By Scout Nelson
Feed management plays an important role in livestock farming. The type and amount of feed given to pigs affect animal growth, manure nutrient levels, crop production, and environmental health.
When farmers use nutrients efficiently, they can reduce waste, improve resource use, and support long-term farm sustainability. Better links between animal feeding, manure management, and crop production also help keep nutrients within the farming system.
Hector Menendez, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Livestock Grazing Specialist, along with Jordan M. Adams, Julia T. Silva, Karun Kaniyamattam, and Luis O. Tedeschi, recently highlighted the importance of connecting feed management with manure recycling and crop production.
How Feed Management Affects Nutrient Cycling
Pigs receive nutrients through their feed to support growth, health, and production. However, not all nutrients in feed are used by the animals. Some nutrients leave the animal in manure and can be returned to agricultural fields.
Manure contains nutrients that crops need, including nitrogen and phosphorus. When farmers manage and apply manure properly, these nutrients can replace some purchased fertilizers and support crop growth. This process also helps recycle valuable resources rather than allowing them to go to waste.
The amount of nutrients in manure depends partly on the feed ingredients and the diet given to pigs. Poorly balanced diets may supply more nutrients than animals need, increasing the amount released in manure. Better feed planning can help match nutrient intake with animal needs and improve nutrient use efficiency.
These practices are important because livestock production can affect air, soil, and water quality. Feed production and manure management also create opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the environmental performance of pork production.
Practical Ways to Improve Nutrient Use
Farmers can use several management practices to improve nutrient cycling and reduce nutrient losses.
Precision feeding: Farmers can adjust feed ingredients and nutrient levels to better match the needs of pigs at different growth stages. This approach helps animals use nutrients more efficiently and can reduce unnecessary nutrient output in manure.
Nutrient planning: Soil tests and crop nutrient requirements help farmers decide how much manure to apply. Proper planning reduces the risk of applying more nutrients than crops can use.
Conservation practices: Cover crops and suitable tillage methods help protect the soil and reduce erosion. These practices can also improve water movement, support soil health, and help keep nutrients in the field.
Improved manure placement: Injecting manure below the soil surface or incorporating it into the soil can reduce some nutrient losses. Farmers should choose methods that fit their equipment, soil conditions, and crop needs.
Manure treatment technologies: Anaerobic digestion, composting, and biochar production can help manage manure and recover useful resources. Depending on the system, these methods may improve waste handling, support nutrient recovery, or create additional value from farm materials.
Connecting Animal Feeding with Crop Production
Feed management and manure use work best when farmers consider them as parts of one system. Feeding decisions affect the nutrients released by pigs, while manure management determines how those nutrients return to the soil.
Regenerative agriculture practices can strengthen this connection. Cover crops, careful nutrient applications, and other conservation methods help protect soil and improve the use of nutrients. When combined with well-planned feeding and manure management, these practices can support crop production while limiting environmental risks.
Circular bioeconomy approaches follow a similar idea. They focus on keeping useful materials and nutrients in productive use instead of treating them as waste. In swine farming, manure can provide nutrients for crops, while crop production supplies materials that support the wider agricultural system.
The most effective results come from combining practices instead of relying on a single solution. Farmers need to consider animal nutrition, manure storage, application methods, soil conditions, and crop requirements when making management decisions.
Learn More About Feed Management
The National Animal Nutrition Program provides factsheets, reports, and decision-support tools through its Feed Management Committee. Farmers, extension professionals, planners, and researchers can explore these resources at https://animalnutrition.org/feed-management to learn more about efficient livestock feeding and nutrient management.
Photo Credit:istock-songqiuju
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Hogs, Sustainable Agriculture