What to do about pig anorexia? Proper feed formulation is key
When the temperature rises above 35°C, pigs have low feed utilization and slow weight gain. Therefore, in hot seasons, different feeding methods should be given according to the different categories of pigs and their different physiological stages.
Boars: feed twice a day, with an additional feeding of green feed or thin feed at noon. Mating and exercise are both carried out in the morning and evening; after mating, do not immediately let them go into water to wallow or spray them with cold water. From 1 pm to 3 pm every day, spray water once on the pigs' bodies and the ground, reduce light to 8-10 hours, and if the number of matings is low, reduce the amount of concentrate feed to prevent excessive fatness and poor libido.
Pregnant sows: pregnant sows should be mainly fed green and coarse feed, with an appropriate amount of concentrate, and the stocking density should be reduced, with 2-3 pigs per pen. In late pregnancy and lactation, one pig per pen, mainly concentrate feed with an appropriate amount of green feed; coarse feed may be omitted; feed 3 times a day, with an additional feeding of thin feed in between, and spray water once. Add 1-1.5% baking soda and 0.3% salt to the feed. In addition, mating should be avoided in hot seasons.
Farrowing sows: in summer, the farrowing pen should be well ventilated and equipped with shade facilities. Reduce concentrate feed 2-3 days before farrowing, feed more green feed, and increase the proportion of bran in the concentrate feed, for the purpose of clearing the intestines and preventing constipation, and preventing difficult labor. After farrowing is completed, feed bran and warm salt water once.
Commercial large pigs: they are difficult to raise in hot seasons, often refusing to eat at the trough, which affects growth. Generally, sell the fattening pigs before the hot season arrives; if not selling them, reduce the stocking density. Spray water to cool them, feed in the morning and evening, add green feed or thin feed at noon, and add 1.5% baking soda and 0.3% salt to the feed.
Suckling piglets and young pigs: they like to lie on damp ground, so pay attention to weather changes to prevent them from catching cold and developing white scour or diarrhea. Keep the pen surface dry, provide clean drinking water, and disinfect regularly. For prevention, add 120 mg oxytetracycline per kg of feed for a few days, then stop for a few days; for treatment, add 200 mg oxytetracycline per kg of feed.
Prevention and treatment of heatstroke. First, move the affected pig to a cool, ventilated place and spray its whole body with water that has been left standing in the shade, cut the tail and ears to let blood, and at the same time carry out drug treatment.