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Summer pig raising skill
As summer arrives, there's an abundance of grasses and green vegetables available. These plants grow well, are diverse in variety, and are plentiful—making them excellent feed for livestock. However, the hot and rainy weather during this season can cause green feed to spoil easily if not handled properly during harvesting, storage, and processing. This often leads to nutrient loss and waste. Therefore, it's crucial to understand and apply proper methods for using green feed effectively.
**1. Feeding Raw Green Feed**
Fresh green vegetables and grasses can be directly fed to animals as long as they are clean and free from dirt. If they're muddy, it’s important to wash, crush, or beat them before feeding. Long grasses or whole vegetables can also be fed directly, but they should never be placed on the ground to avoid contamination from animal waste or being trampled by muddy hooves. It's best to feed fresh green feed immediately to prevent spoilage and potential poisoning. However, raw green feed can sometimes carry parasites, so regular deworming is essential. Some plants, like thorny vegetables, may have poor palatability and should not be fed to animals.
**2. Cooking Green Feed**
In rural areas, feeding green feed with water is a common practice, especially for pigs. This method helps kill parasites and their eggs and works well when mixed with concentrates. While it improves palatability, most of the nutrients are lost in the process. Therefore, cooking is generally not recommended for most green feeds. However, it is suitable for certain plants like beans, tofu, pumpkins, and potatoes that contain harmful substances such as anti-trypsin. Cooking these can improve their taste and reduce undesirable elements. When cooking, use high heat, stir constantly, and avoid covering the pot. Adding a little vinegar can help remove harmful compounds. Cooked feed should be used immediately and not left overnight to prevent nitrite poisoning.
**3. Fermenting Green Feed**
Fermenting green feed is an effective way to enhance its nutritional value and palatability. Weeds, wild vegetables, leaves, and stems can be washed, chopped, and placed in a container or pit. They should be layered, covered with straw, and pressed down to ensure good fermentation. Water is added to create an anaerobic environment. After one day, the fermented feed can be given to pigs. Mixing with bran improves flavor and reduces odor, though it doesn't last long. If the feed becomes too sour, it can be rinsed before feeding. However, it should not be given to pregnant pigs, as it may cause miscarriage.
**4. Soaking Green Feed**
This method is useful for plants that are not easily consumed by animals, such as poplar, willow, eucalyptus, apricot, and medlar leaves, which contain tannins. Soaking these in water helps remove their strong smell and makes them more palatable.
**5. Silage Feeding**
Grasses, vegetables, and leaves can be stored for long periods through silage. Adding 0.5%-1% urea during the process increases protein content for cattle and sheep. Silage softens the feed, improves quality, and gives it a sour taste that enhances appetite and feed intake. Nutrients remain largely intact. However, pregnant animals should not be overfed silage to avoid miscarriage. Silage should be balanced with other feeds to ensure a complete diet. Avoid mixing rotten grass or vegetables during silage to prevent poisoning.
**6. Drying Green Feed**
Drying grass before it goes to seed is an ideal way to store forage for winter. High-quality hay can replace some concentrate feed, as 2 kg of hay is nutritionally equivalent to 1 kg of concentrate. Drying is simple: spread fresh grass on the ground and turn it 1-2 times daily. It can dry within 1-2 days, provided it's protected from rain. Good hay has a pleasant aroma and can be used as grass powder. (Source: China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Information Network)