For commercial pig production, the easiest option for feed is to buy the different kinds of feed from a feed factory, or a sales agent. Of course you must be sure that you are using the right kind of feed for specific types of pigs, but apart from that all the farmer has to do is make sure the pigs get the correct amount at the correct times.
The feed intake can be stimulated further by pelleting the feed. How-ever, pelleting makes the feed more costly, and not every feed factory has the equipment for it.
Feed can also be prepared on the farm itself by mixing various raw materials (feedstuffs) together, to get a balanced feed. A balanced feed has all the nutrients (energy, protein, minerals, etc.) present and in the correct proportions. The different feedstuffs (e.g. grains, cassava, wheat bran, etc.) have all the nutrients available, but not in the right proportions. For example: grains are short in protein for high produc-tion, so other protein-rich products must be added to make sure there is enough protein in the daily ration.
The feedstuffs need to be combined to achieve the right protein level in the daily ration. The choice of feedstuffs will depend mainly on what is available at what price. Prices often vary according to the sea-son. When comparing prices check the proportion of protein and en-ergy contents. Making up a recipe − what to mix and how much of it − is called ‘ration formulation’. One very simple ration formulation is given below.
Nutritive value of some raw materials (feedstuffs)
In order to make the right combinations of feedstuffs, you need to know their nutritive value (% crude protein, etc.). In most countries lists of the nutritional value of the most commonly used feedstuffs are available from the national research institutes.
Animal products, e.g. fishmeal, slaughter waste or milk powder, con-tain 50-60% protein, and oil seed meals, such as soybean oil meal or groundnut cake, have high concentrations (35-45%) of protein.
Peas, beans, lentils, china beans and vetches contain about 20% pro-tein; orbs and chick pea about 16%; sweet lupines (must be boiled) and soya beans about 30%; shelled groundnuts contain 24% protein.
Cereals and cereal waste do not contain more than about 10% protein.
Tubers and root crops are usually very poor in protein and must be supplemented with protein-rich feed (e.g. soya, animal or fish meal, or milk products).
Ration formulation
To prepare a normal protein ration of 15%, mix 1 part of beans (20- 30% pro-tein) with 2 parts of cereals (10% propro-tein).
If young green fodder (vegetable leaves etc.) or fruit (e.g. bananas, mangos) are available, 0.75 kg peas/beans or 0.5 to 0.75 kg soybean cake or cotton cake per day will be sufficient to supply the proteins.
For the necessary energy, give plenty of fodder or fruits (less nutri-tious feed). Avocado pears are also very good for pigs as they supply energy, protein and vitamins.
If milk or milk products, animal or fishmeal are available, they should be fed first to the lactating sows and their piglets. Recently weaned piglets should also be given some for the first weeks after weaning.
Even if very little information on ration calculation is available, it is important to know that fishmeal is one of the best ingredients for pigs.
So if 2-5% fishmeal is added to a ration it will have a significant ef-fect. For example, if you only have sow feed available, add 5% fish-meal and you can make a reasonable quality creep feed.
If a pig is fed 1 kg of a 20% protein mixture every day, the rest of the feed can be less rich in protein. If a 30% protein level is possible, then 750 g of the mix is enough, and with 40% protein level 500 g would
suffice. These mixtures must always be supplemented with other feed-stuffs, to supply the animal’s energy needs.
It is advisable also to add 0.2 kg of mineral/vitamin mixture (premix) to every 10 kg of mixed feed.
Some elementary precautions
Soya beans, when used as complete beans, should be cooked before use, and shelled groundnuts must be checked for moulds before being used in the pig feed. If you are not sure of the origin or quality of cer-tain feedstuffs, or if there is a danger that they may be contaminated, you should either discard them, or at least cook or boil them. Many poisonous agents die at very high temperatures. Suspicious feedstuffs should never be given to the young animals, but the older fatteners are much less sensitive.
Cotton seeds, safflower seeds and cabbage seeds are dangerous to pigs and should not be fed. Safflower cake can be fed, but can contain poi-sonous compounds. Feed this in small quantities only and observe the pigs carefully.
Kitchen waste or restaurant leftovers are often cheaply available. Al-though it can be very nutritious material (depending on the kind of meals prepared), it should always be boiled for at least 30 minutes and allowed to cool before feeding. This prevents the transmission of dis-eases like swine fever (African and Classical) and the parasite Cysti-cercus.
There are more advantages to boiling the pig feed. Vegetables in par-ticular are difficult for pigs to digest if they are not cooked. Proteins in vegetables, often about 20%, are not very digestible at all. Boiling makes these proteins more easily digestible for the pig.
It is a good habit to set aside a pan for boiling a mix of kitchen waste and vegetables. The pigs will be grateful for a more appetising, dis-ease-free and digestible diet and will show this by growing better!