Is it possible to give raw potatoes to pigs and how to

A properly composed diet is the key not only to he alth, but also to rapid weight gain, excellent commercial qualities of piglets. Not only farmers, but also veterinarians pay special attention to this issue. For beginners, the question often arises whether it is possible to feed raw potatoes to pigs and whether this will cause negative consequences. The answer to this question requires some theoretical preparation.

Can piglets eat raw potatoes?

Potato tubers contain such useful components as:

• vitamins D and K;
• ascorbic and nicotinic acids;
• vitamin B group.

Calorie and nutritional value is achieved due to the high content of starch. Pigs eat potatoes remarkably, even if they are fed simply mixed with cereals or other dry food. The vegetable has a positive effect on the digestion and assimilation of any other food.

Some farmers even experiment and donate potato tops to feed animals, but experts do not recommend doing this.

Despite the rich chemical composition, the nutrients in the tubers are not enough to completely replace fresh green food components. The vegetable is used as an alternative to grain feed, but only in the amount of 40 % of the total amount of food taken by pigs. The diet is made in such a way that it is not only balanced, but also varied.

Potatoes are recommended to be fed to pigs in steamed or boiled form. Raw tubers are given only in strictly rationed quantities. They are a vitamin supplement to the daily menu. Vietnamese piglets are generally better to give only boiled vegetables.

Pitfalls

When feeding potatoes to pigs, it is important to correctly calculate the consumption rates. An adult pig of medium size eats up to 4 kg of tubers per day. Do not give animals a rotten, spoiled or diseased vegetable, as this can significantly harm their he alth. When cooking, it is unacceptable to send sprouts or green parts of the plant to the pan. The water in which the tubers were boiled is immediately drained, as solanine and other harmful substances accumulate in it.

Before feeding potatoes to pigs, they cool it. Pigs almost do not distinguish hot from cold, as a result of which burns can occur.It is impossible to harvest boiled tubers for the future, as they quickly turn sour and deteriorate. Ideally, cook a fresh batch before each serving. So you can avoid poisoning and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.

How to give potatoes correctly

Excessive feeding of piglets with potatoes deteriorates the quality of the meat, which becomes loose and tasteless. A similar effect is observed with the constant use of corn, bran and wheat. Do not use potatoes as the main feed.

When cooking tubers, pay attention to their condition. Green color or spots indicate a high content of solanine, which is a dangerous toxic alkaloid. Such a vegetable is dangerous not only for humans, but also for pigs, and in no case should it be fed. If an adult pig eats a low-quality tuber, then this threatens her with intestinal upset, but for a small piglet, such food can be fatal.Young animals should not be fed raw potatoes, they should be boiled.

Boiled potatoes are fed to pigs as early as 3 weeks of age, as they are highly digestible and high in calories. It is recommended to give it to females in order to improve metabolic processes in the body and increase productivity.

Nutritional value

Potato tubers are important carbohydrate foods. They include components such as:

• starch (up to 21%);
• protein;
• fats;
• mineral constituents;
• fiber;
• sugar.

Fiber is very difficult to process by the pig body. Most of the proteins contained are nitrogenous compounds belonging to the non-protein type.The vegetable contains a small amount of ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, riboflavin, thiamine. The nutritional value of a vegetable is about 0.3 feed units. There are 12 g of digestible protein per kilogram of tubers consumed. These figures may vary slightly and depend on the type of vegetable.

Calorie content for every 100 g of the finished product is approximately 80 kcal. Dry substances improve the absorption process and accelerate entry into the body. Excessive consumption of potatoes by pigs contributes to the growth of fat, but slows down the growth process. Tubers must be included in the diet of piglets, but safety measures must be observed. It is required to monitor the quality of the product, to prevent animals from eating rotten, germinated or green tubers.

You can reduce the amount of toxins and pathogenic microflora by steaming potatoes with boiling water for 20 minutes.

The best option for feeding pigs is silage potatoes, in which it is recommended to add beets and rutabagas. This not only increases the concentration of vitamins and nutrients, but also reduces the risk of indigestion. Potatoes are used as a biological supplement to the daily diet of piglets, providing them with additional energy and vitamins. You can not make tubers the main dish and feed the animals only with them. Experienced farmers and specialists compose the piglet menu in such a way that it is as balanced as possible and at the same time diverse. Only in this case will it be possible to grow he althy pigs with high commercial qualities.

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