For pig producers, genetic advances offer the opportunity for better productivity and profitability – a particular positive when they continue to face fluctuating feed costs and pork prices globally. However, unlocking that genetic potential is not always straightforward, and requires a depth of understanding of pig genotype and the multiple environmental factors which come into play on individual pig units.
In this Industry Perspectives, we discuss the approach required to optimise performance with Alcina Ascensão, Global Species Technology Leader Swine, Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health and her colleague Stephanie Chen, Global Category Leader Sows & Grower-Finishers, Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health.
They discuss the changing nutritional requirements of genetically superior stock, and, as a consequence, the need to review diets and to embrace precision nutrition. Their approach includes Cargill’s Utmost™ portfolio which offers a range of solutions and digital tools, partnering with producers to develop feeding programmes based on specific farm data, while applying innovative feed technologies to optimise pig productivity.
[Feedinfo] Pork production has progressed rapidly, with genetics being one of the key changes. What’s your view of this as a nutrition specialist – how can we unlock the potential for higher productivity, and does it differ from country-to-country?]
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[Stephanie Chen] The pork production industry must navigate fluctuating feed costs and pork prices. However, advancements in pig genetics can help turn these market pressures into opportunities to unlock the potential for higher productivity and profitability. Genetic progress offers us the chance to enhance average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in grower-finisher pigs. To take full advantage of modern pig genetics, we need to be providing precision nutrition tailored to the pig's requirements. |
Stephanie Chen, Global Category Leader Sows & Grower-Finishers, Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health |
This involves understanding the pig's phenotype, which refers to the visible traits resulting from the combination of genetic makeup (genotype) and environmental factors.
Factors such as temperature, type of feed, space at the feeder, and overall farm health can vary from farm to farm and affect pig performance.
By comprehensively understanding both the genetics and the environment of the pigs, we can tailor nutritional support precisely, building nutrition scenarios in which producers can optimise the performance of their pigs to maximize their profitability.
[Feedinfo] Following on from this, how can producers meet the modern pig’s nutrient requirements and ensure they can achieve its high productivity potential?
[Alcina Ascensão] Genetic progress has resulted in an increased protein deposition capacity of pigs. Consequently, pigs need more amino acids and phosphorus to demonstrate their growth potential. This change in the nutrient demand of pigs requires a review of diet formulation, especially since amino acids and phosphorus are among the most expensive nutrients. Precision nutrition has therefore never been more important.
This further illustrates the importance of understanding the phenotype of the pigs to meet their nutrient demands.
In animal nutrition, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to meeting the modern pig’s nutrient requirements. It must be done precisely, taking into account and tailoring to the unique conditions of each operation, and by utilising a range of targeted solutions. This approach not only helps in saving costs but also supports higher productivity potential, optimising average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR).
In short, feeding pigs precisely based on their phenotype and optimising results according to producer goals and their specific market conditions helps achieve the best profitability.
[Feedinfo] As a business, you advocate a holistic approach to tackle these challenges – can you talk us through what this entails on a practical level?
[Stephanie Chen] Our Utmost™ portfolio embodies our holistic approach, and it is designed to boost productivity during the grower-finisher stage. It helps create precise, customised diets that provide the exact nutrients pigs need to grow efficiently and finish strongly, tailored to each farm's performance and goals. With the Utmost™ portfolio, we partner with producers to develop feeding programmes based on specific farm data, while applying innovative feed technologies to optimise pig productivity.
Some of the solutions within the Utmost™ portfolio include:
- Pork MAX™, an economic modelling tool that utilises our proprietary Cargill Nutrition System (CNS) to help producers make informed decisions about diet formulation, productivity, and profitability, ensuring their pigs receive the necessary nutrients to meet specific farm goals.
- Our Micronutrition and Health Solutions portfolio, comprising of feed products that aim to improve feed conversion ratios, average daily gain, carcass quality, and support sustainability.
- Nutritional packages that are tailored to the gender and lean gain potential of pigs.
- Agriness, a digital solution for pig production management.
