Raising Pigs To Butcher: Bases Covered?

[HogEmAll]

Ok,

My brother and I have been thinking about raising two domestic pigs each year to butcher. Let me tell you what we've got planned and then tell me if we're on the right track...

We met a guy that will sell us two wiened pigs for about $20 each. I'm not sure what breed....but they're pink...probably Yorkshire, I dunno. I'm not sure how much they'll weigh, but I'm guessing 30-40lbs.

My brother has an empty horse paddock. It's about 150' by 130'...so just over 1/4 acre. We plan to run an electric wire to prevent the pigs from getting through or under the cattle fencing. We also plan on deviding the paddock into two equal-sized sections. This way we can alternate the pigs from one side to the other when they've worn down one side. Right now the whole paddock has Rye grass and lots of weeds. Will pigs get anything from that? We will also be feeding them hog feed. At first we will offer them a creep feeder. Once they get up in size, we'll switch to 5lbs each per day. Sound about right? At what weight should we switch from creep feed to rationed?

We hope to get them to butcher size(230-260lbs) in 115-125 days. Realistic? We will provide them with shelter and water of course, and will follow a worming program. Anything we're missing? Are we on the right track? Thoughts....suggestions...everything is welcome.

[agmantoo]

What your are proposing will work with the exception of the feed. You need to give them free access to feed and let them consume all they want. The protein level should be in the 14% range after they get to 75 pounds or so. In so doing you will meet the time frame and the weight.

[GeorgeK]

I dont think I'd bother separating the pasture just yet. maybe after youv'e done it a few years and want to expand. In the 4 or so months you are going to be having them pastured they will dig up the quarter acre on their own. Are you going to be doing this in the spring, or over winter? You can also toss them all the vegetable peelings etc. Pigs will eat anything organic, the only real time you will have problems with them eating poisonous plants is when they aer fenced into too small a pasture and there's nothing else left to eat

[HogEmAll]

Can you tell me about how much feed two pigs will go through in a week if they have full access to it? We're in Florida, so we won't be seeing some of the extreme weather that northern states do. Nothing lower than mid-20s at night...and up into the 40s or 50s during the day....maybe even higher.

[agmantoo]

Over the 115 days that it will take for a 50 lb pig to reach market weight of 240 lbs each pig will consume 560 lbs of corn (no cob) and 150 lbs of soybean meal and some salt.

[Ann Mary]

If soybean meal isn't available in my area what else could be fed? I have access to wheat and a lentil,wheat,pea mix. Is that useable?

[GeorgeK]

that would be fine

Originally Posted by Ann Mary

If soybean meal isn't available in my area what else could be fed? I have access to wheat and a lentil,wheat,pea mix. Is that useable?

[highlands]

You can raise pigs just on pasture. It takes about 30 days longer to raise growers to butcher weight than if they were free fed commercial feed. You will need a lot more pasture than 1/4 acre. We raise pigs on pasture. We have 20 sows, a boar, growers and about 30 piglets right now. Some years we have just done pasture and then hay in the winter. Right now we have access to excess milk and cheese with which we suplement their diet. We don't use any commercial feed for the pigs or sheep.

The easy way to do it is put them in a pen, and a quarter acre qualifies as a pen, and then feed them commercial feed at a free feed rate. The cheap way to do it is to pasture them if you have the land. Pasturing also gives better quality pork that is high in Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for you. Feeding hay in the winter, which is coming on fast, is close to pasturing but more expensive than pasture as you must buy the hay. Round bales of sheep hay at 50% moisture are cheaper and excellent. Not all hay is created equal - some has higher protein levels, etc.

If you want to do it cheap, check around at local bakeries, stores, dairies, etc for excess pre-consumer food stuffs that you can get free. It can be excellent quality feed.