Factsheets

Zinc, Copper, Potassium, Sulfur, and Iron Excretion in Pigs

Summary
Minerals like zinc, copper, iron, potassium and sulfur are essential for pig health. However, most of the excess is excrete in manure and urine which contributes to environmental issues. Researchers analyzed data from 51 studies to create models predicting mineral excretion based on dietary intake. These new excretion models are a powerful tool for producers looking to reduce environmental impact.

Authors
Julian Arroyave, Katelyn N. Gaffield, Mike D. Tokach, Joel M. DeRouchey, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, and Jordan T. Gebhardt

Carbon: Ingredient Values for Formulation in Swine Diets

Summary
Keeping swine production sustainable is a key focus for experts currently. A new fact sheet explores how carbon content in pig feed, influenced by ingredients such as corn, soybean meal, and even bakery meal. These ingredients can drastically affect the environmental impact of pork. By using detailed chemical analysis and updated formulas, researchers are building a more accurate picture of pork’s carbon cost.

Authors
Katelyn N. Gaffield, Laura L. Greiner, Mariah Mayer, Julian Arroyave, Ron Aldwin S. Navales, Mike D. Tokach, Joel M. DeRouchey, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, and Jordan T. Gebhardt

Mineral Excretion and Environmental Impact of Typical U.S. Swine Diets

Summary
As consumer expectations around sustainability continue to rise, livestock producers are being challenged to look beyond just growth and profitability. This factsheet explores how modern swine diet formulation can influence environmental impact and mineral excretion, using Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate feeding strategies. By comparing typical U.S. swine diets, the analysis highlights opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use and identifies critical stages where mineral excretion can be better managed.

Authors
Julian Arroyave, Katelyn N. Gaffield, Mike D. Tokach, Joel M. DeRouchey, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, and Jordan T. Gebhardt

Swine Diets in the U.S. Industry for LCA Footprint Analysis

Summary
Feed is vital to U.S. pork production, with more than 61 million tons used in 2024 alone. This factsheet breaks down where that feed comes from and how it is used across different stages of production. Using data from IFEEDER, it shows how core ingredients like corn and soybean meal dominate U.S. swine diets, while DDGS and added fats are incorporated to meet the changing nutritional and economic demands of sows, nursery pigs, and finishing pigs.

Authors
Julian Arroyave, Katelyn N. Gaffield, Mike D. Tokach, Joel M. DeRouchey, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, and Jordan T. Gebhardt

Improving Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Optimizing Diet Energy and Nutrient Levels: Protein

Summary
As pork production grows, improving feed efficiency is essential to reducing environmental impact. This factsheet explains how lowering crude protein and supplementing with crystalline amino acids can significantly reduce nitrogen excretion without harming pig performance. It also outlines the importance of proper lysine to crude protein ratios to maintain productivity while improving nitrogen efficiency. Readers will gain practical, research-based strategies to support both environmental sustainability and production goals.

Authors
Ron Aldwin S. Navales, Mike D. Tokach, Joel M. Derouchey, Katelyn N. Gaffield, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, Jordan T. Gebhardt, Russel M. Euken, Jack C. M. Dekkers, and Caitlyn M. Phillips

Improving Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Optimizing Diet Energy and Nutrient Levels: Calcium & Phosphorus

Summary
As pork production increases worldwide, improving mineral nutrition is key to reducing environmental impact. This factsheet explains how excess dietary phosphorus contributes to manure losses and water quality concerns, and why balancing calcium and phosphorus is critical for both performance and sustainability. It highlights advances in digestible phosphorus estimates and the use of phytase to improve nutrient utilization and lower excretion. Readers will gain practical, research-based strategies to optimize mineral feeding while protecting environmental resources.

Improving Nutrient Utilization Through Diet Formulation

Summary
As global pork production rises, improving feed efficiency and nutrient use is essential to reduce environmental impact. This factsheet explains how ingredient selection, feed additives, and liquid feeding influence nutrient digestibility, growth, and manure nutrient losses. Selecting ingredients with high nutrient retention, using enzymes and other additives, and adopting liquid feeding can lower nitrogen and phosphorus excretion while supporting performance. Readers will learn practical strategies to balance productivity, feed cost, and environmental sustainability in swine diets.

