When purchasing show pigs, one of the most important things is to get the pig on feed as soon as possible. A feed that is very palatable will tickle the pig’s taste buds and have it eating immediately. Highly palatable feeds also have value in the commercial swine industry.

The 2003 agricultural statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate that litter size per sow has increased over the past decade. As litter size increases, the sow must increase milk production so that the baby pigs can maintain a healthy growth rate. To produce milk, the sow must use a combination of nutrients derived from her diet and from the fat and protein stores in her body.

Phytate is a compound found in many common feed ingredients that decreases nutrient availability in animal diets. The main anti-nutritional effect of phytate is that it makes phytate phos-phorus unavailable for digestion and absorption by nonruminants such as swine and poultry. Phytate also has negative effects on digestive enzymes, trace minerals, calcium, protein and amino acids, and carbohydrates.

Trace minerals are important nutrients in diets for swine and poultry. They are required for growth, bone development, feathering in chickens, enzyme structure and function, and appetite. Over the past 20 years, scientists in the LSU AgCenter have played an important role in understanding the need for and use of trace minerals in diets for animals.

The facilities you need to raise show pigs do not have to be elaborate or expensive. Many different types and sizes of facilities are satisfactory for growing show pigs. Several basic facility options are discussed.

BMPs for swine farms are a specific set of practices used by farmers to reduce the amount of soil, nutrients, pesticides and microbial contaminants entering surface water and groundwater while maintaining or improving the productivity of agricultural land. This list of BMPs is a guide for the selection and implementation of those practices that will help swine farmers to conserve soil and protect water and air resources by reducing pollutants from reaching both surface and groundwater.

BATON ROUGE – Six students received top honors Saturday, winning the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Awards at the 69th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

Although there’s not an imminent danger, some scientists say a widespread disease or bioterrorism attack could wipe out significant portions of the U.S. farm animal population. That's where the National Animal Germplasm Program comes in.