) can be produced as an organic substitute for conventionally manufactured (solvent extracted) soybean meal.
Organically-produced soybeans can be mechanically extruded to produce a high-quality meal with high protein and energy levels. Fat level of the meal may vary from 5 to 10 percent depending on the bean moisture content and efficiency of oil extraction during processing.
Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are high in oil (40 percent) and fiber (29 percent) and moderately high in protein (20 percent). Unheated sunflower seeds are more digestible than heated seeds. Include no more than 10 percent sunflower seeds in weaned and grow-finish diets, 30 percent in gestating diets and 20 percent in lactating sows’ diet.
Similar to canola and corn, genetically modified sunflowers are often used in commercial productions. You must check the organic status of the sunflower seeds you feed.
Diet examples
Tables 3 through 6 show example diets for the growing pig, gestating sow and lactating sow. These diets were formulated to meet the animal’s nutrient needs without forage or pasture. They serve as a few examples of the many diets you can use in natural or organic pork production.
These examples are based on table values for the ingredient nutrient content. They do not consider the differences in nutrient digestibility of the ingredients. Once you decide which ingredients to use, calculate the final diet using the standard ideals for digestible amino acids and phosphorus.
The tables show summer and winter diets, which assumes an environmental temperature of 32° F. Winter diets need a lower amino acid content because the pigs will eat more feed to meet their increased energy needs. Thus, the pigs will still meet their amino acid needs.
You can use a variety of feed ingredients in swine diets, but formulating diets correctly is key to the animals’ health. Ingredients will differ somewhat from the nutrient levels assumed in these example diets. You should sample and test the nutrient content of these feedstuffs before formulating diets.
A pig’s nutrient needs will depend on the following:
- Genetics.
- Environment.
- Growth phase.
- Age.
Survey available ingredients that meet organic specifications and then formulate diets based on the needs of your operation and the cost of the nutrients found in the ingredients. Reduced performance may occur from organic diets because it is harder to meet a pig’s nutrient needs than traditional diets.
Use a diet formulation program or consult with a professional nutritionist when formulating diets.
In the following diet examples,
- Gestation diets assume a feeding level of 4.5 pounds per sow daily for summer and 7.5 pounds per sow daily for winter. It also assumes an initial sow weight of 350 pounds, an additional 40 pound gestation weight gain and expected litter size of 10 piglets.
- Lactation diets assume no winter farrowing, unless sow and litter are housed inside.
Table 3.1 Summer example of corn-soybean based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | ||||||
Corn | 54.4 | 65 | 72.3 | 59.2 | 55.25 | 71.3 |
Soybeans, full-fat | 42.2 | 31.9 | 25 | 18.3 | 15.5 | — |
Oats | — | — | — | 20 | 25 | — |
Soybean meal, expelled | — | — | — | — | — | 24.5 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.4 | 1.25 | 0.75 | 0.55 | 2.5 | 2.45 |
Limestone | 0.8 | 0.85 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 3.2 Calculated nutrient content for summer corn-soybean based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 3417 | 3392 | 3388 | 3234 | 3130 | 3330 |
Crude protein, % | 19.4 | 16.6 | 14.8 | 13.7 | 12.8 | 17.9 |
Lysine, % | 1.08 | 0.88 | 0.74 | 0.64 | 0.59 | 0.94 |
Calcium, % | 0.73 | 0.7 | 0.61 | 0.56 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.66 | 0.6 | 0.49 | 0.44 | 0.79 | 0.81 |
Table 3.3 Winter example of corn-soybean based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | |||||
Corn | 68.65 | 74.9 | 80.7 | 59.15 | 71.6 |
Soybeans, full-fat | 28 | 21.9 | — | 12.5 | 5 |
Oats, naked | — | — | — | 25.8 | — |
Wheat | — | — | — | — | 52.2 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.5 | 1.35 | 0.95 | 0.65 | 0.9 |
Limestone | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 3.4 Calculated nutrient content for winter corn-soybean based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 3373 | 3362 | 3362 | 3176 | 3038 |
Crude protein, % | 15.6 | 13.9 | 12.5 | 12.3 | 13.3 |
Lysine, % | 0.8 | 0.68 | 0.58 | 0.53 | 0.45 |
Calcium, % | 0.74 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.55 | 0.6 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.63 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.44 | 0.53 |
Table 4.1 Summer example of oat-corn/cob meal based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | ||||||
Oats, naked | 73.3 | 51.4 | 27.5 | 10 | 25 | 67.9 |
