Pigs, like other livestock, have many diseases that can kill them. Therefore, understanding these diseases is essential for a pig farmer.
What are Pig Diseases?
Hellos, today we walk you briefly on the path of pigs’ feed. It is very crucial because the way you feed your swine determines whether you excel in the business or not.
Pigs are said to be one of the fastest-growing among the domestic animals. However, this fast growth depends on how well the swine are fed.
Importantly, well-fed pigs not only fatten and reach maturity faster but are also able to resist diseases. Your swine- and you- will, therefore, have many benefits when you choose the right food for them.
Today we will talk about important issues of pig feed. In this first part, we will discuss the recommended pig food, highlighting on the quality and quantity that is the standard across the globe.
Secondly, in Part B of this article, we will dwell deeper on the local meals that have been suggested to be effective for fast and healthy pig growth.
International Requirements
Essentially, a pig’s nutritional needs comprise water, energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and additives or supplements. Providing swine with the correct amounts of these nutrients is of utmost importance.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) guidelines, your daily feeding of pigs should be as follows:
- Dry/pregnant Sows and Gilts: Dry sows and gilts require 2.5kg a day of sow and weaner meal. Give an extra 1kg/day one week before serving gilts and sows and one week after service. Give lactating sows 2.5 kg a day of sow and weaner meal for maintenance and 0.25 kg a day extra for each piglet being suckled.
- Boars: Give boars 2.0 kg a day. If you use the boar regularly increase this to 2.5 kg.
- Piglets: Give creep pellets 0.5 – 1.0 kg a 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 – 13 kg body weight should continue being fed on the starter diet until they reach 18 kg live weight. Pigs weaned at 7 weeks or older may be switched gradually to sow and weaner diet.
For growing or finishing pigs, make gradual ration changes. If this is not possible the feeding level of the new diet should be low until the pigs become accustomed to it.
Scours
Where post-weaning scours (diarrhea) are a major problem, restricted feeding during the first week after weaning may reduce the incidents of scours.
For treatment in case of an outbreak of pig diseases like scouring, medication through drinking water is preferable since sick pigs go off feed.
You should also ensure that you provide your swine with SUFFICIENT and CLEAN water for drinking. Drinking enough water ensures that pigs also eat well to gain slaughter weight fast.
You do not have to worry about the nutrient content of your meal when you purchase from registered suppliers of these formulations since the meals are already in the required rations. However, to be more informed, you can consult the agrovet attendant or your vet about the contents.
After purchasing the ready-made pigs’ food you should feed them in the amounts stated above (in this article). Nonetheless, this is the minimum required quantity and you can always add a little amount to boost the performance of your swine. This depends however on your “might” in terms of cash.
It is our hope that this article answers some of your most important queries about feeding swine. We do have comprehensive materials as e-books that we sell at a small fee. If interested, you can always #contact us.
Please follow our next article on pig feeds, which will explore more on other critical areas of PREPARING pig meals at the farm. Please send us your #queries, #comments, or any other #inputs to help us make this forum more resourceful to you- our dear farmers and followers.
Cheers Guys, and May you #succeed in all your farming endeavors!!
