[FiB]

Hi all, the more you learn, the more you realise you dont know!!  Loving my piggy learning.

As with all rules of thumbses, I expect there are exceptions....  I thought I had read somewhere about traditional breeds (saddlebacks?)  being capped at 4lb/pig/day if out on pasture, to prevent excessive fat, but can now find no trace of that!!!  All our lovelyies seem in great condition (not that I would be the judge of that being a first timer but my log man used to keep pigs and had a good look and feel of them and declared them 'champion'!) but they are approaching 5 months now and we are potentially going into colder weather.....   Do I increase to 5 lb/pig per day when they reach 5 months next week and then 6 Lb in Feb, or stick on 4?   MANY thanks as always, Fi

[HappyHippy]

I'd keep them on 4 or 5 for the moment and just see how they go.
You'll notice a drop in condition quite quickly and can up the feeding again if need be.
I think I'd be wary of going to 6lbs as I believe Saddlebacks are more prone to fat (but haven't raised any pure saddlebacks myself so don't know for sure)
All these books are written by different people and all have different things that work for them.
You should read it all and absorb it, but adjust, adapt and try out methods til you find what works best for you and your pigs. And then, once you have the hang of one breed, you have to learn it all again for the next 
Another handy rule of thumb is "if you can feel the ribs your pigs are fine, if you can't they're too fat. If you can see the backbone they're too skinny and if you can't feel it they're too fat"

HTH
Karen 

[oaklandspigs]

Agree with Karen - rules of thumb are just that - they are not formulas, and just as you can get two children from the same family one chubby and one like a rake, it is not only different breeds but individual pigs that vary.

We do pure saddlebacks, and GOS, and crossed everything else, from Kune kune, LB, OSB, LW, Berkshire, even mangalitza !.  We go to on a lb a day per month up to six months, so ours get a max of 6lbs but we feed everything on sow food (bulk purchase make this cheaper) , as we only do a few meat pigs for family and friends so are not "speed finishing".  You may well need to feed less if on growers.

However we also adjust on

time of year, less in summer, and more in winter,
Sows vs. meat pigs esp last stages of pregnant
Adjust for fresh veg or good pasture
We tend to feed less to GOS - who seem to run to fat given any chance
and our jugs do 3lbs, so we are pretty good on getting the quantities right - ie not generous portions

Feeling your pigs as per Karen regularly is the best way to judge condition, you cannot do it from eye alone unless you're at the extremes !

[FiB]

Thank you thank you!!!!  It IS the minefield / 'art' that I feared!!!  But all the more interesting for it!  I have a grope in the rib and spine area daily so will pay extra care over the next few weeks and wil probably slip an extra few pounds in/ day for good luck between the 4 of them.  I always imagine my animals are hungry (for eaxmple I gave the sheep an extra bale on Christmas day much to OH's amusement) - I think I may be projecting onto them!!!!  I have a  bowl that holds exactly 1LB so Ive been a very good girl with the piggys so far, after reading all the advice here about over feeding!  Thanks again - this site and you guys are amazing.

[princesspiggy]

I always imagine my animals are hungry

pigs are like labradors - they always say they are hungry but the spare tyre gives the game away! mine would eat double the ration if i let them!
the art of feeding comes with time. wev sent 12 pigs away so far and still not perfect but getting better each time!!
 

[Barrett]

FiB, I have had pigs for just over 2 years now and muddled along learning loads all the time did by myself a pig keeping book and everything just fell into place, some of the things had already happend to me and other things I thought were brilliant and the rest wouldn't happen because the book had taught me about it.  No 2 pigs are the same so just go with your piggies.  I think your log man might be after some free pork ;

[Sylvia]

I always tend to over-do my pigs   Especially these last lot of beggars who threaten " Give us much, much more grub or we'll break out and terrify the horses down the lane" They are now in prison and due to be hanged next Monday