Sarnap Farm

13/10/2026

Feeding Pigs with Dried Banana and Plantain Leaves
Did you know that dried banana and plantain leaves can be used as supplementary roughage for pigs?
Yes! They can be offered in small quantities, but they should never replace a balanced pig feed, especially for growing and fattening pigs.
What benefits can they provide?
1. Source of Fibre
Banana and plantain leaves contain fibre, which can contribute to the roughage in a pig's diet. However, pigs cannot digest large amounts of fibrous material efficiently.
2. Small Amounts of Nutrients
The leaves may contain small amounts of minerals and other plant compounds, but their nutritional value varies depending on the plant and drying method.
3. Potential to Supplement Available Feed Ingredients
Where banana and plantain leaves are readily available, they may provide an additional feed resource. However, do not assume that they will significantly reduce feeding costs without considering their nutritional value and the pigs' growth performance.
4. Low Energy and Protein Content
These leaves are generally low in digestible energy and protein compared with balanced pig feed. Feeding too much may reduce the intake of more nutritious feed and slow growth.
How should you feed them?
1. Collect clean leaves: Avoid leaves contaminated with pesticides, chemicals, animal waste or other pollutants.
2. Dry properly: Dry the leaves in a clean, well-ventilated place. Discard any leaves with mould or a bad smell.
3. Chop into small pieces: This can make them easier to mix with other feed ingredients.
4. Introduce gradually: Start with a small quantity and observe whether the pigs eat it and maintain normal growth.
5. Maintain balanced feeding: Ensure the pigs receive adequate energy, protein, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Important: Dried banana and plantain leaves are not a complete pig feed. Do not use them as a major ingredient in piglet, grower or finisher rations without proper nutritional formulation.
Fellow pig farmers, have you tried feeding your pigs dried banana or plantain leaves?
Share your experience in the comments. Let's learn from one another and improve our pig-farming practices.
👍 Follow, like and share this post to help other pig farmers!

09/10/2026

Why pigs don’t consume Awolowo leave (Chromolaena Odorata)
Pigs may refuse to eat Awolowo w**d, or independence w**d because of its strong smell, bitter taste, and natural chemical compounds.
Why pigs may not eat awolowo w**d
1. Strong smell and bitter taste
The leaves have a distinctive smell and taste that may make pigs reject them, especially when they are fresh.
2. Natural plant chemicals
Awolowo leaves contains biologically active compounds, including essential oils, flavonoids and other secondary plant chemicals. These may affect its palatability and potentially its safety when consumed in significant quantities.
3. Pigs are selective eaters
Although pigs are omnivores, they do not automatically eat every green plant. They may reject unfamiliar plants or plants whose smell and texture they dislike.
4. Previous feeding experience
If pigs have never eaten awolowo w**d before, they may be reluctant to try it. However, refusal alone does not establish whether a plant is safe or poisonous.

07/10/2026

Feeding Bitter Leaves To Pigs.
Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) can be fed to pigs, but it should be treated as a supplementary green feed, not a replacement for a balanced pig ration.

Possible benefits
•Provides fibre and some vitamins/minerals.
•Contains plant compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
•Can add variety to the diet, especially where green feed is readily available.
•Some farmers use bitter leaf traditionally when pigs have poor appetite, although this is not the same as a proven treatment for disease or worms.

05/10/2026

From just 50 followers to over 1,000 followers!
Thank you so much to everyone who has followed, liked, commented, shared, and supported my content.
Your support means a lot to me and motivates me to keep sharing practical knowledge, experiences, and lessons from pig farming.
We are growing together! 🙏
1,000+ followers and counting!
Thank you for being part of the journey. Let’s keep farming, learning, and growing together!

29/09/2026

Health benefit of feeding pigs with pawpaw stem
Pawpaw (papaya) stem/stalk can be offered to pigs, but it should be treated as a supplementary plant material, not as a major feed ingredient.
Benefits
•Fibre: The stem contains fibre that can support normal gut movement, although pigs cannot digest large amounts of fibrous material efficiently.
•Plant compounds: Pawpaw contains various bioactive compounds, and papaya plants have traditionally been investigated for antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties. However, evidence that feeding pawpaw stem actually prevents worms or disease in pigs is limited.
•Moisture: Fresh stem contains considerable water, which can contribute a little to the pig's overall fluid intake.
•Feed diversification: Small amounts can add variety when locally available.
Please note that the stem is not nutritionally equivalent to pawpaw fruit or leaves. It is relatively bulky and fibrous, so feeding too much can reduce the amount of balanced feed a pig consumes and may slow growth.

