What nutrients do pigs need (1)

Mastering the nutrients needed by pigs and the contents and functions of various nutrients can promote the growth and development of pigs, enhance their disease resistance, regulate the normal physiological functions of pigs, improve@#@227@#@production level and reduce production costs. The nutrients that sustain the life of pigs are protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Various nutrients have different functions, which are briefly described as follows. (1) Protein Protein is the main component of various tissues and organs of pigs, such as skin, muscle, blood, meat, mane and hoof shell, etc. are composed of protein, and bones also contain more protein. Protein is constantly needed to repair, replace and grow these tissues, maintain metabolism, growth, reproduction and milk secretion of various tissues; protein is also needed for various digestive fluids, enzymes and hormones; protein can also be used to generate heat when the pig is deficient in heat. It can be seen that protein is the most important nutrient element that pigs often lack. Protein is made up of more than 20 amino acids. There are two types of amino acids: one is the pig body itself can use other nutrients to synthesize amino acids, called non-essential amino acids; the other is the pig body itself can not synthesize or synthesis of insufficient amount and must be taken from the feed to maintain normal physiological functions of essential amino acids, called essential amino acids. Amino acids include lysine, tryptophan, histidine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, valine and arginine. Protein in feed is decomposed into amino acids in pigs before it can be absorbed and utilized by pigs. In pig's diet, where contains the essential amino acid quantity to be many, the proportion appropriate protein, each kind of amino acid utilization ratio is high. Such protein is high quality protein for pigs; otherwise, it is low quality protein. The protein content of animal feed is greater than that of plant feed, so it should be mastered and used in pig ingredients. Carbohydrate Carbohydrate is the raw material that makes up pig somatic cell tissue. It can regulate the metabolism in pigs, and at the same time, it is the heat energy required to maintain the body temperature, respiration, blood circulation, digestion and other metabolic processes of pigs, as well as the heat energy required for pig growth, reproduction and activities. The carbohydrates needed to supply pigs are basically derived from plant feeds. When the carbohydrate in the feed is insufficient, it is necessary to use the fat and even protein in the pig body to supply heat energy. At this time, the pig will be thin, so that it cannot gain weight and reproduce normally. On the contrary, when carbohydrates are excessive, fat accumulation in pigs will be formed, making pigs fat. (3) Fat Fat is both a component of the pig body and a source of heat. It produces 2.25 times more calories than the same amount of carbohydrate or protein. Excess nutrients entering the pig body will be converted into fat and accumulated in the body, that is, subcutaneous fat and vegetable oil will be formed. It has the function of reducing body heat loss and protecting internal organs. In addition, various organs and tissues of pigs, such as brain nerves, blood, muscle, skin, etc., also contain some special lipids, phospholipids and sterols. They are essential for building cells and regulating metabolic processes. Fat is also a solvent for the absorption and transport of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and carotene in pigs. When pigs are undernourished, they cannot absorb vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K in the feed. For example, fatty acids needed for the growth of young pigs, such as linolenic acid, hypolinolenic acid and arachidic acid, cannot be synthesized in the body and must be ingested from feed. But the fat in pigs is mainly converted from carbohydrates. When the fat content of pig diet is lower than 0.06%, fat deficiency will occur, and the fat content of general feed far exceeds this level, so it is unnecessary to supply pig fat in large quantities by feed. When the fat content in the feed of young pigs exceeds 6%, it will also cause indigestion and diarrhea. Minerals Minerals are components of pig cells and can also regulate the physiological functions of the body. Calcium and phosphorus are essential for the formation of bones and teeth. If the diet of pregnant sows is deficient in calcium and phosphorus, embryo development will be hindered. In soft tissues and body fluids, as well as muscle, skin, blood, digestive fluids, hormones and milk, there are also certain amounts of mineral elements that participate in various metabolic activities in the body. The mineral elements needed by pigs are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, copper, iron, cobalt, zinc, iodine, manganese, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, fluorine, selenium and molybdenum. In ordinary feed, easy to lack calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, copper, iron, cobalt, zinc and other eight elements, the rest of the elements are generally not easy to lack.