Hydroponic fodder can be added to pig rations as a fresh green supplement. It is not a complete feed. The rest of the ration still comes from concentrates.
Introduce gradually. Systems are quoted to herd size, power, and site.
Pigs can be offered hydroponic fodder as a fresh green addition to a concentrate-based diet. Start with a small amount and raise it gradually over several days, so the digestive system has time to adjust. Many farms offer fodder once a day at a regular time.
Sows, growers, and finishing pigs have different nutritional needs. The amount of fodder for each group should be planned with your pig nutritionist and matched to the existing ration, rather than added on top without a plan.
Break the mat into pieces and offer it in a clean trough or on a clean floor area. The whole mat, including roots and seed, can be fed. Plan harvests so fodder is fed on the day it is cut.
Keep records of what each group receives and how the pigs respond. Simple notes on intake and condition make it easier to adjust the plan with your nutritionist over time.
Hydroponic fodder is not a complete feed for pigs. It does not replace a balanced concentrate ration, which still supplies the energy, protein, amino acids, and minerals pigs need for health and growth.
Watch appetite, dung consistency, and behaviour while fodder is introduced. Loose dung or reduced intake is a sign to slow down. If problems persist, consult your veterinarian.
Do not feed fodder that smells sour or shows mould. Clear away leftovers from troughs and pens each day, because wet green feed spoils faster than dry feed and can attract flies.
Young piglets rely on milk and carefully formulated creep and starter feeds. Ask your veterinarian or nutritionist before offering fodder to young pigs, and introduce it, if at all, only in small amounts.
That depends on your seed, power, labour, and current ration, and it varies from farm to farm. We do not promise savings; work through the figures for your own operation with your advisers.
Harvest only what the herd will eat that day, and feed it soon after harvest. Keep trays clean and well drained during growing, and remove any batch that shows mould.