Soybeans meal, expelled | 23.5 | 19 | 16.8 | 15.3 | — | 18.5 |
Corn and cob meal | — | 26.5 | 53 | 72.2 | — | — |
Soybeans, full-fat | — | — | — | — | 15.5 | — |
Corn | — | — | — | — | 55.25 | — |
Alfalfa meal | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.2 | 1.25 | 0.85 | 0.75 | — | 2.1 |
Limestone | 1 | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.75 | — | 0.5 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 4.2 Calculated nutrient content for summer oat-corn/cob meal based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 3362 | 3225 | 3113 | 2959 | 3130 | 3176 |
Crude protein, % | 24 | 20.2 | 17.1 | 14.3 | 12.8 | 22.6 |
Lysine, % | 1.07 | 0.88 | 0.74 | 0.64 | 0.59 | 0.98 |
Calcium, % | 0.76 | 0.7 | 0.61 | 0.54 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.65 | 0.61 | 0.5 | 0.44 | 0.79 | 0.79 |
Table 4.3 Winter example of oat-corn/cob meal based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | |||||
Oats, naked | 83.7 | 58.9 | 33.5 | 13.75 | 20.5 |
Soybeans meal, expelled | — | 11.5 | 10.8 | 11.55 | — |
Corn and cob meal | — | 26.5 | 53 | 72.1 | — |
Soybeans, full fat | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.35 | 1.25 | 0.85 | 0.85 | 1.15 |
Limestone | 0.95 | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 4.4 Calculated nutrient content for winter oat-corn/cob meal based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 3324 | 3205 | 3097 | 2919 | 3181 |
Crude protein, % | 20.7 | 17.8 | 15.2 | 12.9 | 10.1 |
Lysine, % | 0.8 | 0.68 | 0.58 | 0.54 | 0.38 |
Calcium, % | 0.74 | 0.69 | 0.6 | 0.55 | 0.59 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.63 | 0.59 | 0.48 | 0.45 | 0.51 |
Table 5.1 Summer example of barley-field pea based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | ||||||
Barley | 61.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 72.5 | 35 | 57.05 |
Peas, field | 12 | 20 | 22.5 | 25.5 | 15 | 10 |
Soybean meal, expelled | 23.7 | 13.3 | 5 | — | — | — |
Soybeans, full-fat | — | — | 13.5 | — | 5 | 29 |
Wheat | — | — | — | — | 40.8 | — |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.2 | 1.25 | 0.75 | 0.55 | 2.35 | 2.05 |
Limestone | 1 | 0.85 | 0.9 | 0.95 | 0.85 | 0.9 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 5.2 Calculated nutrient content for summer barley-field pea based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 30331 | 29801 | 29321 | 29061 | 3000 | 3045 |
Crude protein, % | 20.8 | 17.8 | 14.9 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 18.5 |
Lysine, % | 1.13 | 0.94 | 0.74 | 0.64 | 0.62 | 1 |
Calcium, % | 0.75 | 0.69 | 0.59 | 0.55 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.64 | 0.61 | 0.51 | 0.46 | 0.8 | 0.79 |
Table 5.3 Winter example of barley-field pea based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | |||||
Barley | 71.1 | 77.3 | 77.3 | 81.25 | 40 |
Peas, field | 12 | 20 | 20 | 16.25 | — |
Soybean meal, expelled | 13 | 5 | — | — | — |
Soybeans, full-fat | — | — | — | — | — |
Corn and cob meal | — | — | — | — | 66.75 |
Canola | — | — | — | — | 12.5 |
Sunflower seeds, full-fat | — | — | — | — | 18.1 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.4 | 1.35 | 0.75 | 0.55 | 0.9 |
Limestone | 0.9 | 0.85 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.75 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 5.4 Calculated nutrient content for winter barley-field pea based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 29561 | 29141 | 28861 | 28801 | 3172 |
Crude protein, % | 16.9 | 14.5 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 11.1 |
Lysine, % | 0.86 | 0.74 | 0.58 | 0.54 | 0.38 |
Calcium, % | 0.74 | 0.7 | 0.59 | 0.55 | 0.61 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.64 | 0.62 | 0.5 | 0.46 | 0.52 |
1Low energy density may result in slower growth and poorer feed conversion than desired.
Table 6.1 Summer example of wheat-canola based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | |||||
Wheat | 53.45 | 61.15 | 69.05 | 56 | 61.4 |
Canola | 10 | 15 | 15 | — | 15 |
Soybeans, full-fat | 33.5 | 21 | 16.5 | 15 | — |
Barley | — | — | — | 26.65 | — |
Alfalfa meal | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Sunflower seeds, full-fat | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.45 | 0.35 | 2.1 |
Limestone | 0.95 | 0.85 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 6.2 Calculated nutrient content for summer wheat-canola based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 3381 | 3377 | 3357 | 3142 | 3180 |
Crude protein, % | 21.5 | 19.3 | 17.7 | 16 | 15.6 |
Lysine, % | 1.07 | 0.88 | 0.74 | 0.64 | 0.57 |
Calcium, % | 0.75 | 0.7 | 0.61 | 0.54 | 0.92 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.66 | 0.61 | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.79 |
Table 6.3 Winter example of wheat-canola based diets for pigs raised in organic production systems, assuming no pasture supplementation.
