pig nutrition

[richardland]

Is it possible for Tamworth pigs to get all they need nutritionally from a mature woodland?

[Kleiber]

I wouldn' have thought so. I free-range my pigs (Berkshires) on about an acre of woodland/grassland, but we still supplement their diet with pig nuts. Having said that, at this time of year, if it's broadleaf woodland, you'll probably have beech mast & acorns, which they love. If you're getting them up to weight for slaughter, then depending on whether you're going for porkers or baconers, depends how much supplement you need. Hope that doesn't sound too confusing!

[richardland]

Thanks Kleiber. Can I ask how many head you run on your acre? I am planning a very low stocking density, 2 pigs to 4 acres, plus they are a means to an end rather than the end itself. In other words we need low maintenance and effort bramble, nettle and grass control rather than pork, although we will be slaughtering them next march/april. What difference does it make between a porker and a baconer? By the way the woodland is mixed broadleaf.. Regards Richardland

[Kleiber]

Hi, richardland, I had 4 pigs to an acre & that was more than enough land for them. We used them to dig up the brambles for us, too & they do a great job. Glad to hear it's broadleaf woodland - hopefully they'll get plenty natural goodies from that. The difference between a porker & a baconer is that a porker is slaughtered earlier, usually about 5 or 6 months of age & you leave a baconer longer, because you're going to preserve the meat anyway. Hope this helps- I'll get back to you later, must go & do the chickens now! xx

[Kleiber]

Hiya, I'm back, having sorted my lot out. Basically, if you want pork, you should slaughter at about 140lb (63-64kg) weight and if you're going for bacon, its 220lb (118kg). The other thing I didn't mention before was to make sure you've got really good fencing, especially for Tamworths, as they dig more than other pigs (long-snouted!). We put a string of barbed wire at the base of the fence, which deters them somewhat. Just on a personal note, if you're going to keep them through the winter, be very careful when you go to feed or check them - pigs are very lively & can knock you over, especially as they get bigger, and if the ground gets wet & slippery, it can be very dodgy! I once went to feed mine on a winter's day, when it was very wet & one of my wellies got sucked off in the mud & I ended up flat on my face in a mass of mud & pig poo! Not a pretty sight, but could have been dangerous as well if the pigs had come over to investigate. There's a website www.pigsparadise.com which you might find useful, also a book "The complete book of raising livestock & poultry" by Katie Thear & Dr. Alistair Fraser (published by Pan). Hope this helps - keep me posted as to progress! K

[richardland]

Hi K, thanks for that really detailed answer. I already have sheep netting down to the ground but no barbed wire along the bottom. A local farmer keeps tamworths and uses an electric fence to keep them in. I have just bought a 5 joule fencer and fitted 4 rows of 200kgs breaking strain polywire, within my 'real' fence the idea being to move them on from patch to patch. Getting the pigs tomorrow with any luck. We'll see if it keeps them in, fingers crossed. You sound really switched on to pigs so I really appreciate your time. Regards R

[Kleiber]

Nice to hear from you, Richard - I love pigs, they're so intelligent (probably too much for their own good!) It's good that you've got someone local for advice, too. Good luck with the piggies & keep me posted as to progress?! xxK.