Our goal with precision nutrition is to achieve 100% nutrient utilisation. Failing to match nutrient supply and demand can lead to lower economic returns, increased environmental footprint, and reduced resource efficiency. This is where the tools in our Utmost™ portfolio come into play.
CNS, one of the industry's largest nutrient databases, ensures an understanding of nutrient supply, matching this knowledge with the animal physiology and nutritional requirements. It offers producers real-time nutrient analysis of feed ingredients and access to our global ingredient database.
Pork MAX™, in turn, leverages the CNS database. This digital tool combines on-farm management and genetic variables, integrating each customer's unique on-farm data to deliver the most accurate economic models. This helps customers make informed decisions based on their production goals.
[Feedinfo] Variability is often an issue in livestock production. How do you support pork producers to navigate this and ensure they maximise their profitability?
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[Alcina Ascensão] Variability encompasses many challenges in livestock production, including fluctuations in pork prices, inconsistent raw material supply and costs, evolving farm diseases, and market conditions like labour shortages. Addressing these issues holistically is crucial for maintaining profitability. We support pork producers by providing precise nutritional advice and applications tailored to the specific nutrient demands of each phenotype, helping to ensure optimal protein deposition within diverse sets of environmental circumstances. With Pork MAX™, we consider various factors to optimise the on-farm nutritional plans for our customers, intended to ensure the best economic outcomes. |
Alcina Ascensão, Global Species Technology Leader Swine, Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health |
By using current farm data to define phenotypes, we can adjust growth curves accordingly. This approach allows us to establish precise nutrient requirements and run economic projections, aiding in informed nutrition decisions.
[Feedinfo] You have recently carried out some internal trials on these nutritional changes. Can you talk us through this, and the results?
[Alcina Ascensão] We recently conducted trials to evaluate the impact of changing amino acids and phosphorus in the diet on pig growth performance and financial outcomes, specifically return over feed cost. Amino acid and phosphorus levels were determined using Pork MAX™, through multiple simulations to establish these recommendations, which were then validated in these in-vivo trials.
Our findings indicated that increasing these nutrients led to a significant improvement in average daily gain, resulting in pigs that were, on average, 3.3kg heavier at the end of the trial. Additionally, we observed an improvement in feed conversion ratio by 0.06 points (2.8% improvement), highlighting better feed efficiency. These results align with the predictions of Pork MAX™, demonstrating the reliability of its projections.
[Feedinfo] These internal trials have also shown an impact on the carbon footprint – what did you see?
[Alcina Ascensão] That is correct. For one of the trials that was done in US conditions, we performed a life cycle assessment of the feed and farm. When we applied the updated recommendations on amino acids and phosphorus, we observed an overall 3.5% reduction in the carbon footprint (CO2 equivalents per metric ton of carcass). This reduction in carbon footprint was primarily driven by an improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and a faster time to market.
It is important to note that these results are highly sensitive to the specific feed formulations and farm management conditions. If producers are focused on reducing their carbon footprint, we recommend conducting similar analyses tailored to their specific conditions and of their market.
Globally, retailers are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. Improvements in efficiency can really help producers meet overall reduction targets.
[Feedinfo] Can these approaches and results be replicated on-farm by producers, and if they were widely adopted, what overall impact would they have?
[Stephanie Chen] If pork producers replicate these approaches on their farms, they can expect improvements in:
- Feed conversion ratio (FCR), and
- Average daily gain and time to market.
Collectively, these benefits can support increased efficiency and profitability for pork producers.
By partnering with Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health, producers can count on our expert recommendations and proven, precise nutrition strategies tailored to the specific phenotypes of their pigs and their production goals.
We support producers in optimising feed efficiency and growth rates, helping pigs reach market weight quicker and reducing the overall cost of production. Improved FCR means less feed is required per unit of weight gain, which reduces feed costs and potentially the corresponding environmental impact of pork production.
Producers who embrace these recommendations can be better positioned to meet market demands, thereby leading to long-term success and competitiveness in the industry. We encourage readers to reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help their operations, or to visit us online.
