EXCLUSIVE PIG PRODUCTION
The performance of a pig is composed of the sum total of the effects of the genotype, the environment and the interaction between the genotype and the environment. The genotype is the breed or strain of the pig which represents the genetic potential of the pig, whilst the environment is a totality of the additive effects of the nutrition,
health, temperature, humidity, air speed, housing and stockman ship. Each strain of pigs has its got own genetic potential under an ideal environment. In theory it is possible, but in practice in many of the instances it is difficult, to achieve 100% of the ideal performance as the environment under which the pigs are reared is a totality of variables that are not and some that are partly under the control of the farmer, but also affect the overall performance of the pigs. Windmill strives to ensure that farmers produce pigs which perform very close to their genetic potential through the manufacture of high quality stock feeds that are produced from high quality raw materials. In addition to this, Windmill Private Limited also offers farmers free and sound technical advice on pig production, herd health, breeding and general management to optimise pig productivity and pofitability. Whilst Windmill produces high quality feed and also offers farmers technical advice, the farmer needs to practice good management in order to realise optimal profits driven from the company’s stock feeds. In order for pigs to drive maximum nutrients from the feeds, Windmill ensures that the feed matches the nutrient requirements with high accuracy by using raw materials that are:
- Free from contamination
- Free from extraneous
- materials
- Highly digestible
- Analysed by a Quality Control laboratory
- Highly palatable
- Adequately processed Cost effective
The feeds are formulated and manufactured using updated and sophisticated international feed formulation software and technological procossses, respectively.
The nutrient reuirements of a growing pig can be partitioned into:
- Requirements for basal metabolism, that is, the energy required to keep the pig in a steady energy balance, without any loss or gain in weight whilst sustaining involuntary muscle movement
- Any excess nutrients above maintainance requirements are used for growth (production);
and - In the case of the breeding boar and sow, there are nutrient requirements for reproduction as well
Windmill pig feeds are formulated to match the requirements of the pigs at different production stages and physiological statuses under a tropical environment, thus guaranteeing economic and biological efficiency to the farmer in Southern Africa.
The Windmill range of pig feeds are formulated using the Ideal Proetin Concept, which is one of the most recent and advanced, feed formulation principles for monogastrics or simple stomached animals such as pigs and poultry. Suitable essential amino acid ratios are maintained throughout the different feeds to maximise the growth rate and the lean tissue development in order to achieve optimum carcass grades at a younger age. When using the Ideal Proetin Concept, lysine is set as the reference amino acid and set at 100% whilst all the other dietary essential amino acids are expressed as a percentage at lysine. A suitable Lysine to Digestible Energy ratio is also maintained in order to allow maximum lean tissue development and maximise the rate of lean tissue deposition. This allows the farmer to achieve desired protein to fat ratio that gives lean carcasses over the shortest possible fattening period in the tropics, thus saving feed costs whilst at the same time attracting high market prices, culminating in optimum profits.
The peformance of the pigs is compared with the one expected from an Effective Growth Simulation Model, under a specific Lysine: DE ratio, recipe and conditions, modelled according to the one designed by Professor Gous from the University at Natal. Only recipes which produce results that match the performance predicted by the Effective Growth Simulation Model are adopted from commercial feed manufacturing. In other words the development of Windmill’s stock feeds is done through extensive research.
THE PRODUCTS
PIG CREEP MEAL (min 21% Crude Protein)
This is a highly digestible feed meticulously, balanced for essential available amino acids. Feed to piglets from one week of age up to weaning i.e five weeks. The feed is designed to give your piglets a good start without compromising the sow’s condition.
The objective of feeding this feed are as follows: to ensure early adaptation of the piglets to solid feed to avoid digestive upsets at wearing when changing from a liquid milk diet to a wholly solid diet.
- to minimise deterioration of the sow’s body condition by supplimenting the nutrients supplied
- to the piglets by the sow’s milk, so that the sow is able conceive within seven days post weaning and maintain an optimum farrowing index of 2.3 per year.
- to minimise the crashing of piglets by keeping the piglets attracted to the creep area away from the sow.
