Q&A for How to Increase the Weight of a Pig

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Can I add more sugar to a pig's diet so they gain more weight?

Alexandra Doss
Poultry & Livestock Expert
Alexandra Doss is a Poultry & Livestock Expert expert based in Ruskin, Florida. She owns and manages Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC, a selective breeding operation with game birds, poultry, and waterfowl. With over 14 years of experience, she produces strong genetics and health in her hatching eggs, eating eggs, and live birds. The farm is FWC game farm licensed, FDAC licensed for quail, chicken, and duck eating eggs and meat, and NPIP certified. She is known as the Quail Lady and has published several books on raising Coturnix. Her work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Backyard Poultry, Grit, The Chicken Whisperer Magazine, and Community Chickens. She also has a career as a Workforce Management Supervisor and has a certificate in project management. She received a BS from Oregon State in Animal Sciences.

Alexandra Doss

Poultry & Livestock Expert

Expert Answer

I do not recommend adding more sugar, but I would add fat and protein. If you give them too much sugar, they can get diabetes. If they're not gaining weight, you need to get a fecal test to see if they have diarrhea or some underlying issues.

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Question

Why do some feeds have more sand?

Karin

Top Answerer

They shouldn't, no feed should have ANY sand in it. What you'd be looking at is finely ground grains, meant as pig feed. But sand should never be fed to a pig, ever.

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Question

Is rice bran good feed for pigs?

Community Answer

Any bran is high in fiber, it might give them indigestion and they'll gain less weight.

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Question

Are there injections to increase my pig's weight?

Community Answer

Yes, dexamethasone and mericyl with multivitamin are the drugs you can administer to increase a pig's weight.

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Question

My pig is weighing too heavy. What can I feed it for a filler?

Community Answer

Give the pig oats and separate it when feeding if you have more than one pig.

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Question

How do I make my pig gain weight?

Community Answer

Follow the instructions listed in the article above.

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Question

Why don't my pigs take water?

Community Answer

In my experience, pigs can be picky about the quality of their water. My pigs didn't like my city's water because it was too chlorinated. Maybe you could try buying some gallons of water at the store and seeing if they take that water instead. If so, there might be a contamination issue with your local water.

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Question

What if I am buying the feed for the piglets?

Community Answer

Only buy feed recommended by reliable producers. The sodium content should be around 0.1-0.2 mg per gram of feed.

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Question

Can I get a pig to gain 100 kg in 6 months?

Community Answer

Yes, if properly fed and cared for. Provide good housing, feed it three times a day, make sure water is available at all times, and deworm the pig in a timely manner.

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Question

Is rice bran good for pigs?

Community Answer

Yes it is healthy, but high in fiber; bran will not increase their weight as effectively.

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Question

What feed should I give my pig? Where are pig feeds sold?

Community Answer

Pig feed is available at your local farm supply store. They might also be available at certain pet stores. Check stores in your area for availability.

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Question

Is it okay to feed my pig with palm kernel cake? If yes, what can be mixed with the kernel cake to make the best nutrients?

Community Answer

It is never an option to use of palm oil products because of ethical and environmental concerns, and therefore reputational risks. The high cultivation of palm oil has led to the clearing of forests in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia to make space for oil-palm monoculture, which resulted in significant acreage losses of the natural habitat of many unique species, such as the orangutan.

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Question

How often should I deworm my pigs?

Community Answer

Deworming every thirty days will keep your pigs healthy and remove the parasites that steal nutrients and calories away from them.

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Question

What feed should I give my pigs to improve their growth without adding too much fat in the next 6 months?

Community Answer

Usually, any brand of feed that is low in fat. If you're looking for the pig to gain muscle, then choose a high protein, low-fat feed.

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Question

What are the best supplements to give pigs to increase their weight?

Community Answer

Maize bran, wheat, soybeans, sunflower cakes and an ample amount of water.

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Question

Is it OK to mix sugar into a pig's feed?

Community Answer

Yes, a little bit or use treats with sugar in them. Either of them will do fine. However, don't add to much sugar and only ever use it as a very occasional treat.

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Question

How does a person add muscle onto the back of a pig?

Community Answer

Feed it high fat and high protein foods. This will not only fatten the back, but also the rest of the body.

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Question

I want to feed my pigs more during their peak growing period. When is it?

Community Answer

It’s about six months old. Make sure if you want them to grow a lot to feed them more at that age.

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Question

Is maize bran good for pigs?

Community Answer

Yes, it is it can be healthy if you feed it in medium amounts but don’t overfeed.

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Question

How many pigs can I have on a plot of land?

Community Answer

The answer depends on size of the land and species of pig as some plots are bigger than others, so are some pig breeds. Do research specific to the breed of pig you're going to get.

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Question

Is it advisable to deworm a pregnant pig?

Adeina Francis

Community Answer

It should be done a month before farrow time. Deworming a few days close to delivery time could have an adverse effect or impact on the pregnancy.

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