We're planning to buy a couple feeder pigs next month -- I'm trying to come up with inexpensive ideas for feed. Any good ideas?? We'd like to raise these pigs for our own consumption, but don't want to invest a whole lot of money in feed for them. I also want to make sure that we're giving them the proper nutrition...

Thanks! Josie

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2002

Answers

Josie, We still feed our pigs grain, but supplement them with everything else. They don't eat near as much grain that way. Pigs are omnivores (sp?) meaning they eat everything! Avoid feeding them much onions or garlic, it changes the flavor of the meat. They will eat anything green, weeds, ect. they grow quick on leftover milk, they eat eggs, kitchen scraps, anything. Just make sure they are getting a good variety of foods. They are like people and need vitamins from a variety of sources. make sure they get lots of protien. They grow quicker. Also watch their waste, if a food gives them the runs, cut it out or back. If you pasture them it also cuts way back on your feed and they will clear the area of snakes - pur pigs favorite food. Good luck, Joanie

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2002

Hi, Josie, I read somewhere(?) that pigs can be fed with high quality leftovers from a good restaraunt, just leave some five gallon buckets every day when you pick up the scraps, and pick it up every day. If you can find a restaurant willing to save you the scraps. You might have to pick through and take out paper waste, etc. We are thinking about trying this method this year. Good luck!

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2002

Hello Josie,

Give your pigs your garden leftovers. This is why people start raising them at the beginning of Spring. As your garden produces you have an abundant source of food to give them. When late summer and early fall comes around you can give them the waste from your canning. Come cold weather next fall/winter, they will be ready to butcher if they are about 160-180 pounds.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2002

Consider using the cast offs (culled produce) from any commercial farms in your area, it is usually free for the hauling off.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

Are there any local micro-brewaries in your area? The grain solids after they have been fermented are a possibility. After fermentation and having the alcohol drawn off the grain will be totally different, nutritionally speacking but it will still be good feed. The grain will be very low in carbohydrates but higher in protien, I don't remember the numbers but your extension agent may have that information.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Unwanted or unliked neighbors or relatives.

-- Anonymous, March 18, 2002

outdated milk and icecream tater chips bread produceetc from the store or route salesman

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2002

Our neighbors fed bags of bread to the pigs....... THE problem is that he left the bags ON!!!! if you want to stay friends with your neighbors, don't let the bags blow across the fields! I raise between 1 and 3 pigs each year, Although feeding grain is slightly more expensive, you will probably have a better pig in the end. All the nutrients you need are in the bag. (Giving them garden scraps is still a high priority here (And you can't get a happier pig than when you give it mushy tomatoes etc!!!) The other thing I found very interesting is that my pigs have been much leaner when fed free choice grain rather than at two feeding times, they also didn't spill as much food because they didn't fight over it.

hope this helps Cristy

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002