04/10/2023
PIG NUTRITION
Nutrition is a very important aspect of pig farming because it determines the feed that pigs need to eat, influences the important body functions, affects the performance of pigs and it’s a major factor that must be considered when formulating feed. For pigs to perform optimally in terms of growth, body weight, reproduction, and health, they must be fed with the appropriate and balanced feed containing all required nutrient.
DAILY FEED QUANTITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PIGS
• Dry/pregnant Sows and Gilts: Dry sows and gilts give 2.5/kg day of sow and weaner meal. Give extra 1kg/day one week before serving gilts and sows and one week after service. Give lactating sows 2.5kg/day of sow and weaner meal for maintenance and 0.25 kg/day extra for each piglet being suckled.
• Boars: Give boars 2.0 kg/day. If the boar is regularly used give it 2.5 Kg.
• Piglets: Give creep pellets i.e. 0.5 - 1.00 kg/day from day 7 up to weaning time (21 days) per piglet. The feed should be mixed with sow and weaner meal the last one week before weaning.
• Feeding of Growing and Finishing pigs: Pigs weaned at 3 -5 weeks of 11 – 13kg body weight should continue being fed on the starter diet until they reach 18kg live weight. Pigs weaned at 7 weeks or older may be switched gradually to sow and weaner diet.
For growing or finishing pigs all ration changes should be made gradually. If this is not possible the feeding level of the new diet should be low until the pigs become accustomed to it.
Where post-weaning scours are a major problem, restricted feeding during the fist
week after weaning may reduce the incidents of scours.
For treatment in case of an outbreak of scouring, medication through drinking
water is preferable since sick pigs go off feed.
MAIN COMPONENT OF PIG NUTRIENTS
Feedstuff consumed by pig gets digested in the body. In the process the nutrients are absorbed by the body for its growth and maintenance. For better growth and production performance of the pigs the feedstuff should contain the following nutrients:
• Water
• Protein/ essential amino acids
• Carbohydrates
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Salt
• Feed additives
• Some essential fatty acids.
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