Silage as Hog Feed

chrisl · #1 08/12/12, 06:32 AM

Anyone out there that has used corn silage as 100% hog diet?

**highlands** · #2 08/12/12, 10:49 AM

Might I recommend not using any one particular thing as 100% of anyone's diet. Variety is the spice of life, and also helps supply adequate nutrition.

wally · #3 08/12/12, 12:55 PM

Where is lazyJ when you need him ???

Lazy J · #4 08/12/12, 02:23 PM

The objective of the fermentation process used to make silage it so convert complex carbohydrates into Volatile Fatty Acids which are readily digested by ruminants. The VFA's are either directly absorbed by the animal or used by the bacteria in the rumen to produce energy or protein for he cow to use.

Pigs only absorb VFA's in the hind gut after the feed has been digested in the stomach and small intesines. For that reason feeding silage to pigs is an effort in futility. While the fiber in the silage will be good for gut health there is not enough nutrition for a pig to survive let alone thrive.

Jim

wally · #5 08/12/12, 09:29 PM

What LazyJ said....NO,,

chrisl · #6 08/13/12, 06:15 AM

Thanks LazyJ I'm trying to come up with a alternative feed, and since my corn crop is a loss, I'm trying to recoup something out of it. I don't have enough cattle to justify turning it all into silage, if it would work for hogs then it would be justifiable. Oh well next idea, hum I out of them......

CJBegins · #7 08/13/12, 06:44 AM

Chrisl, that corn crop can be a money maker still. Bale it up and sale it or sale it as silage. There are people desperately buying whatever they can get their hands on for their cattle in MO.

Hairsheep · #8 08/19/12, 12:53 PM

Might I suggest, Silage PLUS Hay?
Your local bread outlet?
Supermarkets that will GIVE you their "throw away" veggies, that quite often are still fairly good?
Just some ideas to think about.

gerold · #9 08/20/12, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisl

Thanks LazyJ I'm trying to come up with a alternative feed, and since my corn crop is a loss, I'm trying to recoup something out of it. I don't have enough cattle to justify turning it all into silage, if it would work for hogs then it would be justifiable. Oh well next idea, hum I out of them......

How many pigs do you have. I have fed corn silage to cattle and also hogs. Worked for me.

teethdoc · #10 08/21/12, 07:55 AM

As others mentioned, bail those corn stalks and sell it to cattle guys. They are desperate right now. I wish I could send some of our rain up to the drought areas. I'm about sick of rain.

chrisl · #11 08/23/12, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairsheep

Might I suggest, Silage PLUS Hay?
Your local bread outlet?
Supermarkets that will GIVE you their "throw away" veggies, that quite often are still fairly good?
Just some ideas to think about.

thanks but the bread and supermarket idea, which i have had thoughts about, are illegal in Missouri, since i raise my hogs for market sale.

I'm planning on bailing my stocks, but that still doesn't convert to much hog feed, even selling corn stock bales at $50 dollars apiece doesn't by much $8 corn. Oh well we will figure something out. I guess if it was easy everyone would be doing it..........