Opportunities to Optimize Nutrient Intake by Feeding Management

Summary
Global pork demand is projected to rise sharply, making efficient feeding and management of pigs more critical than ever. Strategies like phase feeding, precision feeding, and split-sex diets can dramatically reduce nutrient waste while maintaining growth performance. Optimizing meal size, feeding frequency, and feeder design further improves nutrient utilization and lowers environmental impact. This factsheet reveals practical, research-backed approaches to producing more pork with less waste, saving both money and resources.

Improving Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Optimizing Diet Energy and Nutrient Levels: Energy

Summary
Global pork demand is rising and most environmental impact comes from feed production and nutrient waste. Optimizing dietary energy and balancing lysine and other nutrients improves feed efficiency, growth, and sustainability. Precise diet formulation, feed processing, and proper animal management help convert more energy into lean growth rather than waste. This factsheet shows research-based strategies to maximize nutrient use and reduce environmental impact.

Improving Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Feed Processing

Summary
Global pork demand is rising, and most environmental impact comes from feed production and nutrient waste. Feed processing methods like grinding, pelleting, extrusion, and enzyme treatments improve nutrient digestibility and feed efficiency, supporting growth while reducing waste. Optimal particle size, high-quality pellets, and careful combination of methods maximize benefits without harming pig health. This factsheet highlights research-based strategies to enhance feed efficiency, animal performance, and sustainability in pork production.

Improving Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Optimizing Diet Energy and Nutrient Levels: Fiber

Summary
Global pork demand is rising, and most environmental impact comes from feed production and nutrient losses. Dietary fiber influences nutrient digestibility and nitrogen excretion, with fermentable fibers shifting nitrogen from urine to feces, slowing environmental release. This shift improves nitrogen retention in pigs while reducing ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching from manure. The factsheet highlights how strategic fiber use can boost sustainability in pork production without compromising animal performance.

Improving Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Optimizing Diet Energy and Nutrient Levels: Microminerals

Summary
Global pork production is rising but over-supplementation of trace minerals like copper, zinc, manganese, and iron causes environmental contamination. Many diets provide 2 to 10 times the required levels, especially in nursery pigs, leading to excessive fecal excretion. Using organic minerals improves bioavailability, allowing lower inclusion while maintaining growth. These strategies can reduce mineral excretion by up to half.

Non-Nutritional Factors that Influence Feed Efficiency and Nutrient Utilization

Summary
Global pork production is rising, and most environmental impacts come from feed, so improving pig health, management, and feed efficiency is essential. Genetics improve growth, lean tissue deposition, and nutrient efficiency, while environmental temperature affects intake and nutrient use, with cold increasing feed demand and heat reducing intake and growth. Disease lowers digestibility, growth, and feed efficiency, increasing nitrogen excretion and environmental impact. Porcine somatotrophin can shift nutrients toward protein deposition, improving growth and feed efficiency, but its use is limited by consumer concerns.

Publications

Technologies and Practices to Improve Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Pigs

Authors
Contributors: Ron Aldwin S Navales, Mike D Tokach, Joel M DeRouchey, Katelyn N Gaffield, Jason C Woodworth, Robert D Goodband, Jordan T Gebhardt, Russel M Euken, and Jack C M Dekkers

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Increasing knowledge of pigs, diets, and feeds could further improve nutrient utilization and reduce potential environmental effects

Authors
R. Euken, L. Schulz, and C. Rice along with collaborators G. Dahlke, M. Tokach, J. DeRouchey, E. Cortus, M. Sharara, L. Moody, D. Anderson, J. Dekkers, B. Ramirez, S. Matchan, and L. Greiner

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Technologies and Practices to Improve Feed and Nutrient Utilization by Pigs: Diet Nutrient Levels and Feed Formulation

Researchers from Kansas State University, in collaboration with IFEEDER, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota and North Carolina State University, have identified strategies to reduce the environmental impact of pork production. These practices can significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus excretion, enhance nutrition utilization, and support more sustainable pork production.

Author
Ron Aldwin Navales, Kansas State University Applied Swine Nutrition Team

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