FacebookRssYouTubeXPinterest

Animals

Different Kinds of Pig Feed

The Ultimate Pig Feed Guide: What to Feed Your Pigs Pigs are amazing creatures. They are smart, gay and noisy animals that could certainly make your day! If you think pigs would go with anything you give them, you're right. They are are single-stomached,omnivorous organisms. Meaning, they have to be fed twice or thrice a day in order not to go hungry. And, they eat almost all kinds of things-but again, it doesn't mean you can give them just anything edible on sight. Pigs love to eat, as they've always had. So feeding shouldn't be a problem in itself. Choosing what to feed is the challenge. If you own one or is planning to venture into pig farming, you must familiarize yourself on their diet. Food is essential for your growing piggies, so this is a large investment on your part. It is your responsibility to pick what they eat and control their meals. Below, is a look at the diet of swines and what you can give to boost their growth and health. What can they eat? Swines need a good mixture of food containing fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. You can get these from a variety of food sources. Firstly, make sure that you always have a clean trough of water. Pigs love it, not only for drinking- but for soaking their pouty faces too. For any food you serve, make sure that it is gone after 20-30 minutes, and given at least twice a day. Commercial feeds - - Commercial pig feeds are generally more expensive, because every pellet is jampacked with minerals needed by each wiggling body. Depending on a pig's age, the feed varies in amount. For every month of age, a corresponding 450g of feed is given each day. The maximum amount is 2.75kg a day. Generally, commercial feeds are subdivided into three. Creep feeds: Also called starter rations, these commercial feed are for weaners aged from 5 -15 weeks. Starter rations utilize various nutrient sources (carbohydrate, lactose) to aid the growth of your weaners (a crucial point in pig-life) while keeping the feed easily digestible. After that, they graduate into Growing Rations and finally the Finisher Rations. Corn or soybean- - Pigs need a lot of energy to keep on doing their activities- tramping their troughs, wallowing in mud and keeping themselves looking cute. So, farmers incorporate soybeans, corn or dried whey in their their pigs' diets. These are very sources for sugar and protein, specifically lysine. Be careful though [...]

By |2024-01-12T14:48:54+00:00July 10th, 2015|Animals, Feed, Hogs, Pigs|1 Comment
Read More

An Overview of Horse Illness

The Ultimate Guide to Horse Illness: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions Many horse illnesses can be prevented by good horse management such as regular worming. In the world of horses, the statement "a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing" is very true. It is very much in your horse's interest to find someone who is experienced and consult them whenever you have even the slightest suspicion that all is not well with your horse. You may have heard of the expression "the stockman's eye" - many illnesses can be prevented by careful observation on a daily basis. Horses are creatures of habit and each one must be treated as an individual. There are some general obvious signs of illness such as: coughing, being listless, lack of interest in their feed. discharge from the nose or eyes weight loss a dull coat Excessive sweating, pawing at the ground, looking at their flank and trying to lie down or roll are symptoms of colic ( a severe stomach ache). It is normal for a horse to rest a hind leg but if he is resting (i.e. taking the weight off )a front leg that is a sign of lameness. You can also judge the state of a horse's health by changes in behavior. For example when a horse who is normally quiet to ride starts to buck the chances are that he may have a back injury or a wound in Saddle area or under the girth.. These are some of the most common illnesses:: 1) Colic which is the number one cause of fatality in horses - call a vet at the onset of symptoms and that will greatly increase the chances of a happy outcome. 2) Degenerative Diseases such as navicular disease (horse takes short stiff steps) and ringbone which can be treated with pain killers but cannot be cured. 3) Laminitis - the hooves are hot and painful - can be worsened by rich grazing or overfeeding 4) Thrush - a smelly discharge from the frog prevented by daily picking out of foot and clean bedding. use disinfectant to clean out the foot. 5) Ringworm -.A fungus which creates round bare patches on the horse’s coat is also curable but highly contagious so don’t use the grooming equipment on other horses and do not stable the horse within touching distance of another horse. Wash your hands before approaching other horses 6) Strangles - enlarged glands abscesses at the throat which swell and eventually rupture. The horse [...]

By |2024-01-12T15:04:35+00:00June 28th, 2015|Horse, Horse Foot Ailment, Horse Illness|0 Comments
Read More

Raising Yaks, What you need to Know.

