What are pig premixes and why are they needed?

Feed can make up to 80% of the cost of pig production, and the better the feed, the better the quality of pork and its quantity. To improve the quality, enrich the feed with useful vitamins and minerals, premixes for pigs have been invented.

The technology of their use allows to reduce the feed consumption per unit of weight and improve the health of animals. It is advisable for everyone who starts raising pigs to know what feeding with premixes gives and which mineral and vitamin complex is better to choose.

What are premixes?

The term “premix” is made up of “pre-” – preliminary and “-mix” – to mix. It is represented by a filler with a mixture of biologically active substances: vitamins and minerals. Premixes can also be only vitamin or only mineral, as well as combined and supplemented with amino acids.

Typical composition of the drug:

• vitamins C, A, D, B, K, PP, E;
• minerals: calcium, zinc, sulfur, magnesium, iodine, selenium, copper, iron;
• filler.

The quality of distribution of nutrients in the premix depends on the filler, so wheat bran is most often used in this capacity, as a material with a uniform structure in which it is easy to evenly dissolve other ingredients.

Pigs are divided into several classes:

• piglets up to 10 weeks;
• young pigs for fattening;
• sows with piglets;
• adult wild boars.

Premixes for each of these classes must contain the correct amount of protein, vitamins and minerals, digestible energy. Quantitatively, the composition can include up to 30 components. They are added to the combined feed or to the wet mash. The amount of the preparation used can be 1-2% of the total feed weight.

For fattening, it is enough to have vitamins and minerals in the supplement. Most premixes are like this. And to provide a therapeutic effect, it is necessary that it contains medicinal substances. For example, Tilan 250 premix is ​​an antibacterial drug intended for the treatment of dysentery and other diseases of ungulates.

The dosage and set of ingredients depend on the task that the drug is intended to solve:

• improving the productive performance of adults;
• fattening of young animals;
• improving the composition of feed supplied to the herd;
• restoration of an animal’s health after an illness.

Benefit

Useful properties of premixes:

• increasing the productivity of sows;
• improving the survival rate and the birth of healthy young animals;
• prevention of death of young animals from intestinal infections;
• improving the absorption of nutrients from feed;
• acceleration of adaptation of young animals to a new type of feed;
• reduction in feed consumption by 15–30% due to improved absorption of nutrients;
• regular cleansing of the body from toxins that enter the body with food;
• acceleration of metabolism;
• general improvement of the animal’s body and improvement of the processes occurring in it;
• strengthening the immunity of animals and reducing the incidence of disease;
• acceleration of growth.

Standard requirements

In Russia and other countries, commercial production of feed and feed additives for farm animals is carried out in accordance with established requirements.

In particular, the technical conditions for premixes are set out in the interstate standard (GOST 26573.0-2017), which was developed by specialists from the All-Russian Research Institute of the Feed Milling Industry (JSC VNIIKP) and entered into force on January 1, 2019.

Composition and raw materials

Enriching additives consist of a filler and bioactive substances:

1. Fillers – feed products that have high adsorption capacity, maintain homogeneity for a long time and ensure the best mixing efficiency with enriching products. Finely ground grains (wheat, barley, rye), bran, meal and cake, feed yeast, feed concentrate of L-lysine, mineral raw materials (biotrin, bentonite, belotin, zeolite, limestone flour, feed dicalcium phosphate (precipitate), etc.) are used as fillers. A combination of several fillers is possible at the same time.
2. As biologically active additives The following act as feed vitamins (A, C, D, E, K3, B group, etc.), salts or oxides of microelements (iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, magnesium, cobalt, selenium), sulfur, amino acids (L-lysine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine, cystine, etc.), enzyme preparations (amylosubtilin, protosubtilin, lectofoetidin, protovortmanin, protochromatin, celloviridin, xylanase, phytase, cellulase, multienzyme compositions, etc.), pre- and probiotics.

It is permitted to introduce flavoring and aromatic components, pigments, antioxidants, veterinary drugs, as well as stabilized feed animal fats or vegetable oils to improve the distribution of biologically active substances and reduce dust formation.

For the production of premixes, technological instructions and regulations have been developed, as well as various recipes taking into account the recommended rates of introduction of bioactive substances into feed for a specific type of animal and its age.

How to choose?

Domestic livestock breeders have the opportunity to buy various feed additives, choosing from a wide range presented on the market.

In this case, it is better to focus not on a pretty picture or a low price, but to take into account the company’s reputation:

• manufacturer;
• availability of certificates confirming the compliance of products with GOSTs;
• information about the composition, purpose, dosage and expiration date indicated in the instructions on the packaging.

The optimal ratio is considered to be 70% filler and 30% useful substances; depending on the quantitative and qualitative composition of the latter, premixes are distinguished as:

• vitamin;
• vitamins with complexes of macro- and microelements;
• vitamin and vitamin-mineral with therapeutic and prophylactic properties.

It is important to understand that the success of fattening depends not only on the introduction of enriching additives, but primarily on the quality of the products used to feed animals, a properly selected and balanced diet.

Let’s look at the characteristics of some popular premixes in the table:

Responsible manufacturers offer vitamin and mineral supplements made from natural ingredients, without growth stimulants, antibiotics, hormonal drugs and GMOs.

Such products in the recommended dosage have no contraindications, as no side effects or complications have been identified. Meat and lard of animals after using high-quality additives can be consumed without restrictions.

When using premixes it is important:

• do not feed them to animals in their pure form;
• do not exceed the indicated dosages;
• do not expose to heat above 45 ℃ – it is better to add additives to chilled feed;
• provide pigs with constant access to drinking water.

Vitamins

Such premixes are intended to enrich feed with vitamins. They contain vitamins C, A, D, B, K, PP, E. They are usually presented as individual vitamins or a complex set of them. They are supplied in the form of solutions, powders and tablets.

They can be added to water or feed; intramuscular or subcutaneous administration of drugs is also possible. It should be taken into account that vitamins do not work on their own – they need a medium, water or fat to dissolve, so a vitamin premix is ​​usually added to feed.

It is desirable that it contain a sufficient amount of animal and vegetable proteins.

Characteristics of the vitamin composition:

1. niacin (vitamin B3 or PP) is necessary for carbohydrate metabolism. It increases lactation in females.
2. Vitamin A is necessary for the continuous development of the intestinal mucosa, the elimination of diseases of the visual organs. Its use reduces the likelihood of stillbirth or weak offspring.
3. Vitamin D necessary for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, as well as their transportation and accumulation in bone tissue. Used to prevent skeletal and joint deformities (rickets) in young animals.
4. Vitamin E protects the integrity of epithelial and mucous tissues. It is a biological antioxidant, it helps to form immunity against diseases. It is necessary for the prevention of muscle diseases in animals and problems associated with fertility.
5. Vitamin K prevents blood clotting, protects bone health, plays an active role in preventing obesity. Necessary for good animal growth.

With minerals and microelements

Minerals are always included in vitamin and mineral complexes and are not supplied separately. The composition usually includes: cobalt, manganese, iron, calcium, potassium, copper, zinc, iodine. They can be supplied in powder form, granules or tablets.

Minerals are obtained by chemical synthesis, fermentation or milling of the original substance. Chemically obtained components are the most accessible and inexpensive, but in this case the risk to animal health increases due to the effects of chemical solvents, unreacted intermediate compounds.

Such compositions can cause poisoning, so it is recommended to carefully approach the choice of the supplier and study the possibilities of its production.

Characteristics of mineral composition:

1. Hardware necessary for the transport of blood in the body.
2. Zinc participates in the process of fermentation of food in the intestines. Prevents loss of appetite, growth retardation and skin problems.
3. Copper required for the synthesis of hemoglobin by iron and the formation of bone tissue. Participates in all oxidative processes. Prevents reproductive dysfunction and decreased bone strength.
4. Iodine is necessary for the thyroid gland to produce the hormone thyroxine, which regulates metabolism in the body. It prevents the birth of weak or stillborn piglets.
5. Cobalt The body needs it to synthesize vitamin B12. Prevents growth retardation and anemia.
6. Selenium destroys toxins and prevents oxidation of the cell membrane. Necessary for cell development. Has antioxidant properties, participates in maintaining the immune system.

Benefits of a Fortified Diet for Fattening

Premixes help to achieve good results depending on the goals set when raising animals.

Experts note the following as the most significant indicators:

1. Increase in daily weight gain (by 15%) and overall productivity (by 40%).
2. Reduction of fattening periods (for 2-3 weeks).
3. Reducing quantity and reducing costs on feed (savings of about 30%).
4. Stimulation of digestion and better absorption of feed, the ability to include hard-to-digest foods (oats, meal, etc.) in the diet.
5. Increased immunity, prevention of rickets, anemia, gastrointestinal diseases.
6. Improving taste meat products.

Positive effects are observed when introducing additives into the diet of sows and boars – the likelihood of infertility and mortality of offspring decreases, the number of piglets in the litter increases, and their viability increases.

Rules for using premixes

1. Add into cooled wet food at room temperature. Heat treatment leads to the breakdown of vitamins.
2. Comply with the norms, indicated on the package. The body will not be able to absorb twice as much of one or another component, and what is not used will be excreted from the body with urine and feces. Therefore, there is no point in double dosages.
3. Consider the age group and your goal, do not use a premix that is not suitable for your purposes. The pigs will digest it, but you will not get the desired result.
4. Use a premix with quality feed. Vitamins are absorbed in combination with other components and these components must be in the feed.
5. Do not use supplements with an expired shelf life. The minerals in it will be preserved, but the vitamins will not.
6. Start with a small amount and gradually increase it to the norm.
7. Add premix only in fresh wet food.
8. Use supplements 1-2 once a day.

Reviews

Alexander Prut:

“For pigs, I only use the “Dar Velesa” premix. In my opinion, it is the best. I use the universal variety, but only for young animals and adults. For pregnant females, other vitamins are purchased. These premixes for pigs are easy to use and really save feed.”

Marina Shashkova:

“I used the Purina premix for the first time last year for piglets and was very pleased. We live in an unfavorable climate zone, piglets often die before reaching a month, but the supplement gave its result! The young animals survived almost in full, and grew quickly. So since then I have been using it regularly.”

Olga Turova:

“A veterinarian advised me to use premixes for pigs after I contacted him for the 5th time because of the pigs’ lethargy. I was afraid that it was a disease, but it turned out to be a lack of some vitamins and problems with the digestibility of food. I immediately bought “Salvamix” because it has a lot of vitamins, and my friends recommended it. The result was pleasantly surprising after just a month. The pigs returned to an active life, and I no longer worry about them.”