Author Topic: Pig enclosures and rest (Read 2175 times)

white-blazes · « **on:** August 25, 2011, 10:38:29 pm »

We had our first two pigs 7 April this year, and kept them for 2 months before they went for meat 8 June (they were 4 months when we bought them).

5th August our batch of 4 arrived, 9 weeks old.

They are in a grass enclosure with plenty of grass, so are busy rooting.

How long do you keep pigs on the same enclosure for? How long a rest does it need? Should it be rotated, as in crop-growing?

Fowgill Farm · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2011, 09:38:21 am »

We generally keep weaners in their paddock for just over 4 months, we then try to give it at least 3 months rest to let grass regrow. We have also started to take pigs off the paddocks for the winter so they're getting a good 6 month rest. The last weaners normally go second week in Dec and we won't use that paddock until at least the following June/July, the other paddocks will have been emptied so they can be put back into use at Easter. Its all about rotating if you can, we rotivate and re-seed the worst paddocks so they need the six months for growth and recovery. if you can move your paddocks around its a big help and of course a regular worming programme for your herd (preferably by jab).
HTH
Mandy

white-blazes · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2011, 09:58:48 pm »

Thanks

Tiva Diva · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2011, 10:40:43 am »

We do much the same as Mandy. We re-seed our paddocks with a fast-growing grass mix with a lot of Italian ryegrass in it, which takes 2-3 months to establish between March and October. We found if we didn't re-seed they filled up with ragwort and thistles. We're on quite sloping ground, especially our winter pens, so we need to have something growing to minimise soil erosion.