SWINE FEED COMPONENTS
JAMEL D. GAAN
Feeds should meet the animal’s needs for
maintenance, growth and reproduction. Good pig
feed contains sufficient energy, protein, minerals
and vitamins. Rice bran, broken rice, maize, soya-
beans, cassava, vegetables and distillers’ residues
are often used in pig feed
THE TYPES OF SWINE FEEDS
A. Grain and Mill Feeds
The grains and mill feeds are the basis of all pig feeding
and for any purpose except mere maintenance they must
form the larger part of the ration. Pastures should be
considered as a means of saving grain. Some types of
these feeds are:
Rice Bran
This is very suitable for pig feeding. It contains 11%
protein and can be used as the main ingredient in most
feeds. Rice bran can be mixed with other feeds to 30 -
45%. However, it can be kept for no longer than 1 month
because it will become moldy.
Broken Rice
This is also very suitable for pig feeding. It can be
mixed with other feeds up to 15 - 20%. Broken rice
contains about 8% protein.
Maize
This is a very good animal feed. It contains up to 65%
carbohydrates and 9% protein. It can be mixed and
cooked with other feeds, but not more than 40% in the
mix ration.
Soybeans
This is a crop that has a high nutritional value and is
very good for pig feeding. It contains 38% protein (very
high), and should be dried, milled, or well-cooked in
combination with other feed stuffs like rice bran, broken
rice and maize.
Wheat Bran
This is particularly rich in dietary fiber and contains
significant quantities of carbohydrate, protein, vitamins,
and minerals. Wheat Bran is widely used as a major
component in animal feed. It contains Protein 14% -
16%, Fat Max. 9.5%, Crude Fiber 8 - 10% and
carbohydrate up to 25%.
B. Supplemental Feeds
Supplemental feeds are used with grain and mill feeds to
provide the constituents commonly lacking, thus making
the-entire ration more useful to the animal. When so
used, these supplemental feeds give returns far in excess
of what their total digestible nutrients would indicate.
When used in large amounts, however, they are both
expensive and unsatisfactory. With good legume or rape
pasture none is needed.
Commonly used supplement
Fish meal
-coarsely ground powder made from the cooked flesh of
fish. Though formerly important as a fertilizer, fish meal
is now primarily used in animal feed—especially for
poultry, swine, mink, farm-raised fish, and pets.
Bone meal
-a mixture of finely and coarsely ground animal bones
and slaughter-house waste products. It is used as an
organic fertilizer for plants and as a nutritional
supplement for animals. A bone meal is primarily used
as a source of phosphorus and protein.
Salt
-maintains the mineral balance of the animals at the right
level and keeps your livestock healthy. It is advisable to
opt for sea salt because this type of salt also contains
additional essential minerals and trace elements.
C. Succulent Feeds
-scientific experiments and common farm experience
have demonstrated the value of adding succulent feeds
to the rations for livestock. The laxative effect keeps
stock healthy.
Because of their beneficial effect upon the digestive
system, succulent feeds give unusually good returns in
proportion to the nutrients contained. High water content
prohibits feeding them in large amounts.
Fruits
-damaged during transportation, storage and handling
are used as supplementary feeds for pigs by boiling and
mixing with other feed such as rice bran, broken rice and
maize. They can also be given fresh. Suitable fruits
include: bananas, papaya, apples, pears, and melons.
Vegetables
-damaged during transportation, storage and handling
are also used as supplementary feeds for pigs by boiling
and mixing with other feeds such as rice bran, broken
rice and maize. They can also be given fresh.
Suitable vegetables include: cabbage, lettuce, spinach,
morning glory, sweet potato vine, cola-cassia (needs
boiling), pumpkin, gourds, and water hyacinth.
Chayote
-both the fruit (vegetable) and the seed are rich in amino
acids and vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus and
calcium. Fruit is very low in calories (12 calories per
100 g on average), and chayote contains 0.5% protein,
0.2% lipids and 2% sugars.
Chayote
Both the fruit (vegetable) and the seed are rich in amino
acids and vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus and
calcium. Fruit is very low in calories (12 calories per
100 g on average), and chayote contains 0.5% protein,
0.2% lipids and 2% sugars.
Banana Stem
-the best way of feeding fresh green banana or plantain
fruits is to chop them and sprinkle some salt on the
slices since the fruits are very low in organic nutrients.
Cattle and pigs relish this material.
For ensiling purposes, the chopped green bananas or
plantains are preferred to the ripe fruits which lose some
of their dry matter and, in particular, their sugars during
ensiling. Similarly, green fruits are more easily dried
than ripe fruits which are very difficult to completely
dehydrate.
Winter melon (Wax Gourd, White Gourd, Ash
Gourd)
-The Winter Melon is a very large gourd that can grow
to up to 50lbs or more can typically be stored for up to
12 months, but after it is cut open, it can only be stored
for a single week.
It contains very low Saturated Fat and Cholesterol, and
is also a good source of Thiamin, Iron, Magnesium and
Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber,
Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Zinc, and is very high in Sodium.
D. Roughage
- for pigs is nearly always from some of the legumes,
since they contain certain protein, vitamin, and mineral
constituents which the grains and mill feeds lack. In this
way they take the place of supplements. Legumes are
not as satisfactory as tankage or milk for that purpose,
since they cannot be fed in sufficient amounts without
forcing the pig to eat too much fiber.
Ipil
- Leucaena and Acacia are traditional, locally available
tree-crops, and the leaves are rich in protein. After
drying, they can be mixed and fed to pigs with other
feeds.
Green Soya bean plant
-A rich source of vegetable protein and fiber.
Alfalfa
-Although low in fiber, alfalfa is palatable to pigs as well
as being easily digestible. It is the best nutritional
package you can put into the rations you use to feed
your livestock, dairy cattle, poultry or pigs. It also
contains a blend of 47 nutritional elements, and provides
one of nature’s most liberal balances of vitamins,
minerals and amino acids.
Mulberry
-The protein content 89 g/kg dry matter in the fresh
foliage of mulberry leaves is well utilized by growing
pigs that are fed a basal diet of broken rice.
