Best Tips on Feeding Pigs to Increase Their Weight: Introduction
This is an article compiling the best tried and tested tips on feeding pigs to increase their weight. There are many ways to fatten up pigs fast, but not all of them are healthy or ethical for pigs. Fattening pigs effectively is directly related to how much you will earn for them in the market.
Fattening up pigs may include some unethical and wrong practices like purposefully keeping them sedentary, feeding them sweets and sugars and stuffing them with corn. But big does not always mean better. Some of these practices would just increase their fat and not lean muscle, so when you slaughter them, the meat is less. So here are some of the best tips on feeding pigs to increase their weight the healthy way!
Best Tips on Feeding Pigs to Increase Their Weight
1. Give them plenty of water to drink.
Pigs will get less hungry when they are dehydrated and eat significantly less. Make sure pigs are given lots of water throughout the day. Keeping them well-hydrated will also help increase their weight.
2. Use automatic feeders and auto-drinkers
When water is given only once a day, they drink less and also tend to turn over their buckets. Using an automatic feeder or drinker will make sure that water and food are available for them throughout the day. This will increase their weight dramatically.
3. Give them lots of shade and wallow.
Pigs will not eat well when they are dehydrated and when it’s hot. Giving them plenty of shade, water and mud to wallow in will make sure they keep cool. Pigs always eat better after a good wallowing in the mud.
Shade and wallows are also important for them to keep their temperature in check. Pigs do not sweat and cannot regulate their own temperature. So they must be constantly kept cool in summer to keep them healthy and eating well.
4. Improve their diet
Giving pigs a variety of grains, including corn and brewer’s grain, will help them gain weight faster. Brewer’s grain is rich in fiber and nutritious for them.
5. Add Vitamin B12
Adding supplements like Vitamin B12 to their diet will help improve feed intake and increase the nutrient absorption of pigs. It also can strengthen their immune systems and prevent disease. B12 does not have to be administered often; just a couple of times is sufficient before you begin to see a difference.
Vitamin B12 is also effective against parasites and other diseases that make them lose weight. The vitamin will help them regain their weight and bring back their appetites.
6. Keep the pigs active.
Most farmers have the notion that allowing pigs to be active will prevent them from putting on too much weight. But no. exercise will increase their muscle content and reduce unnecessary fat stores that will just end up being cut off at the butchers. Exercise also increases lean muscle mass. Giving pigs some free range will also reduce the risk of parasites and other diseases.
7. Give pigs dairy produce
Introducing your pigs to milk, yogurt and cheese will help them gain lots of nutrients and essential amino acids. It will also improve healthy fat and calories. It will help them gain weight the healthy way.
Best Tips on Feeding Pigs to Increase Their Weight: Summary
Trying to make pigs gain weight the wrong way will only increase the fat content, which will eventually end up being cut off by the butchers. But following the right way will increase their lean muscle mass and fatten them up the healthy way.
Also read: The advantages and disadvantages of intensive pig farming.
*All pics are courtesy of Unsplash.com