[WinslowPorker]

Hi fellow pig keepers.

Just want to double triple check that i have got my feed ratios correct, i am feeding the pigs 1lb food per month of age and splitting it over two feeds per day, so on the basis i have 6 pigs at 4 months they are getting 24lb food per day, 12lb at brekfeast & the same for dinner. i am also giving them bread, milk and a selection of fruit & veg - bananas seem to go down very well and get a lot of satisfactory sounds from the squealers!!!

they are being fed on Heygates pig feed pellets which they are happy on and by far seem the most reasonable for price - £5.37 for a 20kg bag. just want to make sure i am getting it right.

 

[Fowgill Farm]

Sounds like they're in piggy heaven, you can keep them on this regime now right thro' to the end now and you'll get nicely rounded porkers with just the right amount of fat. You'll be able to tell by eye if they're loadiingon the pounds but so long as they've plenty of digging and marauding to do they'll make muscle and not lay down fat.
good to hear you're enjoying your piggies
bestest Mandy

[Hilarysmum]

Sounds perfect.   

[WinslowPorker]

they all seem quite happy and have now stopped being so boisterous when it comes to food time!!

as a new pig keeper i suppose i am not sure what to expect, but having looked at the pigs they quite a lean animal, where i suppose most peoples perception is these big fat things, i assume this is not the case then.

they have hot cross buns & bananas for a treat tonight.  they very much like brocolli & cauliflower too.

[suziequeue]

What's the ratio of veg to feed? i.e. if I add in 4kg of veg scraps, what weight of pig nuts do I reduce by?

Susanna

[oaklandspigs]

S, generally 3 lbs of veg = 1 lb nuts

All, you need to be careful about what you are feeding and from where (and what you are telling others you are doing!).  Anything from your kitchen is NOT allowed, and milk needs to be registered - the following guide whilst not totally accurate will give you a good idea.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/movements/pigs/documents/new_owner_guide.pdf

[WinslowPorker]

Raspberry and custard donuts this morning which were extremely well recieved, and nice to be able to hand feed them. Funnily they are becoming quite well groomed and stand now by their trough and wait for me, where as before it was getting bashed from pillar to post trying to get through them! 

[Hermit]

Thanks for that ratio OP I have been trawling forums looking for that info. We are getting ready for pigs but need a fodder crop to supplement nuts as they are so expensive up here.

[Malc]

Sounds like you've got it about right, although watch you don't overdo the bread and milk or (as we found when we started out) you'll get a fatty end-product.

[Malc]

How much are you paying per bag in Shetland, Hermit? Here in Orkney, the price has dropped again - sow rolls are now £6.20 per 25kg bag which, considering it was £8 18 months ago, is making a big difference.

[Hermit]

when I last enquired they were 6.80 for sow and weaner nuts.That was about a month ago.Hope they come down here as well, cant wait to keep pigs again.

[Hilarysmum]

It might be worth contacting a mill to see if you can buy either bags on a pallet (40?) or even loose.  Loose ours is 5 euros for 25 kilos ; in the bag 6.10 (direct) and from the feed merchant about 7.50 euros per sack.

[Hermit]

Trouble is we live on an Island where you have to arrange big deliveries like a military operation and pay for it.Most large items from the mainland are delivered to Aberdeen and then you have to arrange pick up,weight to get a price for the shippage and then to get from Lerwick where it waits for you to pick it up or again wait for a delivery drop out here. I dont really think our feed merchant could get it any cheaper than he does and he does look after us selling us bust bags and cancelled orders etc cheap.I would not like to go behind his back, it is very much a I scratch your back, you scratch mine world up here.Thanks anyway for the idea HM

[Hilarysmum]

Now I feel mean telling you.   

[sharon]

Hi hilarysmum could you tell me what feed merchant you are using, as i am paying a lot more
many thanks
sharon