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ingredients (% of diet) | |||||
Wheat | 67.8 | 72.1 | 79 | 68.8 | 52.2 |
Canola | 10 | 15 | 15 | — | — |
Soybeans, full-fat | 19 | 10 | 3.5 | 8.75 | 5 |
Soybean meal, expelled | 13.6 | — | — | — | — |
Oats, naked | — | — | — | 20 | — |
Corn | — | — | — | — | 71.6 |
Dicalcium phosphate | 1.2 | 0.95 | 0.55 | 0.45 | 0.9 |
Limestone | 1 | 0.85 | 0.95 | 1 | 0.9 |
Salt | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Vit/TM premix | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Table 6.4 Calculated nutrient content for winter wheat-canola based diet
Growth phase (lbs) | 30 — 75 | 75 — 125 | 125 — 175 | 175 — 250 | Gestation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ME, kcal/kg | 3313 | 3328 | 3313 | 3093 | 3172 |
Crude protein, % | 18.4 | 16.9 | 15.6 | 15.1 | 11.1 |
Lysine, % | 0.8 | 0.68 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.38 |
Calcium, % | 0.76 | 0.69 | 0.59 | 0.55 | 0.61 |
Phosphorus, % | 0.64 | 0.59 | 0.5 | 0.44 | 0.52 |
Forages in swine diets and pasture systems
You can successfully use pasture forage in complete feeds and silage for pork production. Before 1950, pasture was seen as a key component to swine diets because it provides minerals, vitamins and unidentified growth factors.
The following affect the nutritional value of forages:
- Species
- Maturity
- Growing conditions
- Grazing habits of pigs
There are too few data sets to estimate the quantity of forage pigs eat and the nutritional value of that forage. Most nutritionists give little or no nutritional credit to the forage when formulating diets for pastured pigs.
You can have stored forage or silage tested for nutrient content. You can then use these results for formulating diets. Note that the digestibility of forage nutrients is generally lower than that of grains.
The Pork Information Gateway publication titled "Forages for Swine" outlines how to use forages in swine diets:
- Forage has a limited value for young pigs (especially those weighing less than 40 pounds) and lactating because it is high in fiber and low in energy.
- Pigs best use immature forages.
- Pigs make best use of forage nutrients when adapted to forage for at least two months.
- If forages make up over 25 percent of the total diet, make sure the crude protein content of the complete feed is slightly higher than typical corn-soybean meal diets.
- Forage proteins are less digestible.
- Use pasture rotation when grazing pigs. Rotation prevents parasite and bacterial loads.
- Grazing can heavily damage pastures especially with rooting in the spring and fall.
- Lower stocking rates can protect and support pasture plant growth.
- Ringing sow snouts can limit damage, but are not allowed under organic standards.
- Hogs on pasture may grow slower and require more feed per unit of gain due to high fiber intake and increased exercise compared to pigs in confinement.
National Organic Standards require that livestock have access to the outdoors, which can be a dirt lot or pasture. Pasture must be certified as organic before organically-raised pigs can graze on it.
Using forage can lower grain and protein supplement costs. In pasture systems, equipment and building costs decrease, which results in lower fixed production costs than intensive confinement production systems.
Stocking rates
Stocking rate refers to the number of pigs housed on a single acre.
Good quality forage can replace up to 50 percent of grain and supplement needs when you breed sows in the late spring to farrow early in the fall. One acre of good pasture can accommodate up to eight sows for one season.
During other seasons of the year, forage quality and availability will vary. You will also need to adjust grain and protein supplements to provide the nutrients the pigs need.
Stocking rates for grow-finish hogs greatly vary with the following:
- Soil fertility
- Pasture species
- Rainfall
- Season
These factors also affect forage availability and quality. You can stock pigs that are less than 100 pounds at rates of 15 to 30 pigs per acre. You can stock pigs that are over 100 pounds at 10 to 20 pigs per acre. You can greatly increase these numbers with more intensive management such as rotational grazing.
Grow-finish pigs on pasture are full-fed in most cases. You may be able to limit feed with pastures providing sufficient nutrients.
Pasture mixes
A sample pasture mix might consist of seeding for:
Permanent pastures which may include,
- Bluegrass
- White clover
- Orchardgrass
- Alfalfa
Rotational pastures which may include,
- Alfalfa
- Red clover
- Ladino clover
- Sweet clover
- Alsike clover
- Orchardgrass
- Bromegrass
- Timothy grass
Annual or temporary pastures which may include,
- Brassicas
- Rape
- Soybeans
- Cowpeas
- Fafabeans
- Sudangrass
- Rye
- Oats
- Wheat
- Barley
- Field peas
- Mixes of grasses and legumes
The previous example diets do not assume pasture supplementation due to the wide variety of pasture plants and nutrient contents of each.
Reviewed in 2018