Some years ago , I encounter a fellow sloven farmer who raised pastured , inheritance - breed Guinea pig . I ’ve never turn over Guinea hogs an pick on our farm — their minuscule size , lard - sloven classificationand sluggish growth charge per unit are n’t traits conducive to our securities industry functioning — but I was curious about the crop ingredient of his endeavour . “ Pasturing ” is a loose term that can mean many things , include raising pigs outside on feed and build pigs lift themselves on grass and forage edibles . Our farm is somewhere in the heart — we offer feed but work to keep the animals on fresh grass as much as potential .
“ No provender , ” the farmer said . “ Just grass . ”
“ What about winter ? ” I asked . I know that raising a pig on pure grass takes two years , so I understood this man ’s Guineas would see a mates of cold seasons .
“ I give them hay , ” he said .
It made sense , of course of instruction — cows get it in the winter , so the same would hold true for grass - fed pork . But because I do n’t have two years to raise pig before taking a herd to grocery store , I filed the information away in the “ curious fact ” section of my brain .
But of late my sept farm got a few inheritance piglets , and , as inheritance fuzz are wo nt to do , they ’re arise mighty slow while our Viscount St. Albans reservation dwindle to dangerously low numbers . So we ask a fellow granger what we could do to help them put on weight quicker . His advice ?
“ Give them hay , ” he said .
Supplemental hay . I ’d never count that .
How To Feed Pigs Hay
First is the question of whether pigs can be offered hay at all . Remember the sometime idiom calling into dubiousness the validness of the very idea :
Hay is for horses . Better for cows . copper do n’t eat it‘Cause they do n’t have it off how .
Well , sort of . Pigs love grass , hay is dry out grass , ergo pigs should love hay . But in reality , cop do n’t intrinsically appreciate it the way they do a pasturage of green Gunter Grass . It ’s credibly for the same grounds you might not salivate over sack green beans the same direction you would a refreshing - from - the - garden Kentucky Wonder : They ’re just not as good .
Pigs are tending to turn their snout up ( or , more potential , rootle around in and act with ) hay when first offered it by the well - think farmer because , as they rhyme extend , they do n’t love how to eat it . Do n’t give up , though — squealer are fresh , and you could groom them .
One mutual resolution is to simply remove all other options , lease the animals ’ hunger repel them . I do n’t enjoy this idea for a few reason , not the least of which is that I still postulate to offer provender . Another selection is to aid the pigs in recognize that hay is workable food product — mixing in feed or trash , for object lesson , or pour molasses on top .
It ’s also important to consider pigs ’ size . shoat lack jaw strength and the appropriately size digestive tract to make in force use of hay , so it ’s good to incorporate it at the grower , rather than weaner , stage .
What Is Hay?
It ’s also of import to consider what hay you ’re offering your swine . For starter , check you ’re offering hay and not strew — as obvious as this might seem , some still support to con the difference between the two . Hay is nutritive - obtuse dry out sens , leguminous plant and brassicas ; straw is low - price , empty fibre tubes great for animal bedding but useless as a provender . Do n’t feed your slob straw .
Second , recognise that different type exist , and swine digest it otherwise than ruminants ( sheep , cows , and so on ) . For a pig , hay is a dispirited - calorie repast , and they benefit skilful from leafy hay with some protein in the intermixture — legumes such as clover and alfalfa are great for growing pigs , so try out hay with slew of extras for your herd .
And , finally , while I ’m bet to supplement controlled ration for quick growth , you might require unlike things from a such a program , including a scale back or even elimination of feed from your pigs ’ diet , which will call for a bite more attention to dietetic penury . Just ensure your animal ’ lysine pauperization are met , either through feed or dairy , and boost whatever you offer in the winter to meet the heightened small calorie necessary stale weather convey .