If you want to use it, I suggest you:
1.Use young, clean stems, free from pesticides or chemicals.
2.Chop them into small pieces.
3.Introduce gradually.
4.Give them alongside a properly balanced maize/PKC/soy/concentrate ration.
5.Don't rely on pawpaw stem as a dewormer or treatment for disease.

28/09/2026

Heavy downpour of rain these days has lead to many areas being flooded. Which has affected many farms. If your pig farm is flooded ,please do the below to save you investment.
1. Move the pigs to a dry temporary area.
2.Remove contaminated water.
3.Remove Mud and Manure.4.
Clean and Disinfect the affected area.
5.Keep feed and drinking water clean.

17/09/2026

IF YOU ARE WEIGHING YOUR PIGS BEFORE SALE, WATCH OUT!

Especially if you are weighing your pigs at the buyer’s place, you need to be very careful.
Many farmers do not have weighing scales, so they use tape measurements and later convert the measurements to estimated kilograms.
But here is the question: Who is recording the measurements—you or the buyer?
If you allow the buyer to take down the measurements, you may have entered “one chance.”
The safest thing to do is to let your own farmhand take down all the measurements while the buyer watches.
Record:
✅ Girth measurement
✅ Length measurement
✅ Estimated weight in kg
✅ Number of pigs measured
Do not allow anybody to secretly change or reduce the figures.
Your pigs are your investment. Know the measurements and know the weight before you agree on the price.
No scale? Measure properly. Record it yourself. Protect your money.
Farmers, please share this with another pig farmer.

10/09/2026

To boost pig growth, focus on five things: good feed, enough protein, clean water, health, and a comfortable environment

04/09/2026

School resumes next Monday.

Many parents will understand exactly what that means.
New class.
New books.
New uniforms.
New shoes.
Sometimes, even a new school.
And guess what? Everything costs money—and things are expensive!
So, many farmers are under pressure and desperate to cash out fast-fast.
But as you hustle to sell your pigs, poultry, crops, or other farm produce to meet those school expenses, please remember to check your blood pressure.
You need to be alive and healthy to see your children go to school.
You also need to be alive to continue feeding and caring for those beloved animals you have worked so hard to raise.
Don't let school fees pressure turn into a health crisis.
One step at a time.
One sale at a time.
One day at a time.
May God provide for every parent and every hardworking farmer trying to make ends meet.
Shalom.

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01/09/2026

Causes and Treatment of Boils in Pigs

Boils in pigs are usually localized skin infections or abscesses. They can begin when bacteria enter through a small wound, scratch, insect bite, fighting injury, or injection site. The area may become firm, swollen, painful and eventually fill with pus. Not every lump on a pig is a true boil. Abscesses, injection-site reactions, cysts, hernias, tumors, and other conditions can look similar.

Common causes
1.Bacterial infection – bacteria such as Staphylococcus and other bacteria can cause abscess formation.
2.Fighting and biting – wounds caused by pigs fighting can become infected.
3.Cuts and scratches – sharp edges, rough flooring or damaged pen surfaces can injure the skin.
4.Poor pen hygiene – dirty, wet environments increase bacterial contamination.
5.Insect bites and parasites – damaged skin can provide an entry point for bacteria.
6.Overcrowding – increases fighting, injuries and contamination.
7.Poor nutrition or stress – may weaken the pig's ability to fight infection.
8.Injection-site infection – poor sanitation, contaminated equipment or incorrect injection technique can produce an abscess.

Treatment of a small boil
If the pig is active, eating normally and has only one small localized swelling:
•Keep the pig away from aggressive pigs if necessary.
•Keep the pen clean, dry and well ventilated.
•Gently clean the affected skin.
•Use an appropriate antiseptic such as diluted povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine according to the product instructions.
•Apply a warm compress for about 10–15 minutes, 2–3 times daily.
•Do not squeeze, cut or repeatedly puncture the swelling yourself. A deep abscess may require proper drainage by a veterinarian.
•Do not inject antibiotics or other drugs simply because there is a lump; the correct treatment depends on the cause and severity.

If the boil has burst
•Let it drain rather than forcing out the contents.
•Gently clean the opening with an appropriate antiseptic.
•Keep sawdust/bedding, dirt and manure away from the wound.
•Check the pig every day.
•Watch for increasing swelling, continued heavy pus discharge, foul smell,