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Illinois farmer finding success feeding small grains to hogs

A fourth generation Illinois farmer is finding success feeding small grains to hogs.

Levi Laird, whose wean-to-finish contract operation is based in Jefferson County, says adding a 30% ration of oats to his nursery feeding is paying off.

“We raise these hogs antibiotic-free, so any opportunity I can to keep that pig going forward is great.”  He says, “That oats in a nursery diet really helps with that digestive tract, keeps the scours down, keeps them eating, and keeps them full.”

He says incorporating up to 60% steam-rolled barely into finishing rations has also brought benefits.

“The oats aren’t an equal to corn, to where barley is more of an equal to corn.”  He says, “So, you don’t lose that daily rate of gain. We still want to get these pigs finished in a timely manner, but with all the health benefits we can give them through the feed.”

However, Laird tells Brownfield sourcing the grains has been a challenge.

“We’re focused so much on a corn-soy rotation that it’s gone all the way to our livestock feed,” he says.

He says the added animal health benefits outweigh the issues and thinks depressed corn and soybean prices could lead to more small grains production across the Corn Belt.

Brownfield spoke with Laird at the Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Midwest Covers & Grains Conference in Washington, Illinois.

AUDIO: Levi Laird – Illinois farmer