what would you do??

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Maybe there all runt pigs.

A lot of people just want small pigs for barbecuing,
they don't need a big Hog, to much meat.

If they are not sick they will be ok growing slower.


Years ago most pigs were raised in the woods on natural food not feed and they did not grow all that fast.

People only feed pigs feed to grow them faster than they can grow naturaly.


bumpus
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I agree with you. Problem is if they are confined they can't forage and they will starve.

I DID READ THE ORIGINAL POST! IT STATED THE PIGS REGULARLY WENT 10 TO 14 HOURS WITHOUT WATER. I don't care how they feed them, they won't eat if they don't have water. The water weight alone would account for quite a bit of weight.

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double

Hogs and pigs don't need water 24/7.

Those pigs are getting more water than they need. That is why they are turning it over.

Common sense will tell you that.


I know the modern day books don't teach that, but the man is watering the pigs thats what he said in his post.

bumpus
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We had feeder pigs a few years back that were small when we butchered them. They weren't starved. We didn't feed them corn or special feed from the store. One of our neighbors farmed potatoes and allowed us to come dig all the potatoes we wanted once the harvesters were done. We fed our pigs potatoes, table scraps and put a round bale of hay in their pen. The meat was nice and lean. IMO the reason that the pigs could be small is because they don't have as much fat on them. I'm sure we all know that muscle weighs more than fat and that the muscle is the part that we eat. I've heard so many people talk about raising their own meat because it's better for you. Grass fed beef is touted to be the way to go because the Omega 3's (good amino acids) are higher and the Omega 6's (bad amino acids) are lower. I totally agree with this. Animal nutrition was one of my studies in college. Grass fed means to not fatten your animals with grains and supplements. And, I'm not sure where everyone lives but here it is cheaper to butcher a smaller animal as the meat shop charges by the on-the-hoof- weight. Why pay for fat weight?

I have no advice because this is more about how to persuade people to give better care to their critters, and you know them better than I do. I do, however, have some thoughts on fat pigs vs. skinny pigs.

It took me quite a while to get my homestead. And, while I waited and attempted, I took classes in whatever looked usefull.

My Swine instructor told us that 2 big feed wasters were skinny pigs and obese pigs. The obese pigs wasted feed because pig fat is not profitable right now, but skinny pigs are not profitable either.

They are not profitable because just living burns up calories. When it takes you an extra 2 months to bring your pigs to market weight, that is an extra 2 months you have to provide the pig calories so that he might walk around and do other pig activities.

And, you know, if I were thirsty I would NOT be eating any dry feed, not if I were a pig! It might not be just the quality of the feed that is making the difference: they might not be eating as much.

Now, my advice is free, and that is all that it is worth because I am not zoned for pigs! Everyone here has had more experience than I : It is just what I remember from my class. Skinny pigs, in the long run, eat more feed per pound of saleable product than pigs of a normal weight do. Because you end up feeding them longer.

IMO, it's none of your business if they are not raising their pigs as you would raise yours. If you go there and see feed, and know they are feeding something and watering, the pigs aren't ill, and aren't a rack of bones lying and unable to get up, just nevermind the situation.

It may not be easy to leave them be, but it doesn't sound from your description that the pigs are in danger of making it thru the day.

Offering help is great, but they don't have to take it. And don't take it personally if they don't want the help you offer.

Common sense tells me that it's possible that a group of very thirsty pigs could knock over a water container in their crazed rush to get a drink.

But, that's just my thoughts.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

I don't agree about the water.
They won't drink more than they want.
They are very destructive, and if you try to water them with buckets, they won't get enough.
A pig watering tank or a drip system doesn't cost much at all, and we even formed our own out of concrete once.
I would suspect if he's got 17 pigs and trying to water them in buckets or small containers, the pigs are dumping them while jostling around trying to get a drink.
You can't over water a pig.

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Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain
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Enforced tolerance is oppression

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

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No one said they were getting to much water in them.

But they are getting enough water because they are still alive.

bumpus
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You know everybody seems to be assuming a lot.
We actually need to know a lot more than the OP told us to say if the hogs are being well or acceptably raised.
How much area are they in? Are they getting any food besides the supplement? Are they sleek or bony? Do they have the chance to drink sufficient water?
Why cant you just ask these folks why they think the hogs are being raised right if it seem that they are not? If they are not Why cant you explain that they are losing money and breaking the law and risk imprisonment and at least losing the hogs?

They were wormed and i see no evidence of worms in any of them now

I'm not raising my 3 for meat right now, I'm trying to get a pasture system set up so i can raise them almost 100 % on pasture. There Duroc, yorkshire and i have seen few farm hogs that grow to 200 + lbs in 5 months. Yes my in laws raise them in a 32 x32 pen. They were wanting to just sell the piglets but that has been dragging on for 3 months now. Would them being cut at 10 weeks old stunt them?

The castrating shouldn't unless one developed an infection. Sounds to me like they got in over their heads with too many piglets. Usually people will buy them young for a pretty good price. A fully filled out one doesn't go for much at all though unless it is pasture raised or organic. Their best bet at this point is to sell them ASAP for whatever they can get for them. They may not make any money but they won't be throwing money down the hole either. I have seen piglets go for $35 and a 200 lb hog go for $100. You're losing money feeding it out. Maybe if you go at it from the money angle you can get them to sell?