Popular as livestock and pets, pigs are some of the hardiest and smartest animals around. If you have hogs, they require certain types of animal feed at different developmental stages. Take a look at some of the types of diets to select the right product for your animals.

What Types of Hog Feed Are There?

1. Pre-Starter

When a piglet has just been weaned, it may need some encouragement to start relying on animal feed. Pre-starter feed is only necessary for pigs that are around three to four weeks of age. Although this product is typically more expensive, it’s required to deliver adequate protein for animals who don’t eat as much as adults.

2. Starter

Intended for pigs around the age of five weeks, starter feed is required once the animals reach 15 pounds. You can also give this to pigs who were weaned early as a follow-up to pre-starter feed. This option comes in different variations, and the one you need depends on the weight of your piglets.

3. Grower & Finisher

Grower feed is for juvenile pigs that weigh between 50 and 120 pounds. It encourages healthy growth through self-feeding. 

When the animals reach 120 pounds, switch their food to finisher feed to help them reach their final weight. This stage demands less nutrition, so finisher feed contains lower amounts of protein and minerals. This will help the hogs reach a weight of around 270 pounds.

4. Gestation & Lactation

Equally beneficial to breeding boars and gestating sows, gestation feed contains higher quantities of vitamins and minerals to help breeding animals. 

After she’s farrowed, a sow will need extra nutrition to nurse her litter. A lactation diet is specially designed to produce healthy milk, and contains higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals. While this feed is similar to that given during gestation, the two aren’t interchangeable.

For all of your hogs’ dietary needs, turn to Farmers Cooperative of Live Oak, FL. Serving Suwannee and Madison Counties, they offer an extensive range of farming products and animal feed. The expert staff is knowledgeable and prepared to help you determine the right options for your needs. Call (386) 362-1459 to ask about their inventory, or visit their website for information on their products.