The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Browntea on September 11, 2012, 09:48:49 pm

Title: Guilt in pig feed questions....
Post by: Browntea on September 11, 2012, 09:48:49 pm

Well at last we have our Berkshire girl in pig! A friend came over and scanned her his guess is about 5 weeks in, at the moment she gets her standard feed plus a few tit bits ie peelings, when do I up her food?  And to what amount? I seem to remember when I worked on a unit that we upped feed a few weeks before farrowing but not sure and I don't want to get it wrong been our first litter.....so excited!!!!

Thanks

Title: Re: Guilt in pig feed questions....
Post by: Beewyched on September 11, 2012, 11:08:15 pm

Congratulation are due  :thumbsup:
Berkshire Boy is probably the best person to answer breed specific questions.  I only keep KKs & I do not give them any extra feed until after they've farrowed (& then I do it gradually) - extra fat can cause birthing problems ... someone with more knowledge of the breed will be here soon, I'm sure  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Guilt in pig feed questions....
Post by: Berkshire Boy on September 12, 2012, 07:54:24 am

Hi Browntea,
I usually bring my sows in to farrow and that is when I up the feed. I aim to bring them in a week before unless they are struggling in mud and up the food but only by a couple of pound a day.
Once they have farrowed I up it gradually over the first week, their feed plus 1lb per piglet per day. I use farrowing as a good time to get a bit of weight off the sow before she goes back to the boar. :thumbsup:

Title: Re: GILT in pig feed questions....
Post by: Tudful Tamworths on September 13, 2012, 03:45:31 pm

I up the feed a fortnight before farrowing - that's the time when the piglets are putting on most weight.

Title: Re: Guilt in pig feed questions....
Post by: Browntea on September 15, 2012, 03:13:24 am

Thanks for your replies, fingers crossed for a healthy litter :)