Raising swine & Kefir questions

[Guest guest]

Katja and others,

Last year about this time I was asking if there was anyone on the list who

had experience raising swine. We didn't get any piglets last year because

of piglet shortage, but this year it is looking good for us to get at least

one (the 4H pig) and hopefully 2 more. So...

What have you been feeding your pigs? Do you use commercial ration or your

own mix? If your own, what are you using to supply the protein? Do you

soak the grains ahead of time?

In the 4H book it says that studies have shown that feeding in the form of

slop, with slop defined as ground grains (and supplement) supplied in liquid

(water, whey, or milk) makes no difference in gain. What stuck out to me

was that there was no mention of SOAKING time. Only of serving it in

liquid. A friend of ours raised pigs as a business when he was a young man,

and he swears by soaking the grains for 24 hours before feeding. Do you

have any experience with this? He soaked his in goat milk. He says it

produces the most delicious pork ever. I don't have goat milk or excess

goat milk : ) but I was thinking about doing a 24 hour soak so that the pigs

will get more out of their feed.

Kefir. Who was it that posted about putting all their scraps in kefir for

their chickens? I can't help but wonder if one could do this for swine.

Any thoughts anyone? We are in Alaska and our pig feed is not a biproduct

of another industry here. It is all shipped up. That means expense. So

besides going for a healthy animal and tasty meat, I'm all for doing

anything we can so that the pig will utilize more of what goes into its

mouth. In the 4H material it says they don't chew their food well and that

is why having the grain ground up helps them to utilize more of it. Doesn't

it seem like a 24 hour soak, and possibly soaking it in a kefir mixture,

would be tops?

Grains. I need kefir grains for my families use (pigs aside). Does anyone

have any to share? I could pay postage... : )

Thanks all,

Rhea

: )