Pigs have long been a common livestock species in China, and in rural areas, almost every household raises them. Many experienced farmers know that sweet potatoes can be very helpful in pig farming. However, there are specific considerations when feeding sweet potatoes to fatten pigs. Here is how to use sweet potatoes wisely to help pigs gain weight.
01. Do not feed pigs sweet potatoes as their only feed
Sweet potatoes are rich in starch, sugars, carotene, and other nutrients, but are relatively low in protein, calcium, and phosphorus. According topig farmersyears of experience, a suitable formula for raising pigs efficiently with sweet potatoes is: sweet potatoes 45%, corn 10%, legumes 8%, rapeseed meal 17%, fish meal 2%, bran 16%, bone meal 1%, salt 0.5%, and additives 0.5%.
02. Do not feed pigs raw sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a high-starch feed and are difficult to digest when fed raw, which can cause bloating and diarrhea in pigs. Chop raw sweet potatoes and white radishes in a ratio of 2:1, stew them thoroughly until soft, and let them cool until they are no longer hot to the touch. Then mix in 0.5% salt and 8~10 finely ground dried yeast tablets and feed. This can help prevent gastrointestinal discomfort, promote digestion, and improve palatability.
03, Do not feed sweet potatoes over a long period
Long-term feeding to piglets, sows, and breeding boars can lead to less obvious signs of estrus and mid-term miscarriage in sows, reduced milk production in lactating sows, swelling and weight loss in piglets, and reduced libido and semen quality in boars.
04, Do not feed rotten sweet potatoes to pigs
Sweet potatoes contain a lot of moisture and are susceptible to black spot disease, anthracnose, and soft rot, which can cause them to become moldy and rotten. Eating them can cause poisoning in pigs and may even lead to death.
To prevent whole sweet potatoes from rotting during cellar storage, they can be stored fresh and used after 14~21 days. Method: Wash the fresh sweet potatoes and drain them, mash them into a slurry, and ensile the mash in a cement vat or pit. Cover it with plastic sheeting that extends beyond the edges of the vat or pit. Then press and seal it with a layer of thin mud about 10 centimeters thick. Alternatively, wash the sweet potatoes and cut them into finger-sized pieces. Mix them with chopped sweet potato vines at a ratio of 1:1~1.5, place the mixture in a vat or plastic bag, press it down firmly in layers, and seal it.
Sweet potatoes are a good food for pigs, but be sure to observe the points above when feeding them. Feeding sweet potatoes this way can help fatten pigs more effectively.
01. Do not feed pigs sweet potatoes as their only feed
Sweet potatoes are rich in starch, sugars, carotene, and other nutrients, but are relatively low in protein, calcium, and phosphorus. According topig farmersyears of experience, a suitable formula for raising pigs efficiently with sweet potatoes is: sweet potatoes 45%, corn 10%, legumes 8%, rapeseed meal 17%, fish meal 2%, bran 16%, bone meal 1%, salt 0.5%, and additives 0.5%.
02. Do not feed pigs raw sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a high-starch feed and are difficult to digest when fed raw, which can cause bloating and diarrhea in pigs. Chop raw sweet potatoes and white radishes in a ratio of 2:1, stew them thoroughly until soft, and let them cool until they are no longer hot to the touch. Then mix in 0.5% salt and 8~10 finely ground dried yeast tablets and feed. This can help prevent gastrointestinal discomfort, promote digestion, and improve palatability.
03, Do not feed sweet potatoes over a long period
Long-term feeding to piglets, sows, and breeding boars can lead to less obvious signs of estrus and mid-term miscarriage in sows, reduced milk production in lactating sows, swelling and weight loss in piglets, and reduced libido and semen quality in boars.
04, Do not feed rotten sweet potatoes to pigs
Sweet potatoes contain a lot of moisture and are susceptible to black spot disease, anthracnose, and soft rot, which can cause them to become moldy and rotten. Eating them can cause poisoning in pigs and may even lead to death.
To prevent whole sweet potatoes from rotting during cellar storage, they can be stored fresh and used after 14~21 days. Method: Wash the fresh sweet potatoes and drain them, mash them into a slurry, and ensile the mash in a cement vat or pit. Cover it with plastic sheeting that extends beyond the edges of the vat or pit. Then press and seal it with a layer of thin mud about 10 centimeters thick. Alternatively, wash the sweet potatoes and cut them into finger-sized pieces. Mix them with chopped sweet potato vines at a ratio of 1:1~1.5, place the mixture in a vat or plastic bag, press it down firmly in layers, and seal it.
Sweet potatoes are a good food for pigs, but be sure to observe the points above when feeding them. Feeding sweet potatoes this way can help fatten pigs more effectively.