The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Pigglewiggle on January 04, 2010, 01:26:56 pm

Title: Pig not growing ??
Post by: Pigglewiggle on January 04, 2010, 01:26:56 pm
Hi,

 Happy New Year to all,

  We have 6 piggies all now 13 weeks old, 2 middle whites and 4 GOS. One of the GOS boys does not appear to be growing much, he is much smaller than the others. He always seems to be earing his fair share when we are there, he charges out of the ark with the others when we turn up.
 They are on 3lb's of food a day each, they have been wormed, we use the granulated stuff, VERM-X is it.

 I did wonder if maybe he had diahorrea as he had a mucky tail ?? but other than that he seems fine..
 Any ideas what may be wrong (if anything).

 Thanks Debbie
Title: Re: Pig not growing ??
Post by: doganjo on January 04, 2010, 07:24:51 pm
I think you need to watch him  more closely.  One of my pups weighed in at birth as number 2, but at 5 weeks he was down to number 4 (out of 5).  I watched every meal for a while and noticed he was being pushed out by teh biggest one and wasn't fighting for food and was apparently a sensitive dog.  I took him out to feed separately but he still wasn't making much headway - didn't seem interested in food.  So I wormed them and within 3 hours - yes, three hours, he was pushing in for his food, and hasn't looked back.  He left today at 4.5 kgs - the same weight as two of the others.  The others two are 6 kgs and 5.5 kgs.  I know nothing about pigs, but your one could be sensitive or do they need worming at that age?
Title: Re: Pig not growing ??
Post by: dixie on January 05, 2010, 09:05:44 am
Hi if he's eating properly, been wormed and is lively and alert with no obvious problems apart from size I shouldnt worry too much, some do grow at different rates. Was he the runt? has he always been bit smaller? keep an eye on him, try measuring his girth weekly, rather than compare to the others as long as he's growing then he should be fine.
Title: Re: Pig not growing ??
Post by: Pigglewiggle on January 06, 2010, 10:35:56 am
Hi,

 We got some Panomec from the vets this morning, have given it to him, so will keep an eye on him. Hope this works if not we will get the vet to have a look at him.

 Debbie