Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

How to Fatten Up Pigs

Pigs on a normal diet should eat approximately 1 lb. of food a day for each month of age. If you're fattening them up, increase this to up to a maximum of 6 lbs. per day. The best way to do this is to feed them little and often, at least 3 or 4 times a day. Commercial feeds contain all the nutrients necessary for a pig to put on and maintain their weight, and you just need to supplement it with a few additional ingredients.

Things You'll Need

Self-feeder
Containers for feeding
Airtight containers for storage
Dried whey
Plasma protein
Eggs

Instructions

- 1
  Give your pigs free access to food and drink with a self-feeder so they can eat continuously throughout the day; however, make sure you clean the area they feed from regularly and keep it replenished. Ideally, check it twice a day so that their food is always fresh.
- 2
  Add dried whey, plasma proteins or crack a couple of eggs over the top of the feed to add protein, which will encourage weight gain.
- 3
  Place the food in individual containers if you have more than one pig. If pigs feed together from the same receptacle, they will bully each other and waste food.
- 4
  Keep food in airtight bags so that it stays fresh. If food develops an "off" smell or flavor, the pigs will reject it.
- 5
  Keep the area where the pigs live at a reasonable temperature. If it gets too hot throughout the day, the heat will encourage weight loss, so ensure there is plenty of shade, for instance.
- 6
  Weigh your pigs once a week at the same time each week. Their weight can fluctuate throughout the day. If they are not gaining the required weight, try increasing their food in small amounts.

Animals & Science