You can find creep feed and other dietary supplements for newborn pigs at farm supply stores. Each of your piglets should get about 20g of creep feed per day over one or two feedings.
Most whole grains are high in carbohydrates, which can cause your pigs to put on fat rather than lean, healthy muscle. For this reason, it’s a good idea to supplement regular grains with protein-rich offerings like alfalfa and soybeans. [3] X Research source For ease of digestion, the grains you supply to your pigs should be cracked, rolled, soaked, or otherwise processed.
You can also feed your pigs root crops. Pigs can’t get enough of the hearty crunch of veggies like potatoes, carrots, sugar beets. This excludes parsnips, which are highly toxic to pigs and can cause blistering around the snout and feet. Sweet, colorful produce not only tends to be the tastiest to pigs, it also contains the highest concentrations of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Fruits and veggies are more nutrient-rich than other types of foods, so it’s okay for your pigs to have as much as they can hold on top of their regular grain-based diet.
In some places, you can purchase spent grains from distilleries for a low price to use for feed. Avoid giving mash to pregnant sows or young piglets. Even though it has a low alcohol content, it still isn’t good for them. [5] X Research source
Pigs will eat just about anything, but that doesn’t mean that they should. Never feed your pigs processed meat or cheese products, or overly sugary baked goods. Keep in mind that what you feed your pigs affects their health and body composition. A diet full of fattening foods will therefore produce pigs with more lard and less lean meat.
Pregnant and lactating sows typically need an extra 0. 5kg of feed per day to be able to nourish their unborn litter or produce milk for their young. [7] X Research source It’s generally better to give your pigs too much food than not enough. As mentioned, they’ll stop eating when they’re no longer hungry. Do some research on the specific nutritional needs of the pigs you’re raising to get a better idea of exactly how much of what to feed them.
Automatic feeders can be used to dispense grains, pellets, meal, or any type of dry feed. [9] X Research source Look for feeders with separate troughs to make sure your pigs are getting enough to eat and aren’t being forced to fight over food.
Only serve as much leftover table food as your pigs can eat at one time. Anything left behind will quickly spoil and become a health risk.
If possible, provide your pigs with a fenced-in field or pasture where they can graze between feedings. If it’s not possible for your pigs to graze, stick to feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening and reduce the amount given with each feeding.
Some farmers even resort to using sturdy makeshift feeders like converted bathtubs and sinks that are too heavy to topple![12] X Research source Feeding pigs is expensive enough on its own, so it’s important to ensure that as little food as possible goes to waste.
Pigs are known to roll in their filth, which means you’ll be stuck hosing them down along with your truck if they happen to get sick. In some cases, feeding pigs prior to transporting them can cause excess gas to build up inside their chest cavities, leading to complications like heart failure. [14] X Trustworthy Source Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading international efforts to end world hunger and improve nutrition Go to source
If you use an automatic feeder, pay close attention to your pigs’ feeding habits so you’ll have an idea of when they last ate.
