Spring Has Sprung!

Sam Malcolm & Family: Feed - Showpigs -Breeding Stock

Thank you for attending the Meeting

Our annual show feed meeting was held March 17th at the Fire Mountain Grill in Auburn. I trust all in attendance got plenty to eat.

Mike Speaker, the presenter from Kent Feeds, did an outstanding job in showcasing the Kent Show products. He also provided a few guidelines to make sure each livestock member gets the most out of their show animal. One such item was to make sure the animal has fresh water at all times. This is such an easy thing to forget, but it can make a huge difference in feed conversion and bloomy appearance. Another item was to make sure you de-worm your animals. You can lean more about this in the article below. Finally, Mike suggested that a good feed program can make a good animal better, and that a poor feeding program can make and good animal average!

One other very important item Mike spoke about was the fact that the Kent Show Feed products are made with “Locked In” formulas. This means that the ingredients in the feed never change. For example, if the feed recipe calls for soybean oil, then soybean oil is used. Some feed manufacturers use the cheapest ingredients at the time of making the feed, and thus each batch of feed is different. Kent strives to make economic products too, but they do so by making sure that you have a consistent product each time you open a bag of Kent feed.

Finally, Mike talked about getting your animals on a good diet and let them eat and grow. Then evaluate your animals about 8 to 10 weeks out from your show. If they look like you want them to, keep using the same program. If you want to change how they look, a different approach can be taken. If it can be worked into our schedules, Mike or I would love to view your animals and work with you to provide the best program we can to maximize your animals growth and appearance.

De-Worm Your Pigs with Swine Dewormer

An important part of any feeding program is controlling internal parasites. Kent has great product called Swine Dewormer. It is a complete feed that works great for growing pigs, and it is simple to use. Add up the total pounds of pigs you want to de-worm, and divide that by 300. This gives you the number of bags you need to use. For example; if you have 3 barrows that weigh approximately 80 pounds each, and 2 gilts that weigh 105 each, you need 2 bags of feed. Always round up, and always make sure that is the only feed product they are consuming at the time they are being de-wormed.

A good rule of thumb is to de-worm once you get all your pigs, and then once again in the middle of June. State Fair pigs should probably be wormed again. The next newsletter will give advice on de-worming larger pigs.

Product Spotlight, Monthly Specials

Wide Open

Wide Open is designed to give a pig more body and width. Wide Open is high in fiber and contains a balanced electrolyte package. Wide Open also contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids for improved cellular health and enhanced hair and skin shine. This product really adds bloom to your hogs. Even though it has a high fiber content, Wide Open will not slow down the growth of your pig. Essential Wide Open is not a complete feed. It is to be fed at the rate of 1/2 to 2 pounds per day when more fill and/or cover is desired. Use Wide Open as a topdress or mix in with your current complete show feed. The amount of fill and cover you want on your pig will determine the amount of Wide Open to be fed.

Special Program for May

Each customer that purchases Wide Open in the month of May will receive one chance per bag purchased in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse.

Prime Time

Prime Time is Kent Feeds premier show pig feed. It isa 20% protein complete feed designed for high performance show pigs. This nutrient dense complete feed with high levels of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals allow the pig to express its genetic potential for growth and muscle. Prime Time is enhanced with ShowBloom and comes medicated with either 200 grams of Linco or 100 grams of Tylan.
Prime Time is recommended for both barrows and gilts and should be fed as the main diet. It is a great product to ‘dress up’ or ‘dress down’ when going for a certain look or body condition. For example, Essential Wide Open can be topdressed or mixed with Prime Time for added fiber and fat. This will give your pig a fuller and softer look in its condition. Another example is mixing in First Rate Final Drive. This will raise the protein and burn fat on the pig to give a harder, leaner type body condition.
One thing I have noticed over the years of feeding Prime Time is that the pigs really eat it and grow very well on it. Put them on it and let them grow!

VitaLean

VitaLean is very well named. It maintains the vitality of your pigs. VitaLean is a must if you run the show circuit with your pigs.
Think of VitaLean as a daily multi-vitamin for your pigs. It is designed to be topdressed on your complete feed at 1/2 ounce per day. VitaLean is also great to used during periods of stress or reduced feed intake. When holding a pig in a desired weight range, VitaLean can be added at up to 2 ounces per day to supplement vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that your pig may be missing from lower feed intake. VitaLean works great with Hang Time for holding and dialing in those barrows for show day.
Over the years, VitaLean has been fed to many open show andcounty fair champions, as well as Breed and Overall Champions at the NAILE Market Hog Show, the Indiana State Fair, the World Pork Expo Junior Show, and the National Junior Summer Spectacular.

Special Program for May

Get $5 off your purchase of each bucket of VitaLean when you buy 2 or more buckets at the same time during the month of May.

Don’t forget about the Kent Feeds First Rate Show Awards program. This program awards merchandise to the owners of Kent fed champions at the County, State, and National levels. Visit www.kentshowfeeds.com to learn more!

Feed Additives for Joints, Tendons, and Ligaments

One question I get each year from several people is, “Is it worth it supplement the joints and ligaments on my show animals?” And, I usually answer with a question, “What is the goal of your project?”
In my opinion, livestock members who are striving for high placing, tend to use feed additives that might give them an edge. Pigs that are being shown every weekend, or pigs that are being exercised hard, need more nutrients and minerals, just like an athlete in training might need supplementations in their diet. And, I am not talking about or promoting illegal drugs, feed additives, or such; I am talking about natural feed ingredients that are not illegal and will not harm your animal’s carcass.

Pos-A-Trac, Equex, and Sustain are products that we carry that can help in the nourishment of joints, ligaments, and tendons.

Pos-A-Trac

The occurrence ofosteochondrosis can be a problem in fast growing swine. Sometimes the ligaments and tendons do not develop as quickly as a pig’s body shape and muscle. Pos-A-Trac is designed to prevent osteochondrosis and promote optimum bone and muscle growth. Pos-A-Trac is easy to feed. You simply use one scoop twice a day to provide your pig with the proper amount of Pos-A-Trac.

Equex

Equex is a high-powered joint supplement that combines all the relative joint enhancement substances into one easy to feed, liquid supplement. Pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine HCl, Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM are provided in maximum potency, along with Vitamin C, Shark Cartilage, Hyaluronic Acid, and Bromelain (a special enzyme which increases absorption of nutrients and helps hydrolyze proteins). Feed 2 ounces per day for a week and then use 1 ounce per day as a maintenance level for your animal.

Sustain

Sustain is a meal type supplement for joint health. It contains Crude Glycosaminoglycons, Glucosamine Galactosamine, and Chondroitin Sulfate., all big words for ingredients that promote join lubrication. Sustain also contains some zinc and selenium. Topdress Sustain at 1 to 2 teaspoons per day.

Upcoming Show Dates

Open Pig Shows

Open Sheep Shows

May 3 Lawrence County Expo-Bedford, IN
May 4 The Breeders Classic (2 shows) -Veedersburg, IN
May 17 Monroe Co. Classic Preview-Bloomington, IN
May 24 Blue & Gold Classic (2 shows)-Goshen, IN
May 25 Memorial 500 Classic-Warsaw, IN
June 1 Cannonball Classic-Wabash, IN
June 7 Hancock County Showdown-Greenfield, IN
June 7 Orange 4-H Workers (2 shows)-Connersville, IN
* all shows listed above are IJCLC sanctioned for points

Indiana has two outstanding Junior Show Organizations that provides prizes to those who join and show sheep and pigs throughout the summer.For more information, visit them on the web:Indiana Junior Club Lamb Circuit: www.showpage.com/indianajunior and Indiana Junior Swine Circuit: www.ijsc.org.

Kent Feeds for Show Cattle, Lambs, Goats, and Rabbits

Kent Feeds, Inc. was built on the belief that quality products produce winning results. Kent show feeds utilize high quality ingredients allowing animals to fulfill their genetic potential. And, each diet is precisely balanced for prime condition and show ready bloom. This also includes the feeds they make for show cattle, lambs, goats, and rabbits.
Kent’s First Rate Beef Show Grower and Finisher are complete feeds for your show cattle. First Rate Baby Beef 24 can be mixed with your own grains to provide multiple protein and energy sources, vitamins, minerals.
First Rate Winning Fill multi-purpose show cattle feed is designed to be fed to sale calves, steers and heifers, and mature breeding cattle. First Rate Winning Fill is a unique blend of forages, steam flaked grains, Kent First Rate Baby Beef 24 supplement, and molasses.  This attractive blend encourages cattle to start on feed and continue on feed under the most stressful conditions. Use First Rate Winning Fill prior to showing for more rib and body.
Kent’s First Rate Show Lamb Diet and First Rate Show Lamb Complete offer a specific combination of ingredients designed to optimize the genetic potential of your show lambs.
Kent’s First Rate Full Bore is a complete feed designed to build and tone muscle on your show meat goats.
For rabbits, Kent’s Top Show Professional is a complete diet specifically designed to be fed to the show rabbit and the rabbit requiring a maintenance diet. It is scientifically formulated for the show rabbit in that it permits expression of maximum hair quality and body conformation.
Finally, remember that all Kent Show Feeds contain show bloom. Show bloom helps increase feed intake, provide superior hair quality and coat appearance, and generate overall good health.

Ask about the $2 off per bag ofTop Show Professional Rabbit Feed! Offer ends May 31, 2008.