Raising Yaks: A Guide for Beginners Hello there. In this article, we will focus on raising yaks in USA. Although some prefer cattle over yaks, here we will try to let you know why yaks are also an option you might consider. In the USA, you can find yaks in 5 different colors: Black, Imperial, Trim Yak, Royal Yak and Golden Yak. From all of those, the Golden yaks are the rarest ones – they are only about 50 or so in the USA. Regardless what kind of yaks you are considering to raise, let’s see the benefits from it. Why Yaks? Well, most importantly – they are cheap to keep. These animals eat less than a cattle and the requite less handling that cattle. But also, they live longer than cattle do. Yaks are the type of animals that don’t need hormones, steroids, or antibiotic feed supplements for excellent health and growth. All they need is grass. They are quiet animals and they don’t need any special fencing. Talking about stuff you don’t need - you don’t need any special permit for raising yaks. Yaks are strong animals with ability to survive on very harsh environment and have a big reproducing rate. The Yak meat is in a limited supply, so it has a higher price that the regular beef. This is based on many factors, one of them being that yaks don’t get parasites or diseases. Yak meat is very low on cholesterol and fat, even lower than salmon and some other fish. Also, is much higher in protein than the rest of the meats. However, if you don’t want to raise them for slaughtering, they are other reasons as well: -Yak milk: Quality milk that is used for making butter and cheese. The raw Yak milk is often drank by kids and old people. - Rich fiber: Often compared with cashmere or camel for its quality and strength. Also, it’s in high demands and you can sell it for $4-5 per once (the rough one). Yaks can be used in crossbreeding with any other cattle breed. What you will get would be a strong cattle that is naturally cold-resist. Vaccines and diseases Although they don’t get sick very often (it’s actually very rare for this to happen), theoretically, they can get any decease that a cattle can. For this reason, they are treated same as cattle. Yaks can start receive vaccine after 3-4 months of age. Some of the vaccines that are standard are: [...]

By |2024-01-12T23:48:00+00:00April 16th, 2015|Yaks|0 Comments
Read More

About Yaks

About Yaks: Everything You Need to Know The yak (Bos grunniens and Bos mutus) could be a long-haired bovid found throughout range region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan tableland and as way north as Mongolia and Russia. Most yaks are domesticated wild ox. There’s a little, vulnerable population of untamed yaks, Bos mutus. According to Wikipedia - "The yak (Bos grunniens and Bos mutus) is a long-haired bovid found throughout the Himalaya region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. Most yaks are domesticated Bos grunniens. There is also a small, vulnerable population of wild yaks, Bos mutus." Yaks mate within the summer, usually between July and September, depending on the local surroundings. For the rest of the year, several males wander in little bachelor teams faraway from the big herds, but, when the rut approaches, they become aggressive and frequently fight among one another to determine dominance. Yak Reproduction and Life Cycle In addition to non-violent threat displays, bellowing, and scraping the bottom with their horns, male yaks compete directly, repeatedly charging at one another with heads lowered or sparring with their horns. Like bison, however and not like cattle, males wallow in dry soil throughout the rut, usually while scent-marking with excrement or dung. Female Yaks enter oestrus up to fourfold a year, and females are receptive just for a few hours in every cycle. Gestation lasts between 257 and 270 days, so that the young are born between May and June. This leads to the birth of one calf. The female finds a secluded spot to relinquish birth. Females in the wild and domestic forms usually have births just once each every other year, although additional frequent births are potential if the food offer is good. Calves are weaned at one year and become freelance shortly thenceforth. Wild calves are at the start brown in color, and slowly later develop the darker adult hair. Females typically give birth for the first time at 3 or four years of age, and reach their peak fruitful fitness at around six years. Yaks can live for quite twenty years in domestication or captivity, although it's likely that this might be somewhat shorter within the wild.

