June 25, 2007

Pork producers urged to seek alternative ingredients on high feed costs

Higher corn costs and feed inputs should push pork producers to explore options presented by alternative feed ingredients, advised swine nutritionist Hans Stein from the University of Illinois Extension.

Stein said numerous feed alternatives suitable to replace a portion of corn in pig diets are already available in different states. During a feed cost seminar hosted by the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) held at Princeton and Decatur cities, he singled out distillers dried grains (DDGS) as the most available on-hand. 

Feed prices last year have increased from roughly 45 percent to 55 percent of total input costs, according to IPPA. This situation should prompt farmers to use 20 percent of DDGS in all groups of pig diets, said Stein. He added that an extra 30 to 40 percent could also be applied but will entail more research.

Producers also may include everything from oats, barley, wheat byproducts and other leftovers from the food processing industry in pigs' diets, Stein said.

Stein said producers using alternative products should be willing to "change aspects of their operation and their mindset as feed costs definitely have gone up."

He added that producers need to "accept the idea that the days when the lowest feed cost was a mix of corn and soy meal probably are over" as the scenario now is totally different.

Pork producers also may have a need for more bins or holding facilities if they want to expand the menu of feed items. Stein said it would be more profitable to buy alternative feed ingredients and accommodate more storage for it.