Question: I will sell about 80 show pigs this April. Most are being born this month. I will start them on 209, then 409, then transition to T100. How do I make them look their best on sale day (April 1st)? More specifically, do I need to use a supplement at 50 to 70 lbs to help them look their best? Can a supplement be feed at this age?

Answer: Jeff,

Thank you for your question and for choosing HONOR Show Chow.

I suggest feeding about 3 to 5 lbs per pig after weaning of PRELUDE 209. Then transition to PRELUDE 409.

PRELUDE 409 is designed to prepare young prospective showpigs for sale, so you can:
Option:
1. Keep the pigs on 409 until you sell them

2. Transition to Showpig Grower at about 40 lbs in bodyweight

3. About 10 to 14 days prior to sale, you can put them back on PRELUDE 409 until sale

If you desire the pigs to be more expressive in muscling, you can add High Octane Fitter 35 for the final 14 days prior to sale at the rate of 2 to 4 oz per day along with either PRELUDE 409 or Showpig Grower.

The Fitter 35 will do a nice job at burning just a touch of fat and increasing top shape.

Hopefully this makes sense. If it does not, or at any time you need more help please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: I am wanting to feed Purina depth charge and the directions say to feed 8 to 32 oz per day. Is that measured by the weight of the feed or by the volume in a measuring cup.

Answer: William,

Thank you for your question and for choosing HONOR Show Chow.

That is actually by weight (8 oz = 1/2 lb, 16 oz = 1 lb etc).

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: What do you recommend feeding to get a deep grove down the top of our hog?

Answer: Ryan,

Thank you for your question.

For improving top shape I suggest the following diet:

With Paylean:
(TOTAL FEED PER DAY; DIVIDE INTO TWO EQUAL FEEDING MORNING AND EVENING):
HSC Showpig Grower 4 to 5 lbs
High Octane Power Fuel 1 lb
High Octane Paylean Premix 2 oz

Without Paylean:
(TOTAL FEED PER DAY; DIVIDE INTO TWO EQUAL FEEDING MORNING AND EVENING):
HSC Showpig Grower 3 to 4 lbs
High Octane Power Fuel 1 lb
High Octane Champion Drive 2 lbs

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: I am currently feeding Impulse at 1 1/2 lbs per day with 4 oz of Power Fuel and 4 oz of Champion Drive. Goats could use a little more cover. Need your input on holding at my current weight (for my show in early March).

Answer: TJ,

Thank you for your question and for choosing HONOR Show Chow.

To hold the goats without gaining weight for a month and increase cover is a very tall task. Animals have daily nutrient requirements that must be met for maintain muscle and fat cover. Then on top of that nutrient requirements for increasing gain and or body fat.

To hold goats where they are at, and attempting to increase fat cover I suggest the following diet:
(TOTAL FEED PER DAY; DIVIDE INTO TWO EQUAL FEEDINGS MORNING AND EVENING):
HSC Impulse 1/2 lb (8 oz)
High Octane Champion Drive 1/2 lbs (8 oz)
High Octane Power Fuel 4 oz
High Octane Heavy Weight 4 oz

This diet should come close to what you desire, but again holding animals for any length of time is not easy.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: I have been feeding my show pig Moormans Pig Feed. As of last night he weighed 162 lbs. He is being showed in Houston on March 12. Today I bought Honor Show Chow because I ran out of the Moormans. What are the pros and cons of switching feed now? And also, I weighed him for the first time on January 15 and he weighed 140 lbs, will he make weight at this rate? He gets 3 lbs of feed twice a day.

Answer: Sheila,

Thank you for your question and for choice of Honor Show Chow.

You pig needs to average at least 1.65 lbs per day gain for the next 41 days (March 12) to make the minimum weight limit. Right now your pig is gaining about 1.37 lb per day.

Most of our feeds are higher in energy than the Moormans products. So you should see faster growth although the pigs will usually eat less of ours per day than the Moormans feed. That also is due to the higher energy content.

