• Reducing medicine residues
• Management of the feed bin
• Feeder space requirements
• How much feed should my pigs eat?
• Controlling feed wastage and common problems with feeders
• Managing the feed system to eliminate feed wastage

Common Problems with Feeders and Feed Wastage:

Feed accounts for 60 - 70% of costs. However, some 10% of this can be wasted on many farms, which is 6% of total costs go down the slats or into the muck heap, this may be nearly twice your vet bill!!  Always look critically at any floor feeding, even in the farrowing area.
 

It is essential to regularly check feed bins.	A bin that can be seen through helps reduce mold being missed.	Bins with their lids left open, rain got in and spoilt 3 tons of feed.	Inadequate bin hygiene routines. Feed bins need regular cleaning.
Poor placement in the feed bin and cleaning up afterwards.	Poor storage allowing rat infestation waste and disease risk. Do not leave them outside to get wet.	Creep feed should only be stored on pallets.	Poor storage creep being too hot. Note: creep feed is basically milk.
Holes in the home miller and mix plant.	Holes in the bin/auger piping lead to chronic feed loss.	Poor milling leading to feed being unusable. Pigs cannot digest whole grains.	The poor milling was associated with a blunt hammer in the mill.
Dusty feed in the feed hopper. Detailed examination is not necessary. Check the quality of feed at the top of the feeder and compare with what the pigs are actually trying to eat.		Poor placement into feed hoppers can result in fighting over feed.	Feed scoop management resulting in increased waste at delivery.
Poor hygiene of feed barrow around farm. Maintain all trailers and tote bins.	Poor management of feeders as part of all-in/all-out resulting in wasted feed.	Inadequate feeder space for all the pigs, variable growth is inevitable.	A sow in heat does not eat. Ensure all uneaten food is distributed and not wasted.
Holes in feed hopper both large and small result in waste. Poorly repaired feeders are the number one error on most pig farms.		Design of feed hopper where pigs can throw food out of the hopper.	Management of feeder with too much food presented.
Poor feeder slide adjustment resulting is variable feed availability and waste.	Poor cleaning of feeders resulting in reduction in feed space availability.	Bedding management resulting in blocked feeders. Items can get block feeders such as straw or marker cans.	Feeders which have allowed water to enter the feeder spoiling the food.
Partially covered feeders. Bird and rodent spread salmonella.	Feeders with bird and rodent contamination. Note: all of this bird feces would have been eaten by the pigs, a major disease risk.	Water overflowing into the feeder limiting feed accessibility and resulting in increased wastage.	Feed wastage under feeder. Not only costs money but encourages rodents to the farm.