[nealeholl]

I picked up three 8 week old weaners 3 weeks ago - all GOS. I have been following the advice of the pig-keeper I got them from to feed them "ad-lib" to start with - there's always some pellets in their trough. However, I'm concerned that they don't end up TOO fat, so would appreciate some guidelines about when to control their feed, and how much to offer. I've heard that 1lb of pellets per pig per day per month of age is about right - what do others find that works?

[Malc]

The 1lb of feed per day for each month up to six months rule is about right. Just about everyone tends to overfeed their first weaners (I know I did!), so do your best to be strict and you'll get a better end product. If you're adding veg in any quantity it's roughly four-to-one (so replace 1lb of feed with 4lb of veg).

[Hilarysmum]

Agree with Malc although in this weather would feed veg as an addition rather than a replacement.  Enjoy your pigs, if they are GOS dont expect the super slim line carcass that you would get from an indoor E45 pig.  Then the fat adds flavour to the meat, and to the potatoes if you are non pc enough to cook them in it. 

[Elissian]

I fed my first ones as you suggested and got quite fatty pork, not that i minded that. Our breed(OSB) secretary said 4lb a day at 6 months was quite enough if they were on grass, veg etc so this time we kept to 4lb while they were clearing the veg plot and had grass and they do look leaner than the last lot. they still have a month to go and have cleared the plot to soil so we've upped it to 6lbs again. I've also heard they should clear their food within 20 mins so if there is any left after that you have given them too much, i must say mine don't take that long to clear up!

[Hilarysmum]

10 minutes???!!!  If I fed Hilary enough to keep her eating for 10 minutes I would be bankrupted in a month and she would be the size of a Buck. house.

[JulieS]

The breeder I got my first weaners from advised only go up to 1kg twice a day (so around 4 1/2lbs in my way of thinking...I'm that old!).  GOS do well on this amount.

I've grown all mine on like that now......A bit more for breeding stock......and get a really nice amount of fat.  Enough for a great taste, but not too much for some of my customers.

[Malc]

Sorry, I should have made it clear that veg is only as a supplement (especially in winter) unless you're feeding in very large quantities. There's no real substitute for prepared pig feed.

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

We use the 10 min rule (well 8 - 10 min) and use a mixture of local rolled barley, pig nuts and veg.

Thanks

Gareth
www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk