COLUMBUS, Ohio - A swine feed additive that has been shown to increase growth rate, enhance feed efficiency and improve carcass characteristics will be a major topic of discussion at upcoming Ohio State University Extension pork producer programs.
Ohio State specialists will provide research information, explain advantages and disadvantages and address concerns Ohio pork producers and exhibitors may have about Paylean, a product that was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nearly two years ago and is slowly gaining acceptance in the industry. The 2002 Pork Producer Programs: Applying Knowledge for Profit will be held January-March throughout Ohio.
"We want to address the use of Paylean in both the commercial and the project pig industries - the opportunities, the benefits and the potential disadvantages of using Paylean in the commercial industry, as well as informing young people how to properly use Paylean in showing pigs," said Steve Moeller, an Ohio State Extension swine specialist.
Added Don Levis, Ohio Pork Industry Center (OPIC) coordinator, "I think producers are sometimes reluctant to accept a new product and may not fully understand how it works. So the main objective here is to explain how to appropriately use Paylean." Moeller and other Ohio State animal scientists have been studying the effects of Paylean on muscle and meat quality of various pig breeds. Their conclusions support other research in the pig industry - that feeding pigs Paylean during the finishing period (last 90 pounds of growth) improves feed efficiency, increases growth rate and improves carcass back fat, providing a leaner product for consumers.
"One of the concerns the industry has had over the years is that when we've made pigs leaner genetically, it tends to reduce intramuscular fat, particularly in the loin, that leads to a product that is less juicy and has a potentially poorer flavor," said Moeller. "Studies have shown that using Paylean doesn't have that negative impact on quality." In addition to Paylean, the pork producer programs will also address issues on manure management, reproductive performance, herd health, meat quality and disease impact.
"The meetings have a bottom-up instead of a top-down approach," said Levis. "We went out and asked pork producers what they wanted to know, thus regional programs were developed from input of the producer." Approximately 1.5 million head of hogs and pigs were raised in Ohio in 2000, bringing in an estimated production value of $333 million.
Below is a list of the meeting dates and locations. For more information about program agendas, locations and registration, use the contact information below or call the Ohio Pork Industry Center at (800) 398-7675. Jan. 16 - OPPC District I, Red Pig Inn, Ottawa, Ohio: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; $10 fee; contact Dale Ricker or Glen Arnold, Putnam County Extension, (419) 523-6294 Jan. 22 - OPPC Districts VII/VIII, Fayette County Extension Office, Washington Court House, Ohio: 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; contact Tony Nye, Clinton County Extension, (937) 382-0901 Jan. 23 - OPPC District II, Shell Shuckers, Tiffin, Ohio: 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; contact Dan Frobose, Ag Business Enhancement Center, (877) 767-5546 or (419) 354-6916 Feb. 20 - OPPC Districts III/IV, American Legion, Osgood, Ohio: 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; contact Roger Bender, Shelby County Extension (937) 498-7239 March 7 - OPPC Districts IV/V, All Occasion Catering, Waldo, Ohio: 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.; $15 fee; contact Steve Ruhl, Morrow County Extension, (419) 947-1070 March 7 - OPPC District X, Dresden United Methodist Church, Dresen, Ohio: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., contact Mike Bayes, (800) 398-7675 or (614) 292-1782 March 14 - OPPC District IX, Agricultural Technical Institute, Room 206 Skou Hall, Wooster, Ohio; 6:30 p.m.-9:15 p.m.; contact Terry Beck, Wayne County Extension, (330) 264-8722 To date, the following organizations are helping to sponsor the programs: Akey, Inc., Buckley Brothers, Inc., Clinton County Pork Producers, Cooper Farms, Inc., Elanco Animal Health, Fayette County Pork Producers, Gerber & Sons, Inc., Morrow County Pork Producers, Northeast Ohio Pork Producers, Ohio Pork Producers Council, Premier Feeds, Inc., Southwest Landmark, Inc. / Land O'Lakes Feed, and United Feeds, Inc.