METHOD OF FEED FORMULATION FOR COMMERCIAL PIGS IN INDIA
There are different types of feed formulas that can be used for pigs, and the type of feed that is most appropriate for a particular pig will vary depending on the pig’s age, weight, and stage of development. In general, though, most pig farmers will use a combination of different feeds in order to provide their pigs with all the nutrients they need.
Types of Pig Feed
To provide pigs with the best possible nutrition feeds must be tailored to their specific needs at different ages and production stages. There are six different feeds for pigs. They are:
- Creep Feed or starter Feed
- Weaner Feed
- Grower Feed
- Fattener Feed
- Pregnant Sow Feed
- Lactating Sow Feed
- Creep Feed or Starter Feed:This is a specific type of feed that is fed to the youngest and suckling piglets aged between 2 and 8 weeks. Creep feed can be fed to piglets from 7 to 10 days after farrow (or birth).
- Weaner Feed:This pig diet is specifically for young, weaned piglets from 6 weeks of age to attainment of 20 kg body weight.
- Grower Feed: This type of diet is for young pigs that weigh over 20 kg or are aged 10 weeks until they attain 35 to 40 kg body weight. If you intend to fatten up a pig, this is the feed you need to give before switching to the fattener feed.
- Fattener Feed:This is the feed given to pigs that are over 40 kg in body weight until they reach a marketable body weight which is around 90-100 kg or slaughter.
- Pregnant Sow Feed:This is the feed for pregnant sows and can be fed to boars that are over 90 kg in body weight.
- Lactating Sow Feed:This particular feed is for sows that are lactating; that is, breastfeeding piglets. It is given after a pregnant sow gives birth.
Sample Pig Starter or Creep Feed Formula
| Ingredient | Quantity (KG) |
| Maize | 550 |
| Groundnut Cake (GNC) | 140 |
| Brewers Dry Grains (BDG) | 133 |
| Soybean Meal (SBM) | 90 |
| Fish meal | 50 |
| Bone meal | 31 |
| Salt | 2.5 |
| Methionine | 1 |
| Pig Premix | 2.5 |
| Total | 1000 |
Sample Pig Grower Feed Formula
| Ingredient | Quantity (KG) |
| Maize | 250 |
| Groundnut Cake (GNC) | 80 |
| Cassava peels | 100 |
| Brewers Dry Grains (BDG) | 150 |
| Wheat Offal | 274 |
| Soybean Meal (SBM) | 50 |
| Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) | 62 |
| Bone meal | 28 |
| Salt | 2.5 |
| Methionine | 1 |
| Pig Premix | 2.5 |
| Total | 1000 |
Sample Pig Fattener Feed Formula
| Ingredient | Quantity (KG) |
| Maize | 220 |
| Groundnut Cake (GNC) | 30 |
| Cassava peels | 100 |
| Brewers Dry Grains (BDG) | 130 |
| Wheat Offal | 274 |
| Maize Bran | 50 |
| Soybean Meal (SBM) | 20 |
| Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) | 150 |
| Bone meal | 20 |
| Salt | 2.5 |
| Methionine | 1 |
| Pig Premix | 2.5 |
| Total | 1000 |
Sample Pig Breeder Feed Formula
| Ingredient | Quantity (KG) |
| Maize | 200 |
| Groundnut Cake (GNC) | 30 |
| Cassava peels | 100 |
| Brewers Dry Grains (BDG) | 150 |
| Wheat Offal | 299 |
| Maize bran | 15 |
| Soybean Meal (SBM) | 50 |
| Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) | 120 |
| Bone meal | 30 |
| Salt | 2.5 |
| Methionine | 1 |
| Pig Premix | 2.5 |
| Total | 1000 |
Mostly here in North India, Many farmers faces the slow growth issue in their piglets after weaning, I personally observed 98% failure in pig farming is just because of slow growth of pigs. To take better growth you have to follow these following points which are as under…
- Feeding your pig properly.
- Select a protein source. (Fish powder, Meat bone meal, Blood meal, Rice gluten, Soya DOC, Cotton seed cake etc…)
- Choose a grain for your pigs. (Corn, Wheat, Rice, Barley etc…)
- Give feed to your pigs with a high fat content.
- Feed your pigs food that is low in fiber.
- Increase the amount of food the pig is eating.
- Add supplements to the pig’s diet. (Trace vitamins and minerals, enzymes, Amino acids, Calcium,Iron, Zinc, Phosphorus etc…)
- Make the food more appealing.
- Floor cleaning (Manure generates NH3 and CH4 gases, which is harmful for growth of piglets)
Creep feed
Creep Feed is the baby piglets’ first and most important dry food
A combination of protein source, milk replacer, vitamins, amino acids and rich feed ingredients makes this complete feed the ideal start for young healthy piglets.
You can make your own starter pig feed by this formula also …
- Corn – 56.6 kg
- Fish Meal – 17.4 kg
- Soya DOC – 20.2 kg
- Celsite powder – 05.6 kg
- L-Lycin – 50 gm
- Thryonine – 50 gm
- Pre-Mix Powder – 250 gm
- Salt – 500 gm
What is the best food to pigs?
Pigs can eat all kinds of scraps, or leftover food such as mealie-pap, bread, vegetables, fruit and pig pellets. Real pig pellets are, however, the best feed. Do not only feed one vegetable (such as cabbage), because pigs need a varied diet to stay healthy.
How much do you feed to piglets?
The one rule of thumb that I have found is 1 lb per day per month of age. So, a 4 month old piglets should be fed 4 pounds of feed per day.
How many times should a pig be fed?
I recommend feeding twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening, and as close to 12 hours apart as you can get. For example, an ideal time would be 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day.
DR RAMKUMAR T. CHENNAI
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