[Muc]

Hurray! The apples have arrived but how many are too many for four-month-old pigs? I've given them seven each for a morning snack and plan to give them the same again a couple of more times during the day.
My neighbour leaves sacks of them at the gate - a variety called Ladies' Fingers, I think. I know it's going to cost me in rashers later on but that's all part of the fun.

[doganjo]

Has anyone worked out rates of exchange for bartering?  How many rashers will you have to give your neighbour for all those sacks of apples?  What do I get for half a dozen eggs?  I sell my eggs at £1 for 6, but some folk charge more.  My hairdo costs £7 (OAP rates) so should I give Laura 42 eggs or 28?  If we are trying to avoid currency how can we work out rates except by using it as a comparison?

[gavo]

Hello,

Very roughly speaking treat the apples as one third of the nutritional value of pig meal. A four month old pig would be on around 4lbs of meal a day - so 12lbs of apples, BUT, you must make sure that they get enough protein so only treat the apples as a supplement.
I wouldn't go more than 6lbs of apples & 2 lbs of meal. If this turns out to be a regular thing then 3lbs of apples & 3lbs of meal.


Cheers

Gavin

[Lizmar]

How about instead of using currency use calorific value!!  The women would probably do better with the conversion - which of us has never seen a calorie guide!!  Well I suppose I'm talking for myself, mustn't insinuate that anyone else would use one, but I can look at most things and know the calorie value and usually the cholesterol value as well!!!

[Tullywood Farm]

Muc

Be careful with the apples - I disagree with Gavin because too many apples can make your pigs very sick.

Three or four per day are ok but more than that and they will become ill.

We bought pigs from a lady in the North and she had problems with her pigs because the neighbours were feeding them apples and they were beginning to ferment in the pigs stomach. The pigs were staggering as if they were drunk.  When they are used to a certain food, changes can be harmful.



Julie

[gavo]

We have fed our pigs a very varied diet fruits inc apples on some occasions these have made up the largest part of their ration for the day.We have never had any problems with the pigs or their digestive tracts. I've never heard of pigs managing to ferment apples in their gut their digestive transit times not being dissimiliar to humans.

[Muc]

Thanks guys. I will confine them to about 10 small apples each per day and see how it goes. What about that breed (Gloucester Old Spot?) which was bred to be an orchard pig - are they able to digest more apples than other breeds?
Regarding barter: Everyone likes pigs and everyone likes to be helpful by giving surplus fruit and veg. I reckon if I get another two sacks (that's four in all) that I'll have to fork over a nice little roasting joint and a packet of sausages. I know it doesn't add up financially or in calories but this neighbour is also the man who fixes punctures etc so there are other benefits. Ultimately, a community works on trust and the more generous you are the more bounty will come your way. As the Christians used to say (before they got greedy), 'to give and not to count the cost...'

[Higgins11]

I'm going to have to agree with Gavo here.............feeding pigs apples will not hurt them.  it is just a source of sugar and you must watch the protein levels


Ruminants are different. Sudden changes in diet and fermenting sugars such as apples or corn silage will kill goats, sheep, etc

[Hilarysmum]

My pigs (not all GOS) have the run of the 'orchard' in apple time.  Never so far had any problems.

'to give and not to count the cost...'  wasnt that Kippling  ...?

[Muc]

Okay. Thanks again. I'll increase the apple ration and see what happens.

Hillarysmum, I Googled that quote and it turns out to be Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Wasn't I well brain-washed as a child?

[dixie]

Muc, just remember if you add apples to the ration reduce the amount of pig nuts slightly if you dont want too fatty pigs! my gos had lots of apples last year ontop of their usual amount of feed and they were fattier than usual!

[Tullywood Farm]

Well Good Luck Muc

Only sharing true information from a major saddleback breeder in the North of Ireland, I believe Crab Apples were to blame according to their pig vet.

Not an experience I had, but then I would not feed a lot of one thing to my pigs.
Rare Breed pigs need handling carefully, and we have very few problems with all three breeds
we keep, the only problems we have had is with ones bought in, and that was a long time ago.

A varied diet is good for pigs and humans. We also suffer if we eat too much of anything too

Good luck with the bartering Muc - great to get it

Julie

[shetlandpaul]

our crosses only had a couple of apples and they got very bad runny poo. i would start off slowly maybe 1 a day then build up.

[welshboy]

Muc

Be careful with the apples - I disagree with Gavin because too many apples can make your pigs very sick.

Three or four per day are ok but more than that and they will become ill.



We bought pigs from a lady in the North and she had problems with her pigs because the neighbours were feeding them apples and they were beginning to ferment in the pigs stomach. The pigs were staggering as if they were drunk.  When they are used to a certain food, changes can be harmful.
Julie

When I was a boy my father called the vet to a pig who was staggering.The vet asked what has she been eating.-Windfall crab apples self feed. -She is drunk ! I will call tomorrow.
Following day pig very poorly with a hangover !

[gavo]

On the contrary we find rare breed pigs incredibly hardy,they have been bred over many many years to not need all the pampering that the modern commercial pigs require. As for drunken pigs [shetlandpaul] it's usually due to apples that have begun to ferment ie they are over ripe.As we said a varied diet is what a pig likes ie a good mixture of fruit and veg and their compound ration. If a pig can cope with hoking in the earth then generally they can cope with pretty much any food you care to give them [.so long as stay within the guidelines set out by the authorities] A pig roaming free outside should have few if any health issues