Relevance of roughage feeding to pigs
Problem
A species-appropriate pig diet consists of different feed components with different structures. However, such a diet is technically, and in terms of ration planning, more complex to produce than a feed that is always of the same structure.
Solution
Integrate roughage feeding into ration plans and use the farm's potential for feed production.
Benefits
Roughage feeding promotes animal health and welfare and can, at the same time, reduce feed costs on the farm.
A good structure and a high crude fibre content of a ration serves as enrichment, improves the feeling of satiety and improves stomach health (Picture 1).
Applicability box
Geographical coverage
In all countries
Application time
Any time
Period of impact
Immediate impact
Equipment
Machines for harvesting and ensiling, for delivering feed to animals as well as a feeder.
Best in
Gestating sows and finishing pigs
Practical Recommendations
- With combined feeding, the energy requirement of pregnant sows can be reduced by up to 50 % in the first stage of gestation and up to 20 % in the last stage of gestation by providing energy-rich roughage products like grass or corn silage (Picture 2).
- For pregnant sows, the daily feed intake capacity for clover grass and maize silage is 2-4 kg fresh matter.
- In addition to clover grass silage (with a high protein value), a cereal and minerals mixture without protein-rich feed components should be used.
Further information
Video- The video “Feeding pigs: effect of silage“ is available on Organic Farm Knowledge.
Reading
- Früh, Barbara and Mirjam Holinger (2019) Organic Pig Farming: Key Characteristics, Opportunities, Advantages and Challenges. In: Improving Organic Animal Farming. Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science, pp. 287–306., doi:10.19103/as.2017.0028.16
- Patzelt, Sybille et al. (2011) Bedarfsgerechte Fütterung von Biosauen und ihren Ferkeln, FiBL, 2011, Merkblatt 1569
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) (2019) Feeding Pigs: Effect of Silage. Video. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick.
- Holinger, Mirjam et al. (2015) Improving Health and Welfare of Pigs - A Handbook for Organic Pig Farmers. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), 2015.
- Further documents can be found on the Organic Farm Knowledge website.
About this practice abstract and OK-Net EcoFeed
Publishers:Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL),
CH5070Frick,
Phone +41 62 865 72 72,
info.suisse@fibl.org,
www.fibl.orgIFOAM Organics Europe,
BE1000Brussels,
Phone +32 2 280 12 23,
www.organicseurope.bio,
www.organicseurope.bio
Review: Antoine Roinsard, ITAB; Lindsay Whitstance, ORC
Contact: barbara.frueh@fibl.org
Permalink: https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/36930
https://orgprints.org/view/projects/OKNetEcoFeed.html
This practice abstract was elaborated in the Organic Knowledge Network on Monogastric Animal Feed project. The project is running from January 2018 to December 2020. The overall aim of OKNet EcoFeed is to help farmers, breeders and the organic feed processing industry in achieving the goal of 100% use of organic and regional feed for monogastrics.
Project website: https://ok-net-ecofeed.eu/
IFOAM Organics Europe (project coordinator), BE; Aarhus University (ICROFS), DK; Organic Research Centre (ORC), UK; Institut Technique de l'Agriculture Biologique (ITAB), FR; Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), CH; Bioland, DE; Associazione Italiana perl'Agricoltura Biologica (AIAB), IT; Donau Soja DS, AT; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE; ECOVALIA, ES; Soil Association, UK.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 773911. This communication only reflects the author’s view. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided. The authors and editors do not assume responsibility or liability for any possible factual inaccuracies or damage resulting from the application of the recommendations in this practice abstract