By |2024-01-12T23:56:05+00:00April 16th, 2015|Yaks|0 Comments
Read More

Top Pig Diseases Caused By Viruses

There are many viral diseases that can hit pigs. The severity of their effect varies from country to country, from farm to farm. However, knowing what each disease looks like when it affects your pigs may help you contain them to reduce the losses that it would have caused. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Foot-and-mouth disease would show in how pigs suddenly reduce their food consumption and how they would look depressed. It also comes with fevers reaching about 40.5º C. Piglets affected by the condition usually experience cardiac failure and die. Vesicles of up to 30mm would appear later, and are often found near the coronets and appear a little on the lips and nose. The disease can be transmitted through direct and indirect contact with infected pigs. The virus can spread by saliva, aerosol, blood, nasal discharge, feces, urine, semen, meat or bones of the infected animals, and infected animal by-products. FMD cannot be treated, so the affected pigs should be destroyed. This can be prevented by routine vaccination, although this will only last for six months. Farmers should be cautious of the symptoms to prevent the spread before it gets worse. FMD is highly infectious and can spread rapidly throughout the population of animals, even reaching long distances, depending on the wind. This makes it harder and more costly to control. African Swine Fever This often affects domestic pigs. Its common symptoms include blotching of skin, fever, and the hemorrhaging of internal organs, lymph nodes, and gastrointestinal tract. The virus can spread through direct contact with the infected pigs and fomites, tick bites, ingestion of contaminated uncooked pig by-products, and contact with wild carrier and domestic pigs. The carcass of the affected animals is condemned. All of the herd hit by ASF would become ill and most of them would die. There is no treatment available, which is why some countries infected by the ASF often resort to a slaughter policy to completely eradicate the virus and contain its spread. Affected animals should be kept away from the unexposed animals as a preventive measure. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) This is a highly contagious viral disease among pigs, which has recently affected virus states in the US. It was first diagnosed in the country in May 2013. This causes severe diarrhea and dehydration among pigs. of animals, even reaching long distances, depending on the wind. This makes it harder and more costly to control. African Swine Fever This often affects domestic pigs. Its common symptoms include blotching [...]

By |2019-03-24T21:18:49+00:00May 31st, 2014|Pigs, Viral Diseases|0 Comments
Read More

Types of Domestic Pigs

Domestic Pigs: How They Evolved, How They Live? Swine, or domesticated pigs and hogs are omnivorous animals that are generally commercially raised for pork meat and leather. In the United States, a “pig” is a young swine weighing less than 120 pounds while a “hog” is a more mature one which weighs more than 120 pounds. The swine belongs to the same family as wild boars wart hogs, bush pigs and babyrusas. Their common characteristics include a stout, stocky torso, short legs with four hoofed toes each, a long head, short pointed ears, small eyes and a distinctive snout, tipped with of a round cartilaginous disk and terminal nostrils which allows them to move their nose as they sniff their way along the ground while foraging for food. Most breeds of domestic pigs and hogs have sparse hair covering their skin. They are sociable and smart animals and, like dogs, can be taught and trained to perform a variety of tricks and tasks. Dwarf breeds, like the pot-bellied pigs, can make excellent house pets. According to the National Pork Board, most swine bred for consumption are the offspring of a combination of one of five dark breed boars bred to one of three white breed sows. This is because the dark breed boars enhance the meat quality of their offspring while the white breed females are used for their ability to produce many piglets as well as for their maternal instincts which allow more piglets to survive. There are many combinations of breeds and genetic lines used to influence the characteristics each producer looks for with regard to meat quality, farming method and the hog market. The most popular commercial breeds in the United States are the Berkshire, the Chester White, the Duroc the Hampshire, the Landrace, the Poland China, the Spotted Pig and the Yorkshire. Aside from the commercially farmed swine, there are the so-called “heritage breeds.” These are breeds which come from bloodlines that goes back hundreds of years when livestock was raised on open-pasture farms. Unveiling the Unique Qualities of Exceptional Domesticated Pigs The quality of their pork have certain desirable characteristics, including the rich taste of their meat, the distinct marbling, the bacon flavors and creamy fat. Heritage breeds, unfortunately, are generally not suited for commercial farming. There are thirteen known heritage breeds in the United States. They are: the Choctaw, the Gloucastershire Old Spot, the Guinea Hog, the Hereford, the Iberian, the Lacombe, the Large Black, the Large White, the Mangalitsa or [...]

