Dry Feeders
Check dry feeders regularly for blockage, spoiled/wet feed or bridging. Feed should flow evenly into all feeder compartments.
In a dry feeder, the gap between the agitation plate and the trough floor will determine the amount of feed that can flow into the feeder. A feeder gap that is too narrow can restrict the amount the pig may eat and in some cases cause the feeder to plug. One plugged feeder space in a four-hole feeder can easily be overlooked. But when the whole feeder becomes plugged, the end result can mean more days to market for the pig and increased costs to the producer. On the other hand, having the feeder gap too large will prevent plugging but results in feed waste and increased feed cost.
Check the bottom pan of feeders to make sure they are adjusted properly. No one adjustment fits all. Kansas State University swine research suggests that 40%–50% of the feeder pan floor be covered for grower-finisher pigs. Adjust feeders to allow feed to cover slightly more than half of the feed pan without it accumulating in the corners.4
Further research has shown that for finisher pigs at 41 kg, a feeder gap setting of at least 1.9 cm results in approximately 58% pan coverage, maximizing gain without affecting feed efficiency. However, after pigs reach 68 kg, a 1.27-cm gap width results in approximately 28% pan coverage, minimizing feed waste and optimizing both average daily gain (ADG) and feed-to-gain ratio (F:G). Optimum feeder gap settings differ with each growth phase.5