How to mix feed for hedgehog farming? Practical experience shared
1) Energy of the daily ration. Energy in feed and in the daily ration is a question that must be considered first in the process of raising hedgehogs, because the energy component is the nutrient with the highest content in feed, the largest requirement for hedgehogs, and an important role. Moreover, the three major substances in feed: carbohydrates, protein and fat all contain energy, only in different amounts. Therefore, feed quality can be measured by a unified, general and scientific unit of measurement, namely the energy unit, as the standard for feed quality.
The so-called energy of the daily ration refers to the available energy contained in the daily ration, and its unit is measured in joules (J). The level of the daily ration is the amount of energy contained in 1 kg of feed, that is, the energy concentration of the daily ration. A high-energy daily ration is one with more available energy. The energy source of the daily ration depends on the raw materials that make up the daily ration, such as corn, wheat bran, oilseed meal, etc.
2) Factors affecting feed energy
1 Dry matter content. The energy value of feed is based on a certain amount of dry matter. If the dry matter content does not match that in the feed ingredient composition table, then the energy value will also be different. Therefore, the dry matter content of feed ingredients should be considered when calculating energy values.
2 Impurity ratio. Some feed ingredients contain sand, dust and other foreign matter. Ingredients with more impurities have relatively reduced energy and nutrient contents.
3 Ingredient quality. Feed with the same name differs greatly in quality due to different producing areas, varieties, harvest conditions and processing conditions. For example, plump corn and shriveled corn, fresh corn and old corn, corn produced in Northeast China and corn produced in the Central Plains differ to a certain extent in energy content.
3) Nutritional balance based on energy as the foundation of the daily ration. Like other animals, hedgehogs regulate their feed intake scientifically according to the energy concentration of the daily ration. When the metabolizable energy level of the daily ration is high, feed intake is low; when the metabolizable energy level of the daily ration is low, feed intake is high. The balance of various nutrients can be based on the energy level and maintain a certain proportional relationship with energy. If the energy ratio among various nutrients is appropriate, the nutritional requirements of the animal can be met. A daily ration with this kind of nutritional balance is called a balanced daily ration. The ratio of energy to protein, called the protein-energy ratio, is the most basic balance of nutrients in the daily ration. Because the protein-energy ratio is a fixed ratio, a balanced daily ration with an appropriate protein content (%) can be formulated. The protein-energy ratio is the ratio of the amount of protein (grams) contained in 1 kg of feed to energy (megajoules).
For example, if 1 kg of feed contains 180 grams of protein (18%) and 12 megajoules of metabolizable energy, then the protein-energy ratio is 180/12=15. The value of the protein-energy ratio multiplied by the metabolizable energy level (megajoules/kg feed) gives the protein content in kg of feed as 15×12=180 grams, so protein accounts for 18% of the daily ration. If the metabolic level in the daily ration is 11 megajoules/kg, its protein content should be 16.5%. By this calculation, if the metabolizable energy level in the daily ration is 10 megajoules, then the protein content should be 15%. The amino acid-energy ratio is the ratio of the amino acid content (grams) in 1 kg of feed to metabolizable energy (megajoules). The requirements for calcium and phosphorus should also be based on the energy level in order to prepare a suitable daily ration.
4) Formulation of the daily ration
1 Nutritional nature. The nutritional nature of a feed formula is to accurately balance the relationships among various nutrients, adjust the mixing proportions among various feeds, and strive to make the feed exert the greatest potential and have relatively high actual feeding effects.
2 Safety. The feed ingredients selected for the daily ration formula must be safe and reliable. Toxic feed, such as cottonseed cake and rapeseed cake, is best not used.
3 Economic efficiency. Feed cost should account for 60%-80% of the total farming cost, and improving farming benefits should start with reducing feed cost. Therefore, the selection of daily ration ingredients should suit local conditions, make full use of local feed resources, and reduce feeding costs.
4 Scientific and rational use of data. Two aspects of data must be mastered in daily ration formulation. One is nutritional requirements. When formulating a daily ration, it is impossible to meet all nutritional requirements; only the amounts of feed intake, energy, protein, crude fiber, calcium and phosphorus need to be considered. The other is the nutrient content of feed. The composition of any feed is not constant, and often varies due to factors such as producing area, variety, harvest season, processing method and errors in analytical measurement. Therefore, when using feed nutrient composition tables, the average value plus or minus the standard deviation should generally be used as the representative data for feed nutrients according to actual conditions.