In the feeding of pigs, the main objective is to produce piglets from breeding animals, and
subsequently meat from these piglets, with the maximum efficiency and productivity.
Feeding represents about 80% of the total cost of producing pigs.
Therefore use feeds efficiently
and economically in order to make profit. Use cheaper, lower grade feed stuff and supplement with
more nutritious feeds. Provide feed requirements according to the different categories of pigs and
the condition e.g. piglets, weaners, growers, pregnant sows and sows, suckling piglets.
Fortunately, pigs can survive on a variety of feeds ranging from commercial feeds (very expensive
option), root tubers to pastures with quite good performance with optimum supplementation. While
feeding, you (the farmer) should achieve the basic nutrient requirements of the particular age group
of the pig.
Before introduction of pigs into the rearing system (pigsty), you should mobilize large feed reserves
to ensure uninterrupted feeding of the animals so that the intended objective is achieved.
Generally a pig has no definite time for feeding. Piglets are habitual nibblers and eats in small
quantity throughout the day. However, pigs are fed twice or thrice a day with the following
computed feed:
Age
Quantity
1-2 Months
0.5 kg per day
2-3 Months
1.0 kg per day
3-4 Months
1.25 kgs per day
4-5 Months
1.5 kgs per day
5-6 Months
2.0 kgs per day
Boar and Pregnant Gilt 2.5 kgs per day
But what is a feed?
A feed is food given to domestic animals in the course of animal husbandry.
Uses of Pig Feeds
Growth: Mainly an increase in size of bone, muscle and skin cells.
Maintenance: Energy for normal animal activities and repair of worn body tissue.
Reproduction (Gestation): Growth and development of unborn pigs, from mating to
farrowing.
Milk Production (Lactation): Producing milk requires a high-level feeding of quality feed.
Fattening: Formation and deposition of fat tissue under the skin, around muscles and in the
body cavity.
Basic Rules of Pig Nutrition
Nutrition and feeding provide an important tool for management manipulation in the control of
disease. The quality of the feed, its methods of presentation and the amounts of feed provided are
part of the disease prevention process.
Below are some of the nutrition rules you can adopt on the farm:
Rule 1: Outdoor pigs need more than just pasture to survive.
While it is true that pigs love rooting in and eating pasture, they cannot survive on pasture alone.
They need a balanced ration usually based on cereal grain. Pigs are mono-gastric (single stomach)
animals and are inefficient dig-esters of fiber (only 50% efficiency).
Diets based on pasture are high in fiber. Pasture quality can change quickly. Pigs unused to
pasture diets can take 2 months to adjust. Most of this adjustment is due to changes in the size.
Read more and click to download the free PDF eBook - Pig Nutrition and Feeding - Free PDF eBook
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