rule of thumb feeding

[jk47]

pig eat 4 and a half % of body weight
multiply animals body weight by 0.045
EX pig weights 500lbs
500
X 0.045
=22.50 pounds of feed per day

this should give you a pretty good estimate of how much feed you should give your pig if you were not sure
if you were on the right track or not with the amount you were feeding

 

[M.L. McKnight]

How big are your pigs? I feed about 8 pounds of grain mix (4lbs am, 4lbs pm), vegetable/fruit scraps and peels, eggs, milk/whey, hay and leave them to munch on pasture.

 

[jk47]

Right know my pigs are small 65 pou ds and 75 pounds I am feeding 4pounds a day per pig

 

[M.L. McKnight]

Do you feed wet or dry? I grew up farming and am a chef by trade so I am always reading about new types of feed stuff. A few times a week I sprinkle garlic powder and turmeric powder on my hogs' feed. It helps keep them healthy and they utilize their feed better.

 

[jk47]

Well by growing up farming then you
Must likely know more then my 4years of raising only 2 at a time
But I feed a plelleted complete feed
Witch I add some water to to keep the dust down

 

[M.L. McKnight]

I know that if you feed wheat, you get whiter fat which looks nice in certain products and makes good lard. There is a growing trend towards lard in some food circles. When I use a pelleted feed, I cut it with chopped corn. The hogs really seem to like it and when I put broth on their feed the chops keep it a bit looser.

 

[jk47]

What is chopped corn is it just dry corn just how you get from the harvesters or is it something else

 

[M.L. McKnight]

Chops or chopped corn is dried corn that has been cracked and partially ground. IF you have a wood chipper, you can pour whole dried corn through it and make your own chops. I do it when I mix a big batch and save $0.30-$0.40 a hundred by buying whole corn and grinding my own. That isn't a boat load of money but it is a bit that stays IN my pocket and that's always a good thing.

 

[jk47]

ah thanks for explaining that for me is there a certain age you start to mix it with the complete feed your do you add it right from the start

 

[M.L. McKnight]

I mix it when I start them on grower. I might get a 16% feed and mix two 50# sacks with 50# of chops. The corn will be 6% so the mix will be just under 13% (16+16+6=38/3) which isnt bad. It will grow hogs and is not 'hot' (the protein is not too high). I have berks so I can't add DDG but you could add 50# which will bring your feed average back towards the 16% or you can feed eggs and milk in their daily rations.