We recently acquired several young pigs, and we plan to save some for breeding stock. They're all being free fed right now. At what age or size do you begin limit feeding - and how much per day? My hubby thinks he remembers that it was 1 gallon of 16% protein feed per pig per day. Is this correct?

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 16, 2001

Answers

Cheryl, We usually breed our gilts at about 7 months the first time. At about 200 pounds we start slowly cutting them back. An adult sow is supposed to be able to thrive on 2 lbs. of feed a day. We probably feed 4 lbs to the gilts until after the first litter is weaned. Our sows get about 3 lbs a day and are very large and tall, but not fat at all. You will enjoy your babies. Joanie

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), October 17, 2001.

Hi; here is a link to a chart that gives great info on hog feed conversion. http://home.mpinet.net/ourfarm/images/hogchart.jpg regards Ourfarm

-- ourfarm (ourfarm@noaddr.com), October 19, 2001.

I free feed until I butcher. The pigs have no extra fat on them; belly line is straight. Of course, they're not in a small pen, either. I only feed pig feed, they graze grass, and are fed nothing from my kitchen.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), October 19, 2001.