By |2024-01-13T00:30:37+00:00May 8th, 2014|Animals, Hogs, Pigs|1 Comment
Read More

Pigs as House Pets

Pigs are smart, sociable, playful animals. They even have personality. Like dogs they can be trained to do tricks, wear a leash, use a litter box, respond to their individual names when called. But will they make good house pets? That depends on how large your house is and on how much time and attention you are willing to set aside in the care of your pet pig. Those cute, cuddly miniature pigs, micro pigs, pocket pigs or teacup pigs sold as pets in most regular pet shops won’t always remain small. Even Paris Hilton’s famous teacup pig, which she bought in 2009, is now over a hundred pounds big. So if you plan on keeping one indoors, make sure you have enough space in the house. Since pigs by nature are territorial, it is best to give your pet a room of its own, with a pile of blankets it can nest on. Also, it is important to give your pet pig easy access to the outside. Pigs are instinctively compelled to forage about for food and their metabolism require them to get frequent mud baths. If your pet pig can’t get outdoor when it needs to, chances are it just might do some serious damage to your house and belongings. It can overturn appliances and furnitures, bite through your carpet and make a mess out of your bathroom. If you do decide to keep a pig as a house pet, it is important that you frequently clean, sanitize and disinfect your home and everything inside it to prevent parasites from breeding. Pigs are omnivorous and will eat almost anything they can find or are given. Unfortunately, they are also prone to getting very obese easily, which in turn can lead to other health issues. So if you want to keep your pet pig fit and trim, you should probably just give it a regular diet of the commercial feed that are sold at the pet shop. These branded specially-formulated mini pig feed are high in fiber but low on calories. You can also supplement your pig’s diet with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, corn and celery. Of course, you should give your pet pig free access to clean drinking water at all times. Your pet pig’s food and water dispensers should always be cleaned thoroughly after every use. You should bring your pet pig to a veterinarian for check-ups and vaccination regularly. A healthy pet mini or teacup pig can [...]

By |2019-04-14T00:40:09+00:00April 9th, 2014|House Pet Pigs, Pigs|0 Comments
Read More

Types of Domestic Sheep

Sheep are small ruminants closely related to the goat that are raised mainly for their wool as well as for food. Worldwide, there are over a thousand breeds of sheep according to the Food & Agriculture Organization. In the USA, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) has identified 47 unique breeds of domestic sheep. The ASI has further categorized these domestic breeds into six types, namely the ‘meat breeds,’ the ‘fine wool breeds,’ the ‘long wool breeds,’ the ‘dual purpose breeds,’ the ‘hair breeds,’ and the ‘minor breeds.’ Most sheep and lambs in American farms and ranches are of the meat breed variety which are raised primarily for the production of meat, or of the dual-purpose kind which are kept for both meat and wool production. There are 11 meat breeds of sheep under the ASI classification, namely the Cheviot, the Dorset, the Hampshire, the Montadale, the North Country Cheviot, the Oxford, the Shropshire, the Southdown, the Suffolk, the Texel and the Tunis. On the other hand there are 8 dual purpose breeds, namely the American Miniature Brecknock, the Columbia, the Corriedale, the East Friesian, the Finnsheep, the Panama, the Polypay, and the Targhee. Sheep meat is either ‘mutton,’ if it comes from mature sheep, or ‘lamb,’ if it is from sheep not older than one year. Sheep grow both hair and wool fibers although hair breeds have more hair fibers than woolly fibers. They also tend to shed their coats annually and usually do not require shearing, crutching, or docking. There are 7 hair breeds and they are the Barbados Blackbelly and American Blackbelly, the California Reds, the Dorper, the Katahdin, the Romanov, the Royal White Sheep, and the St. Croix. There are two general types of hair sheep in the United State: "improved" and "unimproved". The unimproved breeds tend to be indigenous sheep breeds that have adapted well to the local environment in which they evolved like the Barbados Blackbelly and the St. Croix.  The improved hair breeds on the other hand are crosses between regular hair breeds and wooled meat breeds. Examples include the Dorper, the Katahdin and the Royal White Sheep. Fine wool sheep produce wool fibers with a very small fiber diameter, usually 20 microns or less. There are 5 fine wool breeds in the USA, namely the American Cormo, the Booroola Merino, the Debouillet, the Delaine-Merino, and the Rambouillet. In comparison, long wool sheep produce long-stapled wool with a large fiber diameter, usually greater than 30 microns. There are 7 long wool breeds [...]

By |2017-07-03T02:09:51+00:00February 7th, 2014|Sheep, Wool|1 Comment
Read More
Go to Top