annual report 09/10 - Apri.com.au

Research Program ReportsRe-ground and single grind samples of sorghum and barley were incorporated into a standard growerdiet with grain representing 72% of the feed. Diets were fed either as a mash or after steam pelletingunder typical commercial conditions. The diets were offered to young male weaner pigs at Rivaleaor grower pigs at Wacol, Queensland. As shown in the Figure below, feed conversion ratio (FCR)values were lower (efficiency of feed use higher) for all comparisons of re-grinding with single grindsfor all feeds except reground sorghum pellets fed to weaner pigs. Effects were particularly marked formash feeds with re-grinding resulting in 22% and 10.5% improvement in the efficiency of feed usefor sorghum offered, respectively, to weaner and grower pigs Similarly re-grinding of barley fed as amash resulted in 15% and 8.3% improvement in efficiency of feed use for weaner and grower pigs,respectively. Re-grinding of either sorghum or barley offered as a mash resulted in a lower FCR thanpelleting after a single grind.These results are particularly important for pig enterprises offering mash feeds. Further research iscontinuing to identify the best method for milling grains to reduce the maximum size of particles whilenot increasing while not increasing the proportion the proportion of very of very fine fine particles. The research will also also determine the the likely optimumlikely while not optimum increasing maximum the proportion particle size of very for each fine grain particles. type. The research will also determine themaximum likely optimum particle maximum size for particle each grain size for type. each grain type.Figure XXX- Effect of re-grinding large particles fed either as mash or conventional pellets onfeed Figure conversion XXX- Effect ratio of re-grinding for weaner large and grower particles pigs fed either as mash or conventional pellets onEffect feed of conversion re-grinding ratio large for weaner particles and grower fed either pigs as mash or conventional pellets on feedconversion ratio for weaner and grower pigs31