Weight gain?

Mr chicken dude · #1 08/01/12, 09:35 AM

So, I got 4 feeder pigs back in early May and since I got them they've only put on about 40-50 lbs ish. So they each weigh around 100 lbs. Is that normal or should they weigh more by now?

richmond1273 · #2 08/01/12, 11:35 AM

i also got mine at that time and they were about 50lbs, the biggest one is around 140 lbs and the smallest is 110 lbs but it was sick for almost 1.5 weeks....they are hamps and yorks

**highlands** · #3 08/01/12, 02:58 PM

First two questions:

1) Are they de-wormed? If they're wormy then they will not get as much food value from their feed and can end up anemic.

2) What are you feeding? If they're not getting a good balance of nutrients, missing limiting proteins, lacking in minerals and vitamins then they may grow slowly.

Cheers,

-Walter Jeffries
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop

Mr chicken dude · #4 08/01/12, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highlands

First two questions:

1) Are they de-wormed? If they're wormy then they will not get as much food value from their feed and can end up anemic.

2) What are you feeding? If they're not getting a good balance of nutrients, missing limiting proteins, lacking in minerals and vitamins then they may grow slowly.

Cheers,

-Walter Jeffries
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop

1) The guy I bought them from supposedly wormed them.

2) I'm feeding a 14% protein feed that is milled down at the local feed store.along with the occasional veggies from the garden.They also have access to an area filled with undergrowth, grasses and blackberries.

Thanks,Collin

oink · #5 08/01/12, 05:11 PM

If the feed is an "All Stock" feed it may be high in fiber and not well suited for swine. 14% is a modest protein level for pigs and they need lysine for muscle tissue development. I would worm them also.

gerold · #6 08/01/12, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr chicken dude

So, I got 4 feeder pigs back in early May and since I got them they've only put on about 40-50 lbs ish. So they each weigh around 100 lbs. Is that normal or should they weigh more by now?

http://extension.usu.edu/cache/files...ig_Planner.pdf

Above link gives a bit of info. on the weight gain of pig.
Your pigs are a bit under weight. What breed pig are they ?
You need to worm them. Ivermectin on their favorite cookie should do the job.

Good luck,
Gerold.

Mr chicken dude · #7 08/01/12, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oink

If the feed is an "All Stock" feed it may be high in fiber and not well suited for swine. 14% is a modest protein level for pigs and they need lysine for muscle tissue development. I would worm them also.

No it's specifically for pigs called a "14% Porkmaker" I read the feed tag it has lysine in it.

Mr chicken dude · #8 08/01/12, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerold

http://extension.usu.edu/cache/files...ig_Planner.pdf

Above link gives a bit of info. on the weight gain of pig.
Your pigs are a bit under weight. What breed pig are they ?
You need to worm them. Ivermectin on their favorite cookie should do the job.

Good luck,
Gerold.

They are Hampshire-Yorkshire Crosses.

My feed store sells Ivermectin for cattle. would that work? I also have some Wazine, that I would use for the chickens but it also says for use on swine..Could I use that instead?

gerold · #9 08/01/12, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr chicken dude

They are Hampshire-Yorkshire Crosses.

My feed store sells Ivermectin for cattle. would that work? I also have some Wazine, that I would use for the chickens but it also says for use on swine..Could I use that instead?

Your pig feed is ok. Any higher in protein would be a waste of money.IMO.
Ivermectin for cattle would work ok. Ivermectin is better then Wazine. IMO.
I have used both. If the Wazine is liquid you can put it in pigs water. However they won't like it to good. :-)

At the weight they are now if you feed them all they can eat in 60 days you should see a big change in them.

olivehill · #10 08/01/12, 10:28 PM

14% is deficient for their stage of growth, though quality of protein is more important than quantity once you get close. You can use the cattle Ivermectin. Wazine is only effective for round worms so I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you know you're dealing with round worms and only round worms it's largely a waste of time and money for both pigs and poultry.

Mr chicken dude · #11 08/02/12, 07:53 AM

All my feed store has is Ivermectin Injectable and Safe-guard paste for cattle and horses.Could I just use the safe guard paste even though its meant for horses and cattle?

Hooba39 · #12 08/02/12, 08:09 AM

Do you have a scale you're weighing them with or a measuring tape? It's very hard to judge hogs "eyeballing" it if you're not familiar with them.....they may surprise you. Are they in good condition, nice and plump not boney?

I think someone posted once on here they used the paste? Might have to do a search for it.

MDKatie · #13 08/02/12, 08:26 AM

I'm certainly no expert on raising pigs, but our pig feed for growers is around 16.5% protein.

Mr chicken dude · #14 08/02/12, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooba39

Do you have a scale you're weighing them with or a measuring tape? It's very hard to judge hogs "eyeballing" it if you're not familiar with them.....they may surprise you. Are they in good condition, nice and plump not boney?

I think someone posted once on here they used the paste? Might have to do a search for it.

No I've just been eyeballing it.I also picked one of them up my guess is he was weighing around 100-120 pounds. Their in great condition nice and alert they don't seem to be sluggish when moving around. Their just a little on the small side.

gerold · #15 08/02/12, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr chicken dude

All my feed store has is Ivermectin Injectable and Safe-guard paste for cattle and horses.Could I just use the safe guard paste even though its meant for horses and cattle?

You can use the paste or the pellets also for your hogs.

olivehill · #16 08/02/12, 09:50 AM

You can use Safe Guard, but it will need to be administered for 3-4 consecutive days.

blaineiac · #17 08/02/12, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr chicken dude

No I've just been eyeballing it.I also picked one of them up my guess is he was weighing around 100-120 pounds. Their in great condition nice and alert they don't seem to be sluggish when moving around. Their just a little on the small side.

Sorry, but picking up a 120 lb pig is one heck of a feat. You can weigh them with a string. It's pretty accurate.

Mr chicken dude · #18 08/02/12, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaineiac

Sorry, but picking up a 120 lb pig is one heck of a feat. You can weigh them with a string. It's pretty accurate.

No I just kinda picked up the front half of them. That number is just my highly uneducated guess at what they weigh.