Balanced ration for different categories of pigs

초록

Pig farming is one of the potential sectors for meat production and pork is the most popular meat globally. Feed alone contributes to around 70% of the total production cost in any livestock rearing enterprise. Feeding a balanced ration is an important factor for exploiting the productive potential of pigs. The balanced ration is a blend of good quality feed ingredients, nutrient supplements, and/or additives for providing highly bioavailable essential nutrients for targeted optimum performance of animals when that ration is fed at recommended levels. Feed formulations are targeted for specific categories or phases of productive life of pigs. National Research Council has specified weanling pigs, growing-finishing pigs, gestating sows, lactating sows, and sexually active boar stages for nutrient requirement recommendations. The ICAR has considered three stages with respect to the age and growth potential of pigs. For Indian conditions, weaning, growing, and finishing stages are considered for pig feeding. Feeding standards recommended by various agencies are followed while formulating the rations. While formulating a balanced ration, the requirements for energy, amino acids, total calcium, bioavailable phosphorus, trace minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids are taken into consideration. Feed formulation involves determining the levels of various ingredients in the feed mixture based on the nutrient requirements. Balanced rations are formulated on a total nutrient or bioavailable nutrient basis. Generally, while formulating the balanced rations, margin of safety or surplus or allowances for various nutrients are considered. The standard feed for a pig is prepared by using maize grains and soybean meal along with minerals, vitamins, and limiting amino acids. Further, while formulating the diets due considerations should be given to minimize the excretion of nutrients into the environments. Oversupplementing the diet with nutrients shall be avoided and use of highly bioavailable sources of nutrients and minerals and additives may be done for lesser excretion and efficient utilization of nutrients. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved.

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