Feeding and Management
of Show Pigs
Tadd Knight
ADM Alliance Nutrition®
ShowTec® National Accounts Manager
Four Major Components of the
Champion Show Livestock
Success Equation
1.
2.
3.
4.
Genetics
Management
Nutrition
Showmanship
Sticking to the Basics
• Good ones are bred, but CHAMPIONS are
Fed!
• They are made at home!
• Start with a good one
• Feed manageable numbers
• Realize—both a beauty and athletic contest
• Know the judges’ priorities
• Do your homework!
The Foundation for Success
• Ability to “read” livestock
• Analyzing structure, design, fat, and
muscle
• Students must be motivated to work
hard on a daily basis
Every Component
Must be in Place
• Every day is critical
• Those students who do the little things
right every day win consistently
• Sound daily management practices
are key to show ring success
• Start with an individual that has
the genetic potential to win!
• Start with one that is the right
age for target show!
Selection
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ADM Alliance Nutrition®
Structural soundness
Squareness of Skeleton
Muscle Content
Body Capacity
Balance
Nutrition
• Without question, a sound nutrition
program is crucial to maximizing the
genetic potential of a show animal
Feeding Show Pigs
Nutrition
Feeding
Three Phases
• Phase I – Purchase to approx. 100 lb
• Phase II – 100 to 200 lb
• Phase III – 200 lb to desired show
weight
Phase I
• The time of purchasing
and receiving is crucial!
Vaccinations
• Vaccinations should include:
– Circo Virus
– Mycoplasma Pnuemonia
– Flu
– Erysipelas
Minimize Stress
• Stressors include:
*Pre-weaning
*Weaning
*Snaring, clipping, hauling to sales
*Co-mingling on school farm
Pigs from different herds have
different degrees of immunity to
various health challenges
Phase I Feeding
Receiving Ration
• A high-quality receiving ration is very
important for early skeletal and muscle
development
• A broad spectrum antibiotic in feed such
as CTC/Denagard®* is a must
*Not a trademark of ADM.
Receiving Ration
continued
• For young pigs weighing less than 50 lb
or greener pigs over 50 lb, feed 24020
Burst Starter which is 21.5% crude
protein and 6.5% fat
• For pigs over 50 lb or very “bloomy,” use
12006 Sale Prep with 20% crude protein
with 5.5% fat
Phase I Feeding continued
• Next feed 11148 Starter/Grower LN/FBZ
(fenbendazole and lincomycin)
• Combats respiratory challenges
• Assures thorough deworming
• Should feed 1 bag per pig
Phase I Feeding continued
• Feeding “free-choice” to at least 100 lb
is recommended to maximize early
skeletal and muscle growth
• Clean feeders daily
Managing the Feed Bucket
• Managing fat and muscle composition are
keys to success
• Avoid gimmick products and stick with
research-proven feed additives
Individualize Feeding Plans
• Analyze each pig early on and make a
projected feeding plan for each pig
• Adjust plan as the feeding process
moves along and pigs change
Managing Muscle
• Pigs over 50 lb that need to continue to
develop muscle should be on 10194
Developer LN which is a 20% crude
protein ration with 3.5% fat
• Once muscle development gets close to
desired, feed 18241 BB 18 LN which is an
18% crude protein ration with 3.75% fat
Managing Muscle
• As pigs need more condition and need to
maintain muscle, feed 18007 Hi Fat 18
LN which is an 18% crude protein ration
with 7% fat
Managing Muscle
• For slightly above averaged muscled pigs
and developing breeding gilts as well as
very heavily muscled pigs, we recommend
14560 14.5/6 LN, a crumbled, complete
feed providing 14.5% crude protein
product with 6% fat
Managing Fat Composition
• Avoid feeding too high fat levels from
60 to 100 lb
• Utilize high-quality, highly digestible fat
additives
• Start with a small inclusion level of
additional fat in ration at 100 lb and
adjust according to each pig
Phase II Feeding
Begins from 100 to 125 lb
• Limit feeding often initiated at this time if
needed
• Initially feed 6 lb per day
• Adjust according to desired daily gain
needs
Phase III Feeding
Critical Decisions Need To Be Made
• The use of Paylean®* should be considered
• Additional fat supplementation?
 Depends on each individual pig
 How do I decide how much and when?
*Not a trademark of ADM.
Paylean Feeding Options
• Feeding a complete feed with 9 grams
per ton of Paylean®* is one option —
12228 Finisher TY/Paylean is recommended
• Supplementing feed with daily hand-mix
Paylean product is 2nd option —
• 11102 Lean Maximizer® is hand mixing option
• Some pigs may not need Paylean*!!!
.
