What is the effect of carbohydrates on pigs

Carbohydrates, which are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, are the main components of plants, accounting for about 70%, 80% of all plant nutrients, and are the main source of energy in pig feed.

Carbohydrates are converted into energy after a series of changes in pigs, providing heat for various life activities of pigs. After meeting the daily energy consumption, the remaining carbohydrates can be converted into fat and stored in pigs as energy reserves for starvation. Pig fat and suet are the reserves of this remaining energy. Pigs have a strong ability to convert carbohydrates into fat, and when eating large amounts of carbohydrates, body fat increases quickly. Therefore, feeding pigs with carbohydrate-rich feed (such as corn, rice, sweet potatoes, potatoes) is easy to turn into body fat. In raising lean pigs, carbohydrates should be supplied reasonably, especially in the later fattening stage, the feeding amount of this kind of feed should be appropriately reduced to prevent pigs from being overfattened.

Carbohydrates can not be converted into protein in pigs, but can reduce protein consumption when needed. When carbohydrates can not meet the energy needs of pigs, pigs first use the stored fat in the body, and serious deficiency will increase the consumption of protein in the body. At this time, the pig body is seriously emaciated and affects normal growth and reproduction.

Carbohydrates include nitrogen-free extracts and crude fiber. Nitrogen-free extract mainly includes starch and sugar. because it is easy to digest and absorb and produce high heat, the feed with high content is generally called carbohydrate feed or energy feed, such as corn, barley, sorghum, sweet potato, potato and so on. Crude fiber is a component of plant cell wall, including cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, which is difficult to digest in feed. Crude fiber absorbs a large amount of water, which can fill the gastrointestinal tract and make pigs feel full; crude fiber has a certain stimulating effect on pig intestinal mucosa, can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and fecal excretion, and can provide certain energy. Therefore, although the nutritional value of crude fiber is low, it is still an important substance in livestock and poultry feed. It is generally believed that the crude fiber content in the diet of live pigs is 3% Mur4% for piglets within 2 months of age, 4% for fattening pigs, 7% for adult boars and lactating sows, 10% for pregnant sows and 12% for pregnant sows. Pregnant sows have a large feed intake and high utilization of roughage, so roughage can be appropriately increased to reduce costs and increase the sense of satiety of sows.