NB: The digestive system of the pig is still undeveloped to digest solid feed at birth. The capacity of the piglet to digest solid feed is poor at birth until 2 weeks after birth, at which stage the enzyme pepsin is released in significant quantities that can effectively digest proteins from solid feed. Hence feed creep feed to piglets from two weeks of age up to weaning. Feed the same creep diet from weaning to 8 weeks of age.
BROOD SOW MEAL (min 16% Crude Protein)
Feed broad sow meal from a week before farrowing up to weaning. This diet is rich in its ideal amino acid profile, and is highly digestible in order to achieve high milk production, to produce heavy weaners, whilst maintaining the sows in a good body condition to allow post weaning onception within seven days. The heavier the weaners the heavier the carcasses of the fattened pigs and the shorter the fattening period, thus maximising profits. Feed the sow 2kg of feed plus 0.5kg feed per piglet in her little per day.
BOAR AND DRY SOW MEAL (min 13% Crude Protein)
Feed this feed to boars and dry sows. Dry sows should be fed 3-4kg of feed sow per day after weaning and fed this ration until one week before farrowing. This feed is designed to meet the nutrient requirements of breeding boars and in-pig sows ensuring an optimum sow condition, to achieve the optimum litter size through increased fecundity or farrowing rate. This feed allows for conception within 7 days post weaning, thus giving the sow an optimum farrowing index of 2.3 per year. The feed also maximises the number of piglets born alive per sow.
PIG GROWER MEAL (min 16% Crude Protein)
The Windmill pig grower meal is formulated to balance the Ideal Protein ratio between Lysine and the other essential amino acids whilst maintaining a suitable Lysine to Digestible Energy Ratio that ensures maximum lean tissue deposition, a suitable tissue protein: fat deposition ratio. to achieve the Class 1 Heavy RAI. (Super) wade that attracts the highest prices per Wynne of meat on the market. This feed ensures a large frame development and a high lean tissue deposition rate that shortens the fattening period whilst all optimum, minimum feed conversion ratio., thus minimising feeding costs whilst maximising profits. Feed Pig Grower Meal from 8 up to 16 weeks or 50kg live weight. Feed the pigs ad libitum up to 10 weeks. Then feed at 1.3kgs per pig per day and increase by 0.1kg per pig per week up to a maximum of 1.8kg.
PIG FINISHER MEAL (min 15% Crude Protein)
This is a unique product to be fed from 16 weeks of age or 50kg live weight to slaughter. These pigs should be restrict fed in order to achieve the correct lean meat grade (P2) that his no excess fat, but the feed should continue to be increased by 0.1kg per pig per week up to a maximum of 2.3kg per pig per day. The Windmill pig finisher meal is also formulated to balance the ratios between the essential amino acids and a suitable Lysine to Digestible Energy Ratio that ensures the Class 1 Heavy Porker grade that attrcts the highest prices. This feed complements the grower diet by ensuring a high lean tissue deposition rate at a younger age whilst maintaining a minimum feed conversion ratio, thus minimising feeding costs whilst maximising profits.
The Windmill Pig Finisher Meal was competitively formulated to achieve unparalleled performance on the market. This ensures the farmer is able to competitively price his pork without compromising on quality. Thus, offering a hedge to our clients against cheap products from neighbouring countries. This means Windmill stock feeds are there to help you protect your investment from the threat of the cheap imports as production costs are significantly lowered whilst profits are maximised. Sensitivity analyses carried out show a viable production system under a wider range of pork prices. when a farmer uses Windmill feeds under a high management system.
PIG CREEP CONCENTRATE (41.5% Crude Protein)
To produce pig creep meal mix 2 parts concentrate to 3 parts maize meal by weight.
PIG GROWER CONCENTRATE (32% Crude Protein)
To produce pig grower meal mix 2 parts concentrate to 3 parts maize meal by weight.
PIG FINISHER CONCENTRATE (26% Crude Protein)
To produce pig finisher meal mix 2 parts concentrate to 3 parts maize meal by weight.
BROOD SOW CONCENTRATE (26% Crude Protein)
To produce brood sow meal mix 2 parts concentrate to 3 parts maize meet by weight.
BOAR AND DRY SOW CONCENTRATE (21% Crude Protein)
To produce boar and dry sow meal mix 2 parts concentrate to 3 parts maize meet by weight.
NB. When mixing any pig feed ensure maize is finely milled through a 3mm screen for optimum performance.