[NickPickford]

Hi
I have just got a Sow a Boar and four 2 month old weaners to graze/root around my 3 acres of steep woodland (I mean bracken !) for a few months
I want them to give it a good rooting so want to keep them fairly keen
I just wondered how much feed I should put down for them - I have sow/weaner nuts currently which I feed once a day around 6 pm
any thoughts on how much to put down would be appreciated ?
Thanks
Nick

[harmony]

Are you running everything together? If so that is not ideal for feeding? You can't feed them less to make them root more. Also they wont clear three acres without you enclosing them in smaller areas then giving them more as they clear a patch. Wild pigs supplement their diet by rooting for worms, insects, roots etc but would also eat meat by cleaning up dead animals so balance their diet. You can't replicate that.


If you don't feed them enough then they are more likely to knock you over when you go in with the feed you are giving them, than root faster or deeper.


They will not graze bracken back and there is s risk of bracken poisoning. Pigs going to slaughter should be removed from bracken areas 15 days before slaughter according to AHVLA.


What are your long term plans for these pigs?

[NickPickford]

Hi thanks - very much appreciated
It's interesting to get totally conflicting advice from two different sources
Plans are to send the weaners back to owner in October / Nov and to keep the sow/boar and any new offspring till the spring when they will probably all go back
What would your thoughts be on volume of compound feed per day ? Feeding large and small pigs  in different areas
Thanks again
Nick

[harmony]

Conflicting advice on feeding or clearing bracken?


An adult pig needs no more than 6lb a day. Weaners can be fed on an ad lib system or given a ration based around 1lb per day per month of age eg. 2 month old weaner 2lbs per day.  Having said all that feeding is not an exact science and you need to condition score your animals often.


I have not kept this breed of pig but I believe they are fatty so someone who keeps them may offer more tailored advice on feeding this breed.


Are you just borrowing the weaners then? Were they this sow's litter? She should have been back in season within a week of weaning so she could well be in pig now.

[Marches Farmer]

Assuming the sow is back in pig she'll need more feed than the boar, especially as she approaches farrowing.  WiIl you be able to split them?  They will need decent housing through the Winter and a supply of water that doesn't freeze up.  I've never kept Mangalitzas but understand they finish slowly but need very careful feeding not to acquire a thick layer of fat.  Too much woody material ingested by weaners can lead to impaction in the gut, which can kill.  If they're hungry due to being fed only once a day then they may well fill up on greenery.

[harmony]

I never increase a sows feed on the approach to farrowing. As sows approach farrowing they utilise their ration more efficiently and unless they were thin or losing body condition they shouldn't need more. They certainly need an increasing ration after rationing.

[NickPickford]

The conflicting advice was about both - the other said let them roam the whole 3acres and don't split it and on the feeding they advised to keep them a little hungry
Hey ho - you pays yer money and takes your choice !
Thank you all for your comments
Nick

[harmony]

You are always going to get conflicting views and often there are different ways of doing something and different things work for different people.


You want to clear a large area with a small number and it wont happen.


Keeping an animal hungry is in my opinion breaking your obligation to ensure an animal has freedom from hunger.

[Charlie1234]

Theres a couple called Stuart + Angela from Ceredigion,Mid Wales that have Mangalitsas
Think they are on Facebook under Brynheulog rare breeds + Butchery.
Might be worth a look,you might be able to pick their brains.

[Marches Farmer]

I never increase a sows feed on the approach to farrowing. As sows approach farrowing they utilise their ration more efficiently and unless they were thin or losing body condition they shouldn't need more. They certainly need an increasing ration after rationing.

I used to do it that way, then I got to thinking about the way we feed our sheep and decided to try gradually increasing the feed as farrowing date approached.  The caveat about feeding seemed to be based on the premise that more feed puts on fat which makes for farrowing difficulties.  I decided to try ramping up the feed on the basis that at that point in the pregnancy it would all go into the piglets.  Result (which may, I acknowledge, have been a fluke) was the best litter we've ever had, with the gilt having 12 strapping piglets in less than two hours, and piglets making their own way to the teat within three minutes of birth. All 12 survived and thrived and are now weaned.  I shall be trying this one again.

[harmony]

I never increase a sows feed on the approach to farrowing. As sows approach farrowing they utilise their ration more efficiently and unless they were thin or losing body condition they shouldn't need more. They certainly need an increasing ration after rationing.

I used to do it that way, then I got to thinking about the way we feed our sheep and decided to try gradually increasing the feed as farrowing date approached.  The caveat about feeding seemed to be based on the premise that more feed puts on fat which makes for farrowing difficulties.  I decided to try ramping up the feed on the basis that at that point in the pregnancy it would all go into the piglets.  Result (which may, I acknowledge, have been a fluke) was the best litter we've ever had, with the gilt having 12 strapping piglets in less than two hours, and piglets making their own way to the teat within three minutes of birth. All 12 survived and thrived and are now weaned.  I shall be trying this one again.

My understanding was that overfeeding before farrowing increased the chance of farrowing fever and mastitis. I was told that by a commercial unit who cut the pellet ration before farrowing and replaced in with roughage. Scientifically they know that a sow does not need extra food before farrowing.


We have had long farrowings, short farrowings and everything in between. What I have noticed over the years is that overfed show pigs often do not have easy farrowings.


I do believe pellet food does lack minerals and always add some to the feed.