Effective Tips for Fattening Pigs

Fattening pigs can be an easy process with the right feed choices and approaches.

Part 1

Step 1. Determine the protein content in the feed.

Step 1

First, find out how much protein is in the feed. For piglets at 8 weeks old, choose feeds with a protein content of 17-18%. Adult pigs will do well with feed that has 15% protein.

Step 2. Choose a protein source.

Step 2

Decide which protein source to use. Meat scraps can be a good option (although some worry about disease transmission, as human diseases can be passed to pigs through these scraps). Soybean meal can also be an excellent addition. For maximum efficiency, combine both sources.

Step 3. Determine the types of grains for the feed.

Step 3

Decide which grains you will use in the feed. Remember that corn should make up at least 50% of the total volume. Barley, wheat, and sorghum are also suitable, but be cautious with sorghum. Avoid processed sorghum, as it has poor palatability. Yellow or white sorghum is preferable to red.

Step 4. Prepare the feed yourself.

Step 4

If you want to prepare the feed yourself, grind the grains (but not too finely) and mix them with the protein source to create a complete feed mix. If you are purchasing pre-made feed, choose a ground version for larger groups of pigs and a pelletized version for smaller ones.

Step 5. Determine the goal for fattening the pig.

Step 5

Decide how much weight the pig should gain. If your goal is rapid weight gain, pour out all the feed and let the pig eat as much as it wants. However, if quality meat is more important, feed the pig to 90% of its appetite. This method will take longer but will ensure better meat quality.

Step 6. Add extra ingredients to the feed.

Step 6

Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) of corn or vegetable oil with two eggs and add this mixture to the main feed. You can also enhance the flavor by adding a bit of syrup.