[MiriMaran]

When I feed veg to my pigs how much should I reduce their pellets by?  The pigs are now 4 months so in the morning they get 4lbs each of pellets, at tea time they get 3lbs each of pellets and some fruit/veg (approx equivalent of 2 apples and 2 bananas each) and then at bedtime they get the same amount of fruit/veg again, but with no pellets.

Is this about the right amount or am I turning my pigs into fat bloaters!! ;

[dixie]

A general guide is a 1lb of feed per month of age, so at 4 months they should get 4lbs per day!! so yes you're overdoing it, will cost you a fortune and get them too fat! I'm quite strict with the pellets but always add a bit of fruit and veg, and just reduce a very small amount! HTH

[MiriMaran]

OMG you're quite right I wrote that out wrong!  4lbs to share in the morning and 3 lbs to share at tea time!  I got the fruit and veg right though!!  Gosh if I had been feeding them at that rate we could just roll them into the trailer at slaughter time!!!

[dixie]

Ahh, in that case you're doing well!!

[MiriMaran]

OK thanks!

[Hilarysmum]

Young stock up to 20 weeks I would not reduce the feed at all.  About 1 month before slaughter reduce the pig nuts and increase the veg.  Veg should only replace 1/4 of the nut feed.

It is all relative as some pigs fatten easier than others, it may depend on weather, on the area they have to run around in.  Active pigs will build muscle and not build up fat so easily. 

[dixie]

I have gos last year we were lucky enough to have loads of apples from a friends garden, we fed these in addition to the pellets, result..........................too much back fat!
So I'm stricter now with the pellets but do like to add fruit and veg for variety! the last lot came back perfect.  I also regularly prune the willow trees and give that to the pigs they love it!

[Hilarysmum]

I hadnt realised pigs like willow, we have a large tree growing in one of the fields which they use as a scratching post but have never attempted to eat, so I have planted a load of cuttings in an empty pig field.  Looks as if I shall have to move them now.