To get you pig to grow faster I suggest adding our High Octane Heavy Weight product beginning at 8 oz per day. In 3 to 5 days increase the Heavy Weight to 12 oz per day. Heavy Weight should help your pig eat more and grow faster.

If you need more help please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
Honor Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: Has been stated on the use of Paylean that a supplement for joint health should be used and that a horse joint supplement is ok to use. The bottle says not for use in horses going to be used for human consumption. So it is ok to use? Ingredients are MSM, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Vitamin E, flaxseed oil, soy lecithin and sunflower oil.

Answer: Jonathon,

Thank you for your question.

Glucosamine and chondroitin from NATURAL sources (from shell fish) are okay to use in showpigs.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: We have only 11 days to the show. My pig is pretty deep (you could always be deeper) and has good rib, excellent fat cover and muscle. We are holding slightly. I just discovered your Depth Charge feed. If I should start him on Depth Charge now, will it do anything at all, or is it too late? Will it help with keeping him in a fuller appearance at the show if he becomes stressed?

Answer: Amber,

Thank you for your question.

High Octane Depth Charge is a filler that expands rapidly in the pigs digestive tract. It really works better the longer you feed it. I suggest getting the pigs use to it and consuming it prior to show. I suggest 21 to 30 prior to show for just fill, and feeding it through the feeding period at 8 oz per day along with regular feed if help is needed with rib shape.

For holding/limiting weight gain our Powerfill product does a great job.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: My daughters southdown lamb will show on 2/12. We actually have the rare problem of needing some more bloom as she has been under an intense exercise regimen. I upped her feed a week or so ago from 2 lbs to 2.5 lbs/day to try to stay out in front of this. She has gotten a little stale on me and needs some POP! How much Power fuel per day to get that needed bloom in 10 days with respect to the intense workout program.

Answer: Craig,

Thank you for your question and for choosing HONOR Show Chow.

You are right, I seldom hear of this problem, but once in a while someone needs help in this area.

8 oz per day High Octane Power Fuel should have the lamb back to where you want it in about 14 days.

For more pop or muscle shape, I suggest adding 8 oz per day of High Octane Champion Drive. You can feed more if the lamb needs it, up to 16 oz per day.

We also have a new product called High Octane Heavy Weight. It contains 70% fat and although it takes 3 to 4 days at times for ruminants to really eat it well, they do eventually eat it and everything it is on. For lambs you can mix with water and wet feed with it. It is water miscible.

You can also mix it into a paste and then add to the feed. This method has been the most successful in reducing the transition time. Mix 3 parts Heavy Weight and 1 part water, then add to the lamb feed in a bucket and mix together.

Heavy Weight works fast and lays down a great cover layer.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: Last year you mentioned several additives to help with raising show pigs. What was it that helped put more top on the show pigs? The pigs are about where they need to be weight wise for mid March show.

Answer: Bill,

Thank you for your question and for choosing HONOR Show Chow.

High Octane Champion Drive is the product you are looking for. It does a nice job at adding top shape to pigs, lambs, goats, and cattle.

For pigs feed 1 to 2 lbs per day along with regular feed depending upon how much help the pig needs.

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist

Question: Currently have two gilts weighing 180 lbs. Been feeding 5 lbs of 16%, 1 lb of Powerfill,and 8 oz Depth Charge. Gilts are gaining approximately 1.5 lbs per day need to get them to 2 lbs or more per day. Both are adequate muscled, carry enough middle but could use more cover, really just need to increase rate of gain.

Answer: Justin,

Thank you for your question and for choosing HONOR Show Chow.

It sounds like your gilts pretty lean. That is the nature of the beast with swine, the more muscle they have and the leaner they are, the poorer they eat and the slower they grow.

Energy is the key to growth. Our new product High Octane Heavy Weight is designed to get pigs to eat more and to provide extra energy. It is 70% crude fat and pigs love the taste. Start at 8 oz per day per pig and in 3 to 5 days, increase to 3/4 lb (12 oz).

Thanks again,

Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist