[sabrina]

I use sugar beet for the ponies over the winter, can the pigs have some or would this make them too fat 

[tizaala]

No problem with  that, we always give them some soaked along with barley and soya/grass and just a small handfull of linseed lozenges and any cracked eggs. (that they find while rooting about)

[robert waddell]

against the rules to give them eggs

[tizaala]

As if I would..!

[robert waddell]

that was quick

[Fowgill Farm]

We feed shredded raw sugar beet to our pigs all thro winter as a supplement, its high in sugar & carbhydrate and they burn it of  keeping warm and its a good filler. Toomuch will get them sloshed as it ferments in their tummies, we've done the drunken pig thing when delia got into the clamp and scoffed a load!! :
HTH
Mandy 

[violet]

I use sugar beet too. I have found that the sows refuse it once they've farrowed though.

I use about 20% for growers - it helps sweeten the meat. I believe that if you use too much that to 'goes to the belly'.
Theres a good guide that you can link to from this page http://www.britishpigs.org/feeds.htm by Professor Sandra Edwards of Newcastle University has produced a handbook for feeding organic pigs which has recommendations on the use of Silage, Sugar Beet, Potatoes, Brewers Grains etc.
 

[Blonde]

I understand in the States they put it in the ice box and cool it down and give it to the pigs in the summer time to help keep them cool

[Rich/Jan]

Looked at the vitamin ratio on a bag of sugar beet here in France and it was 6% amd at 15euros a sack I didnt think it was advantageous at all.  Anyone else have any thoughts - and what price in UK

[ellisr]

I pay about £5 for a 25kg bag of dried shreds which the horse and sheep get. I may start to give the pigs some in the morning for breakfast as well as the rest of the rabble.

Mine get apples in autumn but I do like to vary what they get to stop them getting bored they love to come and rootle around the veg garden when I am clearing it (using electric fence to keep them away from the polytunnel and chickens as they raid the coups for eggs).

My girls come into the stables when the weather gets wet as the paddock gets far too water logged for them to be comfortable (yes they are pampered pigs) so a bit of variety at meal times I think will help through the long winter days indoors.

[janeislay]

I use sugar beet too. I have found that the sows refuse it once they've farrowed though.

I use about 20% for growers - it helps sweeten the meat. I believe that if you use too much that to 'goes to the belly'.
Theres a good guide that you can link to from this page http://www.britishpigs.org/feeds.htm by Professor Sandra Edwards of Newcastle University has produced a handbook for feeding organic pigs which has recommendations on the use of Silage, Sugar Beet, Potatoes, Brewers Grains etc.
 

What a very interesting guide, Violet - thanks.  I see you can use a number of feedstuffs that I was previously told you could not 

[Fowgill Farm]

We buy sugar beet in its straight out the ground state (looks like big turnips) one of our neighbours (next farm but one) buys in about 200 tons (10 wagon loads) for his overwintering stock and in return for a few sausages and £20 in an Xmas card i just go and help myself, normally take a couple of feed bags full at a time and shred.
Pigs love it.
Mandy 

[Berkshire Boy]

Mandy, how do you shred it, does it involve special kit ?

[Fowgill Farm]

When we bought the farm 7 years ago we inherited a shed full of Junk, amongst the junk was a shredder.

see this one on e-bay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Beet-Turnip-Shredder-/140617469189?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item20bd744d05

ours is exactly same.

hth Mandy 

[robert waddell]

£250 they are having a giraffe  need to start buying them old turnip pulpers   
BB if you are not doing a lot you can cut them with a spade