[Tamsaddle]

After lots of posts on the amount to feed for pigs destined for meat, what is considered the right amount for sows and gilts pre-farrowing?   My two big pigs, who I hope are pregnant and due around mid March, are currently getting about 6 lbs (2.7 kgs) per pig per day.   Is this too much?    Using girth and length measurements, I reckon our Saddleback sow weighs about 300 kg and the 1 year old Tamworth gilt about 200 kg.    The two younger gilts who are currently with their respective husbands and who would hopefully farrow in late June are getting 5.3 lbs (2.4 kgs) per pig per day - their weights are approx. 130 and 155 kg.   I know what I have to feed after the piglets are born, but am not at all sure about the weeks beforehand - thankyou in advance    Tamsaddle

[Fowgill Farm]

I think we all probably do it differently but for me it depends on the weather and who the pregnant pig is in with and how they're looking. I personally think its all about knowing your pigs and i certainly do feed more by eye now even fatteners.

Clover had a litter several weeks ago, now she's a greedy girl, nobody gets grub from her no way so after going to the boar i feed her up a bit 6lbs a day for about 3 wks until i know she's held then i knock her back to 4.5lbs a day, then month before she's due bump her back up to 6lbs as piglets really get growing now and then about 3 or 4 days before she's due i knock her back to 4lb so her bellies not too full of grub to farrow.
Twinkle on the other hand always has to fight and guard her food she flings more than she eats (much to the delight of her companion) so she stays on 6lbs all the way thro, she's due in 3 wks time and i think she looks heavily laden in the tummy dept but thin along her back so going feed her solo to make sure she gets ALL her grub.
Note to add is they also get extra sugar beet, apples & carrots shredded about 2lb a day.
I'm sure others wil be along with their comments soon. (Slow day at work for me!)
best Mandy 
Ps My piggies are GOS so prone to lard up so i do watch them carefully.

[Tamsaddle]

Thanks Mandy.   Doesn't seem like I'm too far out.   I too have a very greedy, pushy sow, Rose, who eats at an astronomical rate, and her companion gilt, Rhubarb, who is far more indecisive and always loses out.   I have in fact been feeding Rhubarb odd handfuls when bossy boots has her snout down elsewhere and isn't looking.  Will follow your advice about cutting down in the last week before farrowing.    Another thing I think I will do this time, at the end of weaning when the sows are really skinny, is carefully monitor their diet after that so I never lose track of the backbone again.    I didn't think any of my pigs were too fat, but our younger Tamworth gilt, Mango, now looks quite plump beside our visiting Tamworth boar, a very fine pig with an easy to feel backbone.  Tamsaddle

[Fowgill Farm]

You're welcome, love your pig names real cute.
Weaned Clover today and she is ballistic, she will be even worse tonite when she only gets a small portion of grub as well, don't believe in them fasting for 24hrs after weaning just makes them crosser and more gluttonous when they do get fed. She's in a secure pen (she escaped back to her babies last time twice) she has a big straw cosy bed, a huge water trough and really she should be relishing the peace & quiet! I only weaned her this morning because i noticed that last night and this morning she was very grumpy with the babies so thought she'd had enuff of them. Last time i left her my coat as a comfort blanket as she wouldn't let me leave her and left my phone in the pocket which she promptly trashed and i found in several bits the next morning! She'll change her tune in a few days and be screaming for the boar. Pigs who'd 'ave' em!
Mandy