Gestating Sow Feed (25kg | 50kg | Terratiga Brand)

Gestating Sow Feed

We offer Gestating Sow Feed produced in Nigeria by Terratiga in collaboration with Koudijs Animal Nutrition B.V. While there is no “standard diet” regarding feeds in pig production, Terratiga is committed to producing the right nutritional requirements of your pigs.

• The feed is suitable for sows, providing complete feed for pregnant gilts and sows. Using our feeds, there will be an enhancement of farrowing and your sows will produce healthy piglets. In addition to sows, our Gestating Sow Feeds can also be used for active boars. Our gestating sow feeds are easy to use and you will require no mixing equipment for application.

Sow Gestation 

Gestation is the stage when sows regain condition and prepare for farrowing. The nutrient requirements for sows in gestation are lower during the 114-to-116 day gestation period than during lactation. When we create gestation rations, we take into consideration the nutrient requirements of the gestating sow which can be divided into three main components: maintenance, fetal growth, and maternal weight gain. This implies that the feed must be sufficient to maintain the body condition of the sow and allow for maternal weight gain due to the high requirement imposed on sows during gestation. The feed, in addition to maintaining the growth of mother pigs, should also be optimized for fetal growth so that health and viable piglets are born.

Feeding your Pigs

The most important part of swine production is knowing the correct way to feed pigs. To meet the necessary nutritional requirement of your pigs, they need a high energy diet that is low in fiber but contains ample protein. Pigs will consume enormous amounts of food quickly. To raise and maintain a healthy stock, maximize growth and reproduction, and increase production, it is necessary to feed them the right food and a balanced diet from wean to finish.

Foods to Avoid

When creating your own pig food mixture, there are certain types of food you’ll want to avoid for reasons ranging from slowed growth rate to outright toxicity. Here are the general foods to avoid in pig feed:

• Sweets and high-sugar foods
• Dog food
• Cracked corn
• Milk
• Fish
• Meat
• Fruits
• Potatoes

Foods high in sugars can slow growth rates while milk, meats, and fish can harbor viruses. Pits and seeds of apples, pears, apricots, and peaches contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin which is a cyanogenic glycoside that is released when chewed. Amygdalin will cause illness, discomfort, or even death. Potatoes contain natural toxins called glycoalkaloids, which can cause severe stomach ache or even death (though rare). Glycoalkaloids also contain solanine which destroys red blood cells, causes diarrhea, and heart failure.

Environmental Control For Optimized Growth

To maximize feed intake, a number of other factors need to be considered. These include temperature & environmental control, adequate supply of water, and sanitation control programs.

Temperature: Pig temperature requirements are important to growth and production. Pigs are highly adaptable animals and can perform well within a range of temperatures. However, temperatures too low or too high can have adverse effects on the stock.

If, for example, temperatures are too cold, a pig will feed more but expend more energy to stay warm, resulting in slow growth. Hot weather can lead to heat stress and reduce feed consumption (and can possibly lead to death), so it is important to keep livestock cool in summer. Consequently, growth and maturity rates slow down, conception rates fall, and pig flow is reduced, disrupting stock levels. Depending on the season, keep buildings well-ventilated or heated, and provide adequate air space within the pen to ensure pig growth and production rates are maintained.

Water: Provide lots of fresh, clean water. Water is the central part of a pig’s diet. One-half to two-thirds of its body weight is water. Access to clean drinking water is essential to a pig’s growth rate. Newly weaned pigs are especially prone to dehydration. Pigs must have water readily accessible for drinking throughout the day to maintain proper hydration.

Sanitation: You should endeavor to implement sanitation protocols on your farm. Poor sanitation can lead to undetected disease challenges that reduce food intake. Properly designed feeders will encourage maximum feed intake.