The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Dundonald hens on August 29, 2010, 09:20:05 am

Title: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Dundonald hens on August 29, 2010, 09:20:05 am
I folks I have got my first 2 pigs was a bit of a expedition with the baby and the 2 of them in the back of a suzuki wagon r but we made it the babay was oinking by the time we got home !!
I get the chance of horse feeding now and then mainly racehorse feeding cubes,coursemix oats etc do you think this would be ok to feed to pigs instead of buying pig feeding ???
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: shetlandpaul on August 29, 2010, 11:04:45 am
no. plus the horse stuff is more expensive. the pig stuff has the right mix for pigs the horse stuff is only a sup feed for horses. we pay 7 quid for pig food and 8 plus for horse cool mix.
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Fowgill Farm on August 29, 2010, 11:32:55 am
Agree Shetland paul, don't give horse mix to pigs. It hasn't got the right protein in it to make your pigs fatten and as he says horse feed is more expensive. Here in N Yorks you can buy good quality pig feed from the local ag merchant for around £6.50/bag (25kg) 16% protein sow/weaner nuts.
We found the horses will eat pig nuts they love a handful as a treat, i always have pig nuts in my jacket pocket and they nuzzle like billio for some if i'm passing their fence after feed ing the pigs.
Watch out as well that pigs and horses don't generally get on too well. Horses are often spooked by them and my boar and our labrador love chasing the horses down the length of the fence for fun!! :)
Enjoy your piggies
Best Mandy
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Mr Pig on August 29, 2010, 12:19:17 pm
Horses hate pigs!
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Helencus on August 29, 2010, 12:43:21 pm
Lol good photo. My horses have no problem at all with the pigs. They quite happily pop heads over the fence and go muzzle to snout :-)
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Dundonald hens on September 02, 2010, 10:37:31 pm
I may not have said this right I get horse feed for FREE ! and its sports nuts or course mix with a 15- 16% protien level
I have tried my piggys on it and they seem to love it matter a fact i think they have grown evry day lol
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: daniellestocks on September 02, 2010, 11:24:48 pm
my horses live quite hapily witht he pigs too  ;) we even have a pony that grooms a pig lol
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: littlemisspiggy! on September 02, 2010, 11:54:18 pm
i get pegasus cubes cheap from a supplier and alot of people feed their pigs it round here,i mix it with an oatmeal type pellet(for pigs) for my kune kune's as im not trying to fatten them,i find it fits the bill for them just nicely..i do however feed 'sow and weaner' to my breeding stock and its only £6.50 for 20kg's as its the right feed for the job.. :pig:
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: shetlandpaul on September 03, 2010, 08:42:10 am
what about the vit levels and minerals. the expert pig people will be able to say what a pig needs more or less of than a horse. but if its free or cheap your a very lucky person. it may be worth looking at adding the vits. if they have a grass run or soil i imagine its not going to be a big deal.
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: c day on September 03, 2010, 09:40:45 am
our pig feed just jumped up 1.60   and we are now paying 9.10 euro for 25 kg bags we using a bag a day so it aint cheap.
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 04, 2010, 08:37:33 am
9.10 for a 25 kilo bag thats extortionate.  Where are you?
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: c day on September 04, 2010, 08:59:06 am
We are based in co donegal ireland, makes you want to get out of pig keeping, i think they are talking of another rise in feed next month due to russian wheat export ban, irish farmers are getting a higher price per ton of wheat, its very hard to sell stock here at the moment as the market is flooded and we are in an isolated part of the county,
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Daisys Mum on September 04, 2010, 11:29:16 am

I am now paying £8 for a 20kg bag of pig grower, this has gone up from £7.45 last month.
Title: Re: Pigs eating horse feed
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 04, 2010, 07:51:34 pm
Mine has gone up 2c. per kilo bringing a bag to 5 euros for 25kg.  I suppose I am lucky, although am cutting back the herd fearing a big rise in feed costs during the winter.