Grazing in Michiana
Substantial interest exists around the topic of rotationally grazing pigs, both from farmers and consumers alike. Over the years, I