How to make up for calcium deficiency in pigs? Teach you to use feed grade calcium formate to save money and be effective

 In pig production, calcium deficiency in sows and piglets is a common metabolic disease. In normal pigs, calcium accounts for about 1.5% to 2.2% of body weight. Among them, 99% of calcium exists in bones and teeth in the form of apatite, and the rest is distributed in body fluids and soft tissues in a dissolved state. So how to make up for calcium deficiency in pigs? Teach you to use feed grade calcium formate to save money and be effective.

1. Symptoms of calcium deficiency in pigs

Calcium deficiency in pigs used to be a common metabolic disease, and the body temperature of calcium-deficient pigs is generally not high. But it will cause the pigs to stand unsteadily, poor in spirit in the later stage, and become lethargic. Calcium deficiency can also cause hindquarters to be insensitive to painful stimuli, and reduce food intake and drinking.

However, since the advent of pig premix, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus has been prepared according to the growth stages of pigs, and the addition of vitamin D to promote calcium absorption is also sufficient. As long as it is formulated according to the recommended formula ratio, calcium deficiency caused by insufficient calcium content or unadjusted calcium-phosphorus ratio and calcium deficiency caused by lack of vitamin D will generally not occur in a large area.

2. the reasons for the lack of calcium in pigs

But the actual situation is: when the calcium content in the feed is sufficient, calcium deficiency still occurs from time to time. What's going on? Let us briefly understand the metabolism of calcium in pigs.

Calcium in pigs is generally provided by feed. Most of the calcium in the feed is compound calcium, which must be converted into free calcium ions before it can be absorbed by the intestines. When the pH value in the intestine is less than 6, it is beneficial to the release of calcium ions. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in feed is generally 2.1:1. Excessive phosphorus content will reduce the intestinal tract's ability to absorb calcium.

Pigs suffering from kidney disease will have calcium deficiency due to excessive calcium loss. When there is a disease in the digestive tract, the pig will lack calcium due to the high pH of the digestive tract or the problem of the intestinal tract itself. When the calcium and phosphorus in the sow's diet are insufficient, the sow will use the calcium and phosphorus in the bone before and after the farrowing. Over time, it will lead to the lack of calcium and phosphorus in the sow. These conditions need to be treated separately.

3. Prevention of Calcium Deficiency in Pigs

To solve the problem of calcium deficiency in pigs, we must first understand what causes the calcium deficiency in pigs. If the low calcium content in the feed causes the pigs to lack calcium, try to increase the calcium content in the feed. If the calcium content in the feed is sufficient, consider whether the lack of calcium in pigs is due to the imbalance of the calcium and phosphorus ratio in the feed. If the pigs do not see the sun for a long time, they may be lack of vitamin D, so care should be taken to add vitamin D to the feed to avoid calcium deficiency in pigs.

The production method of feed-grade calcium formate, the main product of formic acid, as a raw material, has low impurity content and stable quality. The quality of calcium formate produced by synthesis with calcium carbonate is on a higher level.

Another key component of calcium formate used in feed is calcium content, and the general standard is ≥30%. Traditional animal calcium supplementation is to use stone powder, although it can also supplement calcium. However, long-term use of added stone powder will affect the digestion and absorption of nutrients by livestock and poultry, and even cause inflammation, resulting in a large amount of gastric acid in the intestines that will be neutralized, indirectly causing suckling piglets diarrhea, and serious stones.

As a new type of animal feed additive, feed grade calcium formate is different from the calcium source used in previous feeds. It does not require the participation of gastric acid in the process of dissolving in the animal body, and the absorption rate is better than the previous one. It can be used for young animals with imperfect gastrointestinal function. Generally, it can replace calcium formate and stone powder.

If feed calcium formate plays a good role in animals, it is still necessary to consider the key points in the production of raw materials. When using calcium formate, different uses will also focus on other factors. Feed grade calcium formate will more consider the heavy metal content, water solubility and other issues in it, so as to achieve a cost-saving and effective way of calcium supplementation.