How to feed pigs with dry feed correctly
In agriculture today, many animals are bred in order to fulfill or satisfy their own needs. Of course, any farmer or owner is interested in ensuring that his animals grow as quickly as possible with minimal financial costs. The most popular domestic meat animal is the pig, because pork is by far the most demanded product on the consumer's tables. Feeding pigs with dry feed is the best option for fast growth.
- Features of the dry diet during the growth of pigs
- Features of the diet
- Classification and varieties of dry feed
- Caveats
- How Wet and Dry Feeding Are Different
- How to properly combine dry and wet feeding
- Feed moisture 70%
- Compound feed
- The frequency of the introduction of a dry diet
- Arbitrary mode
- Hourly mode
- Interesting facts about the dry diet
Features of the dry diet during the growth of pigs
Some farmers, even experienced farmers, believe that pigs are omnivores, and it is inappropriate to pay too much attention to their diet. But it is worth remembering that the concentration of feed affects not only the growth of pets, but also the quality of the meat and the final product.
Feeding piglets can be made cheaper by feeding them leftover food and ready-to-eat meals. However, this is only advisable for small farms. In any case, before the final choice of feeding, you need to choose the type of feed, determine the purpose of feeding, pay attention to the age of the animal.
Piglets need to be fed per unit of live weight. You can start feeding pigs with a weight of 50 kg. The productivity of the effort expended can be calculated by analyzing the daily weight gain of the piglet. In order for the animals to gain the maximum possible number of kilograms, you need to give feed with a high fiber content.
Today, experts often mention one little trick: if in the end it is decided to get a fatty product and a lot of lard, then dry variation, corn and other food products of similar consistency should be mixed into the feed. If you are counting on lean meat, you must exclude all of the above from the diet.
650 g is considered the norm in weight gain, although depending on the breed and the care of the pig, this figure can go up to 1 kg.
Features of the diet
If you believe the research of breeders and veterinarians, then the body of piglets has some differences in comparison with the characteristics of artiodactyls, cattle and other meat individuals. Owners of a single-chambered stomach cannot over-pickle plants and coarse juicy forages as fast as other representatives. The choice will fall on the shoulders of the owner, he himself has the right to decide which method will be most beneficial for his activities. However, during feeding, a prerequisite should be the presence of water and liquid for the normal functioning of the digestive system.
It is worth saying that the way of feeding can also directly depend on how much effort, time and labor the farmer is willing to spend to keep the pets.Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the benefits of dry food.
In addition, it is worth noting that whole and large grains are not only poorly chewed, but also practically not digested. At the same time, a big disadvantage can be considered the factor that it is not economically beneficial. And most of the unseeded grain comes out naturally.
Classification and varieties of dry feed
The specifics of feeding also directly depends on the capabilities and financial situation. History claims that the original feed for pigs was scraps from the human table. But over time, thanks to modernization, the emergence of new technologies in the field of livestock raising, already in the post-war years, cereals and concentrated feed and impurities began to appear in the diet.
In addition, it is worth noting that large farms have found a need not only for a large volume of high-quality product, but also for automation, including feeding.
Naturally, dry mixes have a positive effect on growth and functionality, but pricing can be expensive.
Today, liquid feeds have also gained momentum, so experts recommend combining several types of feeding at the same time.
Feed can be classified as follows:
- Vegetable origin. This includes barley, corn grits, peas, legumes, and green succulent plants.
- Animal composition. These are fish or bone meal, whey and other impurities.
- Waste, conifers and oak fruits
Also, piglet feed is divided by grade.
- 1st grade. Feed of the best quality and origin, with the use of such food, pigs grow as quickly as possible and gain the desired weight within a few months. This effect is achieved as a result of the fact that the composition of such feeding includes meat waste and trimmings, milk powder or other additional dairy products.
- 2nd grade. An average option in terms of quality and price, where cereals or the cheapest used cereals are the basis: buckwheat, oats and others. What is characteristic of this species: it is often interfered with with the first group, therefore it is also effective in raising piglets.
- 3rd grade. This includes all plants and foodstuffs that have the lowest cost and nutritional value for animals. Soybeans and cake are considered to be prominent representatives. But professional pig breeders say that such feeds can only be given in combination with more expensive and concentrated ones, and at the last stage it is better to refuse them altogether.
Caveats
Full control and organization will ensure the safety of the animals, especially if the weight of the food is personally chosen.
- It is a completely different matter if the piglets are on the run and have free access to any objects and plants. In this case, it should be understood that all poisonous residues, digestive products of sick and infected animals, weeds, rough and inedible plants can enter the pig's body.
- Experts have compiled a list of products that are dangerous for food: wild rosemary, celandine, almost all strong medicines and herbs, fern and all spring flowers.
Glass, metal, nails and plastic, which can also accidentally enter the stomach with the rest of the food.
How Wet and Dry Feeding Are Different
Dry feeding is the most productive and versatile option and is suitable for any type of pig. Plus, you don't have to worry about pellet pretreatment.
One of the advantages of dry feeding is the fact that the piglet itself chooses the amount of food that it needs to satisfy its food needs. In addition, granules or simply processed crushed feed are much easier to digest in the body and do not leave it, like grain, in an amount of 45%.
An important point in systematization can also be called a too fine grind.Since too powdery particles can clog the airways, and clog the digestion.
How to properly combine dry and wet feeding
The most optimal and practical solution would be to mix 2 or even 3 types and varieties of cereals, grains and feed, which will enrich the diet and saturate the body with vitamins and other substances.
The main aspects to look out for are:
- Compliance with sanitary norms and rules.
- Mixture processing in several processes: preparation, thermal cycle, drying.
- Low-cost maintenance of equipment and additional equipment for feeding.
But this type of feeding can cause intestinal diseases in some sensitive piglet breeds.
Feed moisture 70%
Such characteristics are inherent only in liquid mixtures. This food is preferred in almost all European countries.
Efficiency is the first thing that catches the eye with this kind of feeding. The fact is that such an option is simply necessary for the normal development of livestock at home.
All waste and spoiled food products are not thrown away, but recyclable for further use. Potatoes, fresh grass, hay and milk are easiest to grow in households.
Compound feed
This is probably the most efficient and easiest way to grow. It should be said that it simplifies pig keeping and increases fattening productivity by 15% compared to other options. By the way, this is the same mash without the use of water and vegetables. Where cereals, dry grains, cereals and seeds are considered the main components.
The frequency of the introduction of the dry diet
You can give food to pigs at home in two modes: random and hourly.
Arbitrary mode
In this case, the animal has full access to food and water. This option is suitable for any type of livestock.
Hourly mode
Volume, concentration, quantity and even variety are of great importance when dry feeding is used. In addition, it is imperative to take into account the age of the sows, the weight of the young and the males.
Interesting facts about the dry diet
It is possible and necessary to give dry feed for pigs, and lately there are more and more developments, thanks to which it is possible to reduce the cost of these fattening or increase the quantity at the same price. Yeast is one such alternative. At home, this process can be done using regular nutritional yeast. It is worth doing such operations in order to enrich the piglets' body with useful substances.
Feeding pigs with dry food, giving them wet mixtures, dry grain and compound feed, the right amount of water and providing proper care can be done without much expense and difficulty.