It is well recognized that nutrition plays a significant role
in the performance and well-being of livestock.
Merlin® feeds champions from top breeders
all across the country!
"We have been very satisfied with the performance of Suidae Nutrition for the past 10+ years, and endorse diets based on health and performance with minimal use of antibiotics.
"The last 5 years we have expanded the portion of our operation designated for showpig production. Merlin has worked extremely well for us. The young pigs really eat it well, and have that extra bloom and muscle expression.
The pigs grow well on Merlin and really look good on sale day. They also continue to perform well for the buyers, which is extremely important. If the pigs get off to that great start, they do so much better throughout their life cycle."
John Penner
Penner Hampshires
Plymouth, NE
"Zimmerman Hog Farms have been using Suidae products since 1993. When a product works, why change it!
"Suidae Technology is progressive, using research and diet technologies to enhance genetic bases and meat quality. Their service is unmatched, their representatives are very knowledgeable, and their products produce winning results."
Brian Zimmerman
Zimmerman Hog Farms
"Suidae Nutrition has made our sows' skin condition and hair coat look like baby pigs. After that happened, we saw an increase in farrowing rate, born live and birth weights. Also, sow body condition has improved with less feed than what we observed on the previous nutrition we were using.
"Also, consumption in the farrowing house is great and weaning weights show it. The pigs are very vigorous, and as soon as they are born they are looking for something to eat. When we wean these pigs, they can be lighter and younger and still outperform the pigs on our old diets. The nursery death loss has dropped below 1%, and it use to be 3-5%.
"Our culling rate has improved nearly 50%, and this makes the bottom line look a lot more attractive.
"In summary, the Suidae-fed sows have more pigs and wean more heavy pigs on less feed."
Farrow to wean
1000 sows
Chuck Gocken
"We have used Suidae nutrition products on our show pigs for around two years. We like it for several reasons. It is simple to use and it works for the show pigs. We are saving about half of what we were paying for another product. This is definitely getting more "bang for your buck." We have the product ground and mixed at a local feed store. Even with the extra cost for corn and soybean meal, we are still saving over half the money of the old diet.
"The pigs eat more and gain quicker than our previous more expensive diet. There are almost no health problems, and the scour problem has almost completely disappeared. We are now able to feed out more show pigs and spend less money.
Alan and Jenna Parnell
Porter, Oklahoma
"The overall health of our sows and pigs is excellent. We don't use any antibiotics during gestation. In lactation, we use BMD 60 to prevent any scour problems that might arise. Most importantly, Suidae allows us to minimize sow culling - we cull 35-40% only because we need to maintain genetic progress. If we were a commercial herd and not a seedstock producer, we could easily run a much lower culling rate because of the health and soundness of our herd.
"In the past when we were feeding another company diet, we were using a lot more feed in gestation to maintain body condition versus where we are today. Also, the vigorousness and viability of the babies have been much better since we have been using Suidae Nutrition. In lactation, we can now obtain very high feed intakes without digestive disturbances and get higher overall productivity and longevity out of our sow herd. Compared to our previous diets, they are consuming over 25% more feed during lactation and it has greatly improved condition out of the farrowing crate, milking ability and subsequent litter size.
"On the grow-finish side, we get excellent growth rate and feed conversion with very little, if any, antibiotics. We are very pleased with this type of performance and maintenance of our health status.
"With the changing needs of the packer, it is extremely important for us to be able to talk directly to the individual who designs our grow-finish diets. We need to be able to make adjustments accordingly. Dr. Madsen is just an 800 number away. I personally think this is very important. I like to be able to discuss my problems and opportunities with him and get his hands-on trouble shooting to work immediately. It makes you feel more comfortable to have access to the guy who designs our diets.
"Overall since we have been using Suidae Nutrition, we have less problems, the pigs' growth is better, we use a lot less feed and very little antibiotics are needed. And the diets always seem to be improving."
1800 sows farrow to finish (seedstock supplier)
Tavis Christiansen
"Basically, the Suidae Starter and Finisher Diets have reduced the usage of injected antibiotics and eliminated all antibiotics in the feed except for one, which is used from 15-30 pounds body weight. Our death rate averages about 2.0% a year in the nursery and about 1.5 to 2.0% in the finisher. Our average daily gain is running right at 2.1 pounds a day from 60 to 233 pounds.
"Most importantly, we can clean the barn out in two weeks, and this is very important to manage flow and the bottom line.
"The sow diets make it easier to manage our herd. It helps reduce mistakes to where you don't need to live in the barn to take care of the herd. Basically, we are down to a skeleton crew on 598 sows and gilts, and we are farming 1100 acres.
"The difference between the Suidae Program and other nutrition programs is that it takes a lot less time to manage the herd for sickness and poor performance."
600 sows farrow to finish
Chad Rensing
"The overall economics is why we feed Suidae Nutrition. Service is next in importance. We are treated as individuals, and I feel just as important as the guy with 1,000 sows. If I have any problems, I get an answer right away - I don't get a run-around. There's no finger pointing.
"Our pigs are very uniform throughout the system. The last closeout we had on the grow-finish, our uniformity was exceptionally good. The coefficient of variation of lean based on our kill sheets from IBP was 2.0%. The average lean was 55.6, and it looks as though that lean percentage is increasing. We expect our next group to be over 56% lean. The first cut this week was 56.0%.
"We do not use any feed antibiotics, and I haven't been using any water soluble antibiotics either. The only injectable antibiotics we use on the farm are for the sows that are farrowing. We are basically antibiotic free.
"I'm very happy with the way things are now. It is much easier to manage the pigs. I take healthy pigs for granted now. When I go through the building, I check feeder adjustment and water supply and look for mechanical problems. I don't look for sick pigs; we don't have them.
100 sows farrow to finish
Craig Kasten
"I have been a pork producer since 1968. In 1991, I asked a fellow producer in Ohio, 'What's new?' and he said, 'Suidae.' To make a long story short, I tested their products against a control. After two tests, I was sold. I have since tested products against Suidae and the bottom line tells me it is still the best. Thanks, Dr. Madsen, for a practical approach to nutrition."
A.K. 500 sows, Mississippi
"I have been using Suidae for several years and I am extremely pleased with the performance and consistent results. I don't believe there is another feed like it. Our sows' breeding performance is tremendous, even on an early weaning schedule."
P.S. 350 sows, Nebraska
"Sows have good numbers and good birth weights. The pigs take off good at weaning on Suidae starters and the performance carries through to market."
D.R. 200 sows, Missouri
"Since I have switched to Suidae (nursery feed), my pigs not only look better, they require very little medication, there is less death loss, the groups stay more even in size, and they come out of the nursery heavier and with a better feed conversion."
D.Y., Illinois
"Our sow performance since switching to the Suidae program two years ago has greatly improved. Our records on Pig Champ over the past 12 months show 9.9 pigs weaned per sow, 14.7 lbs. weaning weight at 18.7 days, and breeding records of 5-day first service and 95 percent bred by seven days."
B.H. 200 sows, Illinois
"I've fed all different kinds of feed and none of them perform like Suidae. I've never had pigs look as good as they do now. The expense more than pays for itself with performance."
B.B. 300 sows, Illinois
"We are feeding less feed per sow per year with Suidae, because sows eat well in lactation and we are feeding less in gestation. Also, we really like the accessibility of the Suidae nutritionist - we always know who we'll be talking with."
R.F. - 1,500 sows, Nebraska