How and what to feed pigs: types of feed and their features

Pigs have a single-chamber stomach. Therefore, they need more concentrated feed and less juicy, green foods and rough fiber for nutrition. Pigs are omnivores. Foods derived from plants or from animals are suitable for them. Let's look at the types of pig feeds and their characteristics.

Concentrated feed for pigs

To saturated food for pigs are grain products: oats, corn and barley. They have high nutrition and digestibility. They are high in protein, protein and starch. However, concentrated feeds are low in calcium and are supplemented. To increase digestibility, grain for pigs is crushed.

Compound feed for pigs is a combination of several grain crops. Such products are balanced and saturated with nutrients. It is an essential component of the diet of pigs of different ages.

Juicy feeds for pigs

Juicy feeds include such products:

• Potatoes contain easily digestible starch. Because it contains the poisonous substance solanine, potatoes are given to pigs boiled.
• Beets are suitable for feeding pigs raw and chopped. Pigs are given not only the root vegetable, but also the green haulm.
• Carrots contain a large amount of vitamin A precursor. It is given to pigs to replenish this and other substances.

Green feed for pigs

These products are high in protein, vitamins and minerals. Green fodder consists of clover, peas, alfalfa, oats and nettles. In summer, pigs can be given green feed as a base diet and supplemented with concentrated feeds. In winter, pig silage is used as a healthy diet. This usually includes up to 50% green matter, 40% root vegetables, 10% grass meal and chaff.

Feed for pigs of animal origin

Animal products are suitable for feeding pigs:

• Whole milk is given to piglets. Whey and buttermilk are added to the diet of adult pigs to replenish protein and minerals.
• Also these animals are given fish, meat and bone meal, waste meat and fish production.
• The diet of pigs is supplemented with acorns, mushrooms and food waste.

Additional components of food for pigs

Feed for pigs is supplemented with such products:

• chalk, eggshells to increase calcium;
• salt;
• wood ash and charcoal, lime additives. They contain a large number of macro and microelements, useful substances: phosphorus, iron, chlorine, sodium, zinc, sulfur.

The most favorable food for pigs is wet feeds. They consist of boiled potatoes, steamed mixed fodder for pigs, root vegetables, food waste and grass. Hay can also be steamed. Such food requires the least amount of digestion and contains water. However, it takes a lot of time and electricity to prepare wet pig feed. It is also necessary to wash the troughs after each feeding so that fermentation does not occur.

Dry compound feeds have already been processed in production. They are easy to prepare and give to the animals. Troughs after them do not require frequent intensive cleaning. A prerequisite for feeding dry fodder is constant access to plenty of clean water for the animals.