The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: egglady on September 06, 2011, 12:53:15 pm

Title: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: egglady on September 06, 2011, 12:53:15 pm
it would seem that my pigs adore goats milk...judging by the way they DEVOURED the bread i had soaked it in!

so i'm thinking that i'll give them some of my excess milk from time to time, but not sure what kind of container to put it in.  there won't be enough to put it into their normal drinking bucket so was just wondering what people use?

and presumably i need two of whatever or they will fight?
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: OhLaLa on September 06, 2011, 01:00:42 pm
Something heavy or they will just knock it over - an old stone sink if you have one would do the job, but if it was me I wouldn't feed them milk - in my experience it causes scour.

 :pig:
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: egglady on September 06, 2011, 01:02:28 pm
thanks ohlala, i've read quite a few posts about feeding milk and i think the general thought is not to overdo it or else it does cause scour.  i dont have much in the way of excess tbh, so it would only be a wee drop once or twice a week as a treat...and cos i cant abide wasting anything !
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: little blue on September 06, 2011, 07:03:10 pm
assuming it hasn't passed through your kitchen & therefore abiding by DEFRA regs...

soak their feed in it - either separates, meal or pellets will take up the milk.

as an occassional treat it should be ok.

better still, make cheese & give them the whey
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: egglady on September 06, 2011, 07:08:14 pm
assuming it hasn't passed through your kitchen & therefore abiding by DEFRA regs...

soak their feed in it - either separates, meal or pellets will take up the milk.

as an occassional treat it should be ok.

better still, make cheese & give them the whey

the whey was used for making the bestest ever (apparently!!) scones ever tasted in these here parts....lol
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 06, 2011, 08:15:36 pm
Meg gets waste dairy product, mostly whey but the odd bit of milk (end of jug, old milk when I've just got loads of new, etc.)  She was brought up with whey as a significant part of her diet and she loves it more than anything, even bananas.  Milk she likes but not as much as whey - at first she wouldn't drink milk because it wasn't whey but she's got the hang of it now.

Because she knows what it is and loves it so much, there's no worry about a non-tippy container, it's been drunk with complete concentration within less then a minute!  But when she has company I suppose I will have to think about two troughs...  It wasn't a problem with Gaby, she preferred the nuts and wasn't a great fan of whey.
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: egglady on September 06, 2011, 08:33:29 pm
thanks sally...i take it meg is a pig and not a person?
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 06, 2011, 08:34:44 pm
thanks sally...i take it meg is a pig and not a person?

I'm not sure what answer she would give, but yes, she's Meg-pig.   ;D
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: welshlass181 on September 06, 2011, 09:22:50 pm
I mix the meal in with powder milk :) they lap it up and the piglets love it
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: ballingall on September 06, 2011, 11:16:48 pm
We just used to pour it in their trough with their pig nuts and they would devour it nearly as quick as it got poured in. If you plan to feed a fair amount of milk you need to introduce it gradually.


Beth
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: egglady on September 07, 2011, 09:11:34 am
thanks everyone :)
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: robert waddell on September 09, 2011, 10:14:40 am
the last poster what the france are you slaverring about      what has gouf to do with feeding pigs milk
ps   if dan removes the last post could he please indicate to that effect (saves me from looking like a random numptie) :farmer:
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: Berkshire Boy on September 09, 2011, 10:34:21 am
Robert I presume Dan thinks you deserve to look like a right numpty  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: robert waddell on September 09, 2011, 10:40:19 am
now my post looks like it is directed at laura    no no no  and the post counter is correct as well  if it had skipped one it would be more obvious
ah well i have broad shoulders         it could be interesting when i eventually get to meet dan :farmer:
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: egglady on September 09, 2011, 12:25:35 pm
poor Robert  ;D
Title: Re: Feeding pigs milk
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 09, 2011, 12:49:35 pm
Robert I presume Dan thinks you deserve to look like a right numpty  ;D ;D ;D

 ;D ;D ;D