If you’ve got pigs on your farm with watery stool, don’t panic. I’ll walk you through how I usually handle it, even without calling a vet. But if it goes on for more than 2 to 4 days, I do advise calling a vet—just in case it’s something more serious.
Now, when you notice pigs passing watery stool, it’s usually one of two things:
- The protein level in your feed is too high, or
- The pigs are having actual diarrhea (diarrhoea), especially the young ones.
Let me break it down in a way that’s easy to understand.
When All the Pigs Have Watery Stool: Check the Feed
If all your pigs are suddenly having watery stool, it’s most likely not an infection, because infections won’t hit all of them at once. In this case, your feed is probably too high in protein.
Let’s say you recently changed your feed formula or tried out a new ingredient someone recommended—like adding blood meal, fish meal, poultry meal, or soybean meal in large quantity. If within days the pigs start stooling watery, it’s a sign the protein percentage is too much.
A good balance of protein in pig feed is about 20% to 40%, maybe up to 50%. But if your feed is hitting 60% protein, that’s too high, and it’ll show up through loose stools.
The good news? You don’t need to throw that feed away.
The Fix: Balance It With Energy and Fibre
Here’s what I do:
Let’s say you’ve got 1000 kg of feed and it contains about 400 kg of protein-rich ingredients. That means protein is taking up almost half of the feed, which is too much.
Read also:Pig Feeding Guide: How Many Kilograms of Feed to Give Pigs Daily by Age
So you simply add more energy or fibre-based ingredients like:
- Ground maize
- Wheat bran (or wheat offal)
- Rice bran
- Maize bran
I personally like using wheat bran—it’s rich in fibre and still adds some protein, but not too much.
Let’s say you add 200 kg of wheat bran or maize to your feed. Now your feed is 1200 kg total, with protein ingredients still at 400–500 kg. That extra fibre and energy balances things out and the watery stool should stop soon after.
When Only One or Two Pigs Are Affected: It’s Diarrhea
Now, if it’s just one or two pigs out of a hundred or more, especially piglets, it’s likely diarrhea, not a feed issue.
Here’s how I treat it on the farm, without expensive drugs:
What I Use: Flagyl (Metronidazole)
On my farm, I’ve found that sometimes using Flagyl (Metronidazole), a medicine also used in humans, can help—but I always recommend consulting a vet first.
Yes, that same yellow capsule humans take for infections. It’s affordable—about ₦100 per tablet in Nigeria—and available in most pharmacies (not just vet shops).
You’ll only need about 2 to 5 tablets, depending on how many pigs are affected.
How to apply it:
- Take 2 or 3 tablets, crush them using a bottle or spoon.
- Mix the powder into dry feed—enough feed that one pig can finish.
- Add a bit of water to soften the feed. This helps the pig eat easily and aids digestion.
Or use this alternative method:
- Put the tablet in a spoon or bowl.
- Add a small amount of clean water and let it dissolve.
- Then mix it with the pig’s feed and serve.
Either way, give the feed to the pig once or twice. Within 2 days, the diarrhea should stop.
Diarrhea From Stress
Sometimes pigs develop watery stool not from sickness or feed issues, but from stress—especially if you’ve just transported them from one place to another.
If that’s the case, just make sure they’re eating well and are in a calm, clean environment. The problem should go away on its own.
One Time, I Almost Killed a Healthy Sow…
True story.
I had this big sow, very healthy. One day she started stooling. I panicked. Gave her oxytetracycline. Nothing changed. Gave her more drugs. Still no improvement.
Turns out, the water pipe was leaking into her feed trough. Feed was always wet and smelling by morning. That’s what was causing the stool.
I fixed the pipe, gave her dry feed, and within two days she was back to normal. I learned my lesson.
Moral of the story: Sometimes, it’s not inside the pig. It’s in the pen
Don’t Make These Mistakes
- Don’t rush to inject drugs the moment you see watery stool.
- Don’t forget to check your water source — dirty water causes diarrhea.
- Don’t mix different drugs out of desperation. You’ll confuse the treatment.
Final Advice
Always keep an eye on your pigs and act fast when you notice anything strange. Watery stool is common, but don’t ignore it—especially if it’s lasting more than a couple of days.
Also, make sure to review your feed formula regularly and avoid overloading protein sources. A balanced feed keeps pigs healthy and avoids unnecessary problems.
Quick Questions I Get From Farmers
Can pigs take human Flagyl?
Yes — small dose, mix in feed. I’ve used it for years. But if the stool doesn’t stop after two days, don’t guess — call a vet.
How do I know if it’s feed or infection?
If all the pigs are stooling at once, suspect feed. If it’s just one or two, especially the young ones, it’s likely infection.
Any natural solution?
Some people use charcoal powder or dry unripe plantain in the feed. It helps bind the stool. Try it if you want to avoid drugs.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on personal farm experience and is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified veterinary doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.
Got any questions or your own experience to share? Use the comment box—I’m always here to respond.