New Piglets soon

janeren · #1 02/05/08, 09:04 AM

We are planning to get about 3 new piglets in the next few months. We had 4 last year for the first time and I was wondering if there was a better way to start them out feed wise. Last year we just stuck with the regular feed that is used for their age and they just didn't seem to get big. Then we lost 2, 1 due to sickness and the other just up and died and he was our nicest pig, but I know that is part of farmin. However this year we want to have a better year and start them off right. My dh wants to get them a bag of milk replacer to give them to start out and get them a good start on growth. And my uncle who raised pigs in his younger years, fed only cracked corn after the pigs got a few months old. What should we do? what is the best to start them on when we first get them? And what do we give them later?

I would like advise and have a better year and be more prepared this year.

LittleRedHen · #2 02/05/08, 09:12 AM

I have never heard of using milk replacer for pigs. As long as they are 6-8 weeks old then there is no reason to need milk. My first thoughts would be, what kind of farm did you buy them from? Were they pigs on soil or on concrete? If they were on concrete, were they given an iron shot? I know that pigs can get anemic. But when they are on soil that they get iron as they root around in the dirt. (anyone can correct me if i am wrong)

The fact your pigs weren't growing fast might suggest to me that they could have been anemic. Another thought is worms. Were your pigs dewormed at any point?

I have raised about 8 pigs from 6 weeks til butchering and I have only lost one pig. I believe it was because the pig was anemic or it was a runt and then the two that I bought with it ended up squishing it when they slept. (by then they were 200+ lbs and he was only about 75) Otherwise I haven't lost any pigs. They get all the feed they want and its just 14% feed. They grow fine.

As long as you use hog feed or even just crackd corn they should be growing. That is why I would wonder if there was worms or iron issues. But weather, age, and how often you are feeding/watering them could come into play too. Its hard to say since I am nto there but maybe i gave you a few ideas.