Top-Dress Options
• Top-dress options exist to “tweak”
a pig in terms of gut fill, muscle
and/or fat composition, as well as
vitamin/mineral supplementation
MoorMan’s® MoorFat™
#235AAA77
Now offered in a 20-lb pail
• Use MoorFat to achieve desire show cover
• Top-dress 2-4 oz per feeding – not to exceed
10% of daily intake
• May be fed to exhibition swine,
sheep, and goats
• 50-lb bag also available (235AA)
ShowTec® MoorBody™
#12111AAA15
Offered in a 40-lb bag
• Provides high fat and high energy chips along with choice white
grease and palm oil
• Contains citrus and beet pulp
• Citrus scent
• Flexible usage
• Dense texture
• Feed ½ to 2 lb of MoorBody in conjunction with a
ShowTec Developer Feed
• Product designed for developing extra body fill and
cover as desired
• 14% crude protein, 0.9% lysine, 19.5% crude fat,
13.5% crude fiber
ShowTec Navigator
#10200DB
Offered in a 25-lb pail
• Top-dress exhibition swine at 4-8 oz/hd/day as a
replacement for 1-2 lb of complete feed
• Contains Blue Lite Electrolytes™*
 Tissue rehydration
 Use during periods of stress
• Provides complexed trace minerals
 Promotes healthy skin and hair growth
• Contains L-carnitine, chromium picolinate,
and essential amino acids
• Contains yeast cultures and an acidifier
 Promotes proper intestinal pH and feed intake
• Contains Appetein™*
*Not trademarks of ADM.
Show Prep for Swine
#12303AAAMB
Offered in a 5-lb pouch
• Latest and most desired product on market
• Complete feed with enhanced energy and balanced
amino acid/electrolyte package
• Eliminates the need for multiple top-dress products
• Designed to be fed the night before and the morning
of the show (2.5 lb/feeding); can also be fed 3-4 days
prior to show
• Convenient, affordable
#12298AAA5E
Offered in a 3.75-lb pouch
For more flexibility in motion . . .
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Command attention from the first step into the show ring with MoorFlex!
One-of-a-kind, unique, top-dress supplement for show swine, beef
cattle, goats, and lambs.
It provides nutritional support for joint flexibility, helping show animals
move with ease and comfort.
It contains an ingredient approved for livestock feed that provides a
source of natural substances recognized to influence joint health.
Supplies Cell-Rate®, a source of nucleotides that may help fuel natural
metabolic processes involved in stress, immunity, and production.
The complexed zinc source helps optimize integrity of the hoof, gut, and
skin. Plus, MoorFlex is loaded with essential vitamins.
• Feeding Directions
– Show Swine:
– Show Cattle:
– Show Sheep:
– Show Goats:
2 to 4 oz/head/day
2 to 8 oz/head/day
2 to 4 oz/head/day
2 to 4 oz/head/day
• Ordering process and for more information, log
on to www.cellarator.com/MoorFlex.
– Retail customers may log on at
www.cellarator.com/MoorFlex to purchase on-line
or call 877-788-4448 to place an order.
– ADM ANI Dealers must call 877-788-4448 to place orders.
Dealer pricing not available for on-line ordering.
Other Products
• ShowTec Lean Maximizer #11102DB
 Daily hand mixing of Paylean
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supplementation
 25-lb pail
Firewater™* #11110BC
 Rehydrates and expands animals at show time
 36-oz container
Alliance 3-D™ #12079AAA
 Liquid (oil-based) energy supplement
 Available in one-gal. and 40-gal. containers
*Not a trademark of ADM.
Daily Management
• Daily Management is crucial to show
ring success!
• Those who do the little things right
every day are usually the ones who win
• Cutting corners will cost you more in
the end than paying a little more to
make sure pigs are properly cared for
Phase I
Management Tips
• Encourage students to gentle pigs down by
getting into pen on a daily basis at a young
age
• Bed pigs on high-quality bedding to prevent
staining
• Clean area where pigs defecate on a daily
basis
• Observe daily for signs of illness or
lameness
Phase 1 Management
continued
• Utilize shade cloth for light breeds
• Separate pigs in to individual pens as
early as possible to prevent injury and
calm them down
• Introduce pigs to scales at early age and
continue on a consistent basis
Phase II Management
• Begin training pigs to show
• Work with pigs 15 to 20 minutes per
day in a show ring environment
• Weigh the pigs weekly and chart gain
Phase II
• Wash regularly and apply hair and skin
conditioning products regularly
• First hair cut usually given around 125 lb
• Do not trim with less than 1A guard
Phase III Management
• Wash pigs twice per week if possible
• Apply oil every day and brush at
feeding time
• Keep all pigs out of elements and away
from sun exposure
• Heavy pigs should be monitored more
closely on weight and rations adjusted
perhaps twice per week
Showmanship
• Showing an animal to its potential is critical
• Possessing “ring awareness” is very important
• Accentuate the good qualities and cover up
negative ones!
• Young exhibitors should watch more experienced
showmen and learn from them!
• Train pigs to show at early age
• The more you handle the pigs the better
Thank You and
Good Luck!