Feeding Milk ???

Feathers-N-Fur said:

We are now up to 12 pigs. Buying a ton of feed every 3 weeks is getting expensive. I have a few questions about feeding milk.

*What do you put it in? What type of manger?
*How do you transport it? I have access to either plastic barrels or 250 gallon liquid storage totes.
*How do you get it from the transporting container to the feeding container?
*How much do you feed per pig?
*How do you store it, or do you pick it up every day?
*How do you go about approaching a dairy? Do you just show up and ask for an office. I'd call but there are 2 near me and I don't know the name of either one, so can't just look up the number.
*How much do you pay for dump milk?

I know lots of people who raise pigs, but none of them feed milk, so we have no idea how it is done. I'd appreciate any and all advice.

Click to expand...

A long narrow trough is best for feeding to allow enough bunk space. All hogs in in group will all drink at once. Steel trough or plastic barrels split lengthwise with a Sawzall can be used. Some folks take old steel water pressure tanks and split them lengthwise with a torch.
15 gallon plastic barrels or 5 gallon pails with lids can work for transporting.
For hogs over 60 pounds on the hoof, a gallon/day/pig more or less seems to work out fine when coupled with grain feed.

In cooler months from now till spring milk can be stored for hog feed without refrigeration for up to 5-7 days. Some curdling may occur, with no ill effect on hogs. You do not state your geographic location. Freezing may require storage above 32F so you can dispense a liquid product.

When you say approaching a dairy, I am unclear if you mean a dairy manufacturing plant or a dairy farm?
We only use milk from our dairy herd, so I cannot advise as to value assigned to it.