The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: holz306 on April 27, 2012, 10:25:23 am

Title: This may be a dumb question
Post by: holz306 on April 27, 2012, 10:25:23 am: Guys, this may be a very stupid question - but somebody asked me, and i didn't know the answer, because i have only until now researched what i need to feed them in order for them to gain the appropriate amount of weight to fill my freezer!....

How much of a pigs diet/requirements do they get from what they're rooting up in the ground?

Obviously assuming the pigs have plenty of space to move around where they want to.
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: Berkshire Boy on April 27, 2012, 10:30:51 am: Very little. If you see boar that live in the wild they are pretty thin and slow growing. The rooting side is more a chance to do what comes naturally and they rely on us feeding them to put on any real growth.
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: robert waddell on April 27, 2012, 10:31:26 am: well the person that knows that knows the lottery numbers before they are drawn
given plenty of space and not restricted pigs will survive how well they grow is another matter they need protein to produce pork :farmer:
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: holz306 on April 27, 2012, 10:48:08 am: ha ha robert - thats pretty much what i said, but i thought someone would know a more definitive answer than me lol i kind of thought i was having a blonde moment but maybe not ;D
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: HappyHippy on April 27, 2012, 01:35:00 pm: When they're growing (from weaning to pork weight) the two 'rules of thumb' are usually
1) 1lb of pig nuts per month of age up to a maximum of 6lbs (or slightly less depending on the breed)
2) As much as they can eat in 15-20 minutes.

If you want to replace some of their rations with fruit and veg you can - build it up gradually though ;)
1lb of pig nuts is equivalent to 4lbs of fruit & veg and you shouldn't give them less than 50% pig nuts in their daily ration.

Kunekunes are completely different though, so if you change to them at some point in the future - feed MUCH less ;D
HTH
Karen :wave:
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: holz306 on April 27, 2012, 02:11:44 pm: Oh i wasn't wondering how much to feed them - got that one sorted i think, i was just curious about how much they get from rooting around ;D
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: HappyHippy on April 27, 2012, 02:48:38 pm: :dunce: ::)
Sorry ! ;D
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: holz306 on April 27, 2012, 07:30:53 pm: ha, it was the way i worded it i think ::) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: This may be a dumb question
Post by: little blue on April 27, 2012, 09:04:30 pm: its part of their enrichment .... getting dirty snouts, just to wipe on you when you go near! (or is that just my daft devils?!)