Research: What's Behind a Quality Feed

Our innovations in swine and poultry feed are tested in our barns before they reach yours.

Hours and hours of real world research are behind our quality feeds. Wenger Feeds partners with suppliers to test the latest ingredients and management techniques. While our research interests are consistent with university and industry research, our barns allow us to test our innovations in industry conditions, not in a laboratory. We also coordinate with customers on projects and obtain processor and packing data.

 

Our Technical Service staff attends industry and professional conferences to stay abreast of the latest innovations for our customers. We've implemented changes in our formulas and in our manufacturing processes based on trial results.

 

First Broiler Research Trial to be Complete in early 2010

The first trial report from Wenger's recently completed Broiler Research House was finalized. Wenger’s opened the house in November 2009. The company was able to partner with Sullivan Poultry to build a research barn on the South Creek Acres Farm owned by Gary Taylor. The house complements the layer, pullet, and swine research houses used by the company.

Account Leader Bob Sydell noted the importance of the facility, “This barn fits into our research system and will allow us to test ingredients and even broiler breeds. It’s an important development for this growing segment of feed customers. We should be able to create trials that could ultimately improve their performance.”
As with the three other research facilities, the strength of this barn is its similarity to real world conditions. The floor house is divided into five pens, two of which will be used as controls. Each pen has its own feed and watering system. The barn contains ten feed bins to allow for multiple feeding trials. Like the swine research barn, all feeding and housing information can be accessed remotely to allow for constant monitoring of feed consumption. See the research results below.

 

Trials in Progress

Type	Trial
Swine Finisher	Amino Acid Trials
	Blend Feeding
	Split Sex Feeding
	Enzyme Trial
	Energy trial
Broilers	Pen Variation
	Breed trial
	Soybean trial - beans of different nutrient profiles
Layer	Test of feed to improve shell strength
	Products to improve gut health
	Amino Acid Trial
Pullet	Achieving target body weight
Manufacturing	SoyChoice™
	Feed Blending/Bin Indicators
	Alternative pellet sizes

Research Results

Wenger Feeds utilizes its five research barns to conduct trials on ingredients, feed formulas, management techniques, and breeds. Two recently completed trials led to some changes in the company’s pullet feeding programs.

First Broiler Trial Complete

The first trail completed at the new broiler research barn investigated the effect of different amino acid levels on skin quality. In this instance, Wenger’s was able to work with our customer’s customer to tour their processing plant and evaluate the carcass quality of the birds after processing. In this case, the processor was using a unique technique that tended to batter the skin of the processed bird. Since amino acids are essential to skin growth and condition, Wenger’s hypothesized that higher amino acids in the feed would aid in skin quality and therefore deliver a more attractive product to the consumer.
Results: The trial summary indicated that while higher amino acid levels increased the cost of the diet slightly, they did aid in reducing the incidence of skin tears and wing breaks in the processed bird.

Pullet Feed Energy

In April 2009, Wenger Feeds completed research to study how energy levels effect the growth of Hyline W-36 pullets. Achieving optimal feed intake and body weight targets during the growing period is a challenge faced by many using high producing, lighter body weight birds. Elevated energy intake has been shown to increase body weight in pullets, and the goal of the study was to compare three different energy levels. During the study, which was held at a pullet research barn, the flock was split into three separate groups of 18,000 birds each.
Results: Performance was excellent for all pullets and livability and body weight targets were met in each group by week 17. The high energy formula yielded the lowest feed intake and best feed conversion to 17 weeks of age. An increased growth rate was also noted in the high energy group during the last 2 weeks. However, this improved feed conversion benefit was offset by a higher cost per ton, and feed cost was equal among the three groups.
Conclusions: Based on this research, it is confirmed that the Wenger Feeds PG line of pullet feeds deliver maximum performance and efficiency at the correct energy levels. This research was conducted in a real production environment to ensure accurate results that can be put to work in your pullet barn.

Pullet Feed Using DDGS

In August 2009, Wenger Feeds completed research to study how Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) impact performance of a Hyline W-36 pullet. University trials have proven that DDGS may be used in relatively high levels in layer feed without affecting performance; however, the use of DDGS in pullet feed has not been widely researched. This study was held at a pullet research barn, where the flock was split into three separate groups of 18,000 birds each. Three different DDGS levels were fed, and performance and feed cost were evaluated.
Results: At 18 weeks of age, the two diets containing higher levels of DDGS had superior feed conversion and body weight. Livability exceeded breeder standards, and performance was very good in all three groups. As the level of DDGS increased, feed costs decreased. At the time this study was completed, the high DDGS level represented an approximate $0.05 per bird savings through week 18 in lower feed costs.
Conclusions: Feeding increased levels of DDGS to the Hyline W-36 pullet can reduce feed costs through 18 weeks of age. Body weight and livability can be maintained at very good levels. As a result of this research, the Wenger Feeds pullet feeding program has been adjusted to include more DDGS to maximize performance and efficiency.
To receive more detail on either of these research trials or to understand the potential benefit in your flock, please see your account leader.

 

Want to learn more?

Use our contact page to ask your Wenger Feeds sales representative for information about our latest research.