Author Topic: Another newbie - feeding concerns  (Read 5295 times)

Diane Fitz

  • Joined Apr 2012
Another newbie - feeding concerns
« on: April 13, 2012, 11:12:22 am »
Hi all - another newbie here. I have pair english middlewhite gilts (4months old) who have been worry-free until yesterday when they were listless and disinterested in anything - not like them. Some local pensioners feed them leftover bread & rock cakes, peelings and put grasscuttings in their run.  I wondered if theres anything they should NOT be given - would they be listless if overfed? Should I put a sign up?  Someone said one was frothing at the mouth yesterday when eating, but there was no sign of this at morning feed today, although they were still quiety and lacking spirit. Should I worry? Any advice very welcome? DiFi

robert waddell

  • Guest
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2012, 11:17:01 am »
where in the world are you  has it been very sunny    have they got plenty of water   are they sunburnt   they can get sunstoke/salt poisoning from not enough water      kitchen waste should not be fed to pigs and poultry it is illegal and can be the cause of foot and mouth disease    if it is any of the above it does not look good for your pigs :farmer:

Diane Fitz

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2012, 11:35:35 am »
Thanks for advice - its really only veg peelings, bread & cake, nothing that has been cooked or near meat etc and nothing I wouldnt eat myself... but the water is a thought.  They have an old sink which has a bucket of clean water every day put in, but always looks bit muddy as they sometimes stand in it.  We are in Warwickshire, it has been sunny but not hot this week - lots of showers so dont think theyre sunburnt at the mo.

robert waddell

  • Guest
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2012, 11:46:31 am »
different pigs take different amounts of water it will surprise you just how many gallons of water they need per day  5-10 gallons just for drinking :farmer:

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2012, 12:02:12 pm »
Thanks for advice - its really only veg peelings, bread & cake, nothing that has been cooked or near meat etc and nothing I wouldnt eat myself...
I'm sorry if this offends, but as Robert's said - it's illegal - if it's been in a kitchen you shouldn't feed it ;)
I would try to explain to the local pensioners (without upsetting them) that all the laws have changed relating to feeding pigs and put up some signs to discourage folk from this practice as you'll never know what they've been fed. Obviously it's your choice, but ultimately your pigs = your responsibility  :-\

The grass clippings might be causing them problems - I know it's not great to feed them to sheep, horses etc especially if it's been cut for a while. Have they eaten their normal breakfast ? If they have I wouldn't worry overly, but if they've not eaten I would check their temperatures just to be on the safe side  :thumbsup:
Let us know how you get on,
Karen  :wave:

MAK

  • Joined Nov 2011
  • Middle ish of France
    • Cadeaux de La forge
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2012, 12:26:32 pm »
Robert - pigs and water? I always bow to your knowledge and experience but
5-10 gallons of water a day/pig ?????
I guess it depends upon what you feed them - dehydrated nuts must require a fair bit of water to get down and mix in the gut.
Mine would not take water from an old sink. When it was very warm and they stayed inside they had nearly every fruit and nut you can think of but still little water taken from their their indoor trough. Although they passed a good stream of urine It concerned me how little they drank. In Autumn I would add as much water as I could get away with to their bucket of cooked spuds, veg and flour. But if I attempted to top it up with more than 2/3 of a bucket they did not bother with it. The very few times that I gave them just nuts they would run inside for some water though.
They seemed happy and the meat is good so I guess the amount of water depends on diet, climate and breed ( I had Culn Noir) and like the rest of France they take in very little fluids.
 
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robert waddell

  • Guest
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2012, 12:53:35 pm »
it is Hampshire's that take that amount of water       they do  drink a lot compared to Tamworth's and the lops
we have a boar and a sow running together with two troughs and from carrying water in the winter 4 gallons does not fill each one and they were getting both filled up when it was sunny here they are now on the mains so could not now check to quantify :farmer:

nelson

  • Joined Jan 2011
    • lelogisfrance
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2012, 01:44:11 pm »
 :wave:

Sounds like the MWs have a tummy ache :-\ . If what they were given by the pensioners is not something they are use to - if it were me I would make make sure they have plenty of water, and have a kind word with the pensioners.

Our Berkshires here in France drink a lot of water. My Tamworth doesn't seem to , or the OSBs. A quick calculation of about approx 10 gallons between 3 Berkshires - plus when it is hot the water for the wallow. As MAK said they need the water as they are fed a commercial pig nuts. My sows also take on extra water when feeding.

oaklandspigs

  • Joined Nov 2009
  • East Sussex
    • OaklandsPigs
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2012, 02:08:11 pm »
Robert - pigs and water? I always bow to your knowledge and experience but
5-10 gallons of water a day/pig ?????

Yes it's surprising how much they can drink.

From an article on the Pigsite By Michael C. Brumm, Extension Swine Specialist, Northeast Research and Extension Center. Nebraska Swine Report 2006  (not sure how an extension swine specialst differs from one on a normal lead!)
"In times of heat stress, grow-finish pigs alter their water usage pattern with a peak between 8 to 9 a.m. and second peak around 5 to 8 p.m. Daily drinking water needs for pigs range ftom less than 0. 5 gallpiglday for newly weaned pigs to greater than 1.5 gallpig1dayfor growfinish pigs using nipple drinkers. Water requirements for breeding swine rangefrom 3 to 4, galldayfor gestatingfemales and 6 galldayfor lactating swine."

and this one from a comercial site quotes 5-7 gallons for a sow in a "thermoneutral environment and ideal conditions"
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extension/healthyhogs/book1995/almond.htm



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Fowgill Farm

  • Joined Feb 2009
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2012, 09:02:11 pm »
Diane
Echo what the others have said, you say english middlewhites which suggests you're not in UK?
regardless of where you are your pigs needs a 2 gallonbucket of water each twice a day at the least more in hit weather and a wallow. Water deprivation is an extremely serious and not to be seen death of an animal from salt poisoning. Reveiew your water habits immediately and ask you rpensioners to give you the food first so you can check it over and bin if necessary.
HTH
mandy :pig:

Diane Fitz

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2012, 05:03:09 pm »
Thanks everyone for kind suggestions - they seem fine but one was frothing again at morning feed time today. I don't think they're short of water as its never less than half full and we experimented offering clean water in different ways but they were just playful with ME rather than wanting the water. 
I called them English Middlewhites because that's what it says on my breeder & delivery paperwork - although I noticed I put gilts on my posting when I meant 'girls'!   sorry that was a typo caused by excessive reading of pigsites! 
I asked the nearby 'pig fanclub' to put the food into a plastic tub I left by the tap so I could review it first as suggested, so far only; cabbage leaves, carrots, fruit cake and bread has appeared. I plan to monitor their intake much more carefully now.
Thanks again to everyone who responded.

Berkshire Boy

  • Joined May 2011
  • Presteigne, Powys
Re: Another newbie - feeding concerns
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2012, 07:47:36 pm »
[quote 
I asked the nearby 'pig fanclub' to put the food into a plastic tub I left by the tap so I could review it first as suggested, so far only; cabbage leaves, carrots, fruit cake and bread has appeared. I plan to monitor their intake much more carefully now.
[/quote]

All of which will be illegal if it has come from their kitchens.
Everyone makes mistakes as the Dalek said climbing off the dustbin.

 

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