Author Topic: Straw - what kind is best for pigs please?? (Read 6080 times)

zackyb · « **on:** April 10, 2011, 10:25:24 am »

Hi

I am a new smallholder, am getting pigs and want to know what type of straw is best to use? I have seen wheat straw, oat straw etc for sale .. is there a difference and what price should I pay for a bale please?

Thanks
Amanda

Blinkers · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2011, 10:39:30 am »

Hiya,

Personally I prefer to use Barley Straw cos they LOVE to eat it too

I've used Oat straw this year - more expensive but it lasts a long time. Wheat straw is absolutely fine too, but I find it disintegrates quicker. There's been no Barley straw around these parts the whole winter due to the dry summer last year

. You can use anything really - you just find out for yourself which your pigs prefer (if they're given a choice) and which you prefer to keep/handle/store/....and of course, cost.

M

Stevie G · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2011, 12:05:07 pm »

Just buy and try is best. Wheat is normally the cheapest(unless its all changed since I left the UK), so that is what most commercial farmers go for. Never used oat straw. Is that similar to Barley straw? Nice and bouncey! The only time you need to be concerned about the length of the straw is for sows farrowing, as it needs to be chopped shorter. And stay away from any mouldy stuff , as its a no no.

violet · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2011, 01:47:39 pm »

Hi, I use barley straw. When I ran out last year I got a few bales of wheat straw and can agreed with Blinkers.
Don't know about oat straw & I use sawdust for farrowing.

Stevie G · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2011, 02:12:20 pm »

Quote from: violet on April 10, 2011, 01:47:39 pm

Hi, I use barley straw. When I ran out last year I got a few bales of wheat straw and can agreed with Blinkers.
Don't know about oat straw & I use sawdust for farrowing.

Have occassionlly had Barley straw and when I did I keep it for the farrowing as its beautiful stuff, but its always more costly, so is a luxury to have commercially, especially in the amounts we use.

violet · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2011, 02:24:44 pm »

Another reason we use barley straw is that we also feed it to our cows. It's practical, 'cos though I know the difference it would just confuse my helpers.