The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: sabrina on October 11, 2011, 03:21:19 am
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I use sugar beet for the ponies over the winter, can the pigs have some or would this make them too fat :)
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No problem with that, we always give them some soaked along with barley and soya/grass and just a small handfull of linseed lozenges and any cracked eggs. (that they find while rooting about)
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against the rules to give them eggs :farmer:
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As if I would..!
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that was quick :farmer:
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We feed shredded raw sugar beet to our pigs all thro winter as a supplement, its high in sugar & carbhydrate and they burn it of keeping warm and its a good filler. Toomuch will get them sloshed as it ferments in their tummies, we've done the drunken pig thing when delia got into the clamp and scoffed a load!! : ;D
HTH
Mandy :pig:
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I use sugar beet too. I have found that the sows refuse it once they've farrowed though.
I use about 20% for growers - it helps sweeten the meat. I believe that if you use too much that to 'goes to the belly'.
Theres a good guide that you can link to from this page http://www.britishpigs.org/feeds.htm (http://www.britishpigs.org/feeds.htm) by Professor Sandra Edwards of Newcastle University has produced a handbook for feeding organic pigs which has recommendations on the use of Silage, Sugar Beet, Potatoes, Brewers Grains etc.
:wave:
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I understand in the States they put it in the ice box and cool it down and give it to the pigs in the summer time to help keep them cool :farmer:
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Looked at the vitamin ratio on a bag of sugar beet here in France and it was 6% amd at 15euros a sack I didnt think it was advantageous at all. Anyone else have any thoughts - and what price in UK
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I pay about £5 for a 25kg bag of dried shreds which the horse and sheep get. I may start to give the pigs some in the morning for breakfast as well as the rest of the rabble.
Mine get apples in autumn but I do like to vary what they get to stop them getting bored they love to come and rootle around the veg garden when I am clearing it (using electric fence to keep them away from the polytunnel and chickens as they raid the coups for eggs).
My girls come into the stables when the weather gets wet as the paddock gets far too water logged for them to be comfortable (yes they are pampered pigs) so a bit of variety at meal times I think will help through the long winter days indoors.
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I use sugar beet too. I have found that the sows refuse it once they've farrowed though.
I use about 20% for growers - it helps sweeten the meat. I believe that if you use too much that to 'goes to the belly'.
Theres a good guide that you can link to from this page http://www.britishpigs.org/feeds.htm (http://www.britishpigs.org/feeds.htm) by Professor Sandra Edwards of Newcastle University has produced a handbook for feeding organic pigs which has recommendations on the use of Silage, Sugar Beet, Potatoes, Brewers Grains etc.
:wave:
What a very interesting guide, Violet - thanks. I see you can use a number of feedstuffs that I was previously told you could not ;D
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We buy sugar beet in its straight out the ground state (looks like big turnips) one of our neighbours (next farm but one) buys in about 200 tons (10 wagon loads) for his overwintering stock and in return for a few sausages and £20 in an Xmas card i just go and help myself, normally take a couple of feed bags full at a time and shred.
Pigs love it.
Mandy :pig:
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Mandy, how do you shred it, does it involve special kit ? ???
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When we bought the farm 7 years ago we inherited a shed full of Junk, amongst the junk was a shredder.
see this one on e-bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Beet-Turnip-Shredder-/140617469189?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item20bd744d05 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Beet-Turnip-Shredder-/140617469189?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item20bd744d05)
ours is exactly same.
hth Mandy :pig:
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£250 they are having a giraffe need to start buying them old turnip pulpers
BB if you are not doing a lot you can cut them with a spade :farmer:
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I know Robert i nearly fell off my chair! and that ones not even working, mines a bit scruffier but with a lick of paint it'd be worth who knows :o
glad didn't have to buy it.
Mandy :pig:
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what do you need a shredder for i just chop my whole beet etc in 2 or 3 pieces and they chew it like apples. keeps them busy and it all goes
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When we bought the farm 7 years ago we inherited a shed full of Junk, amongst the junk was a shredder.
see this one on e-bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Beet-Turnip-Shredder-/140617469189?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item20bd744d05 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Beet-Turnip-Shredder-/140617469189?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item20bd744d05)
ours is exactly same.
hth Mandy :pig:
dont know that I have ever seen one till now...... interesting :)
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Blimey £250 I think I will try the spade method first. :D
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I never knew they could have sugar beet, we also buy it in for the horses over winter and as the pigs aren't going for another 6 weeks, we'll give them some too to help them on their way :)
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I can't seem to get sugar beet shreds anywhere here (Sussex) I can get sugar beet cubes from the saddlery. Are these the same things and are they still safe for my pigs and sheep does anybody know?
Thanks
Mx
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yes they are a similar product just in a different form :farmer:
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We use the pellets, 24 hour soak, only because I use it for the horses so it's soaking for me anyway.
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I give our pigs shredded beet flakes ..
the feed store didn't stock it over the summer, saying they couldn't get it wholesale??
I like to "keep it in" for after farrowing & goat-kidding, as its full of energy, and if an animal is "off" then the juice ie molassed water makes a good lucozade!!
and its British grown, GM free
I find it doesn't seem to fill the pigs up though - they need pig meal or flakes too.