Pine needle processing and feeding pigs gain weight faster
Pine needle powder is a rich source of nutrients, containing 11% to 12% crude protein, 9% to 11% crude fat, 1% to 1.5% calcium, 0.05% to 0.1% phosphorus, and approximately 1000 to 1300 mg of chlorophyll per kilogram. It also provides 300 to 400 mg of carotene and 500 to 600 mg of vitamins. The powder includes 18 essential amino acids and 7 trace elements, with a notable amount of selenium, which helps prevent conditions like white muscle disease and vitamin deficiencies caused by selenium insufficiency. When added to compound feed at a rate of 3% to 5%, it can boost the average daily weight gain of pigs by 15% to 20%, reducing the fattening period by 20 to 30 days and improving pork quality and lean meat percentage by 3% to 5%.
As a feed additive, pine needle powder is non-toxic and does not leave harmful residues in animal products, making it a safe and widely acceptable option. Its popularity has grown alongside the rising demand for natural, green, and healthy food. However, when used in higher concentrations—up to 5% to 10%—it can increase production costs, waste resources, and negatively impact the feed's taste and nutritional balance. Livestock may reduce their feed intake, and the active compounds in pine needles are often unstable, leading to inconsistent growth promotion.
To address these issues, some farmers have started using pine needle infusion instead of the powder. This method involves processing fresh pine needles through crushing, boiling, pressing, filtering, sedimentation, and separation to extract an effective liquid. A dose of 1.5 to 2.0 ml per meal, given 2 to 3 times daily, has shown excellent results in improving pig growth. Within 3 to 7 days, pigs begin to eat more and grow faster. Each pig requires only about 500 ml over the course of treatment, making it a cost-effective, user-friendly, and reliable solution for enhancing livestock performance.
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