Feeding Practices for Growing Pigs in Nagaland

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the feeding practices and nutritional gap in growing pigs of Nagaland. Five villages, one from each district were identified.  The villages were Viswema, Tuli, Doyapur, Longsachung and Kashanya under the district Kohima, Mokokchung, Dimapur, Wokha and Kohima respectively. Relevant information was collected from farmers during the study. Body weight, age and feed intake were recorded for individual animal. The observations were recorded from 15 farmers from each of 5 villages. Feed samples were collected, pooled and chemically analysed for proximate principles as per AOAC(1995). The average CP content of the mixed feed was in the range of 11.80-13.58 percent. The calculated ME value of the feed was 2.50 to  2.85 Mcal/kg DM. The percent deficit/surplus of nutrients was calculated out. It was observed that the CP deficit was in the range of 17.7 to 26.5 percent and the energy deficit was 11.58 to 18.66 percent.  The amino acid profile of the feed was also studied  The amino acid content was compared with the standard value as suggested by Ranjhan,1980. Two important amino acids namely lysine and methionine were found to be less than that of the requirement. Histidine and  tryptophan were absent in the test feed. The study indicated that the feed stuff fed by the farmers did not contain appreciable amount of protein and energy and so  did not meet the protein and energy requirement of the pigs. Hence, supplementation of concentrate  feed is required to get better results, as pigs are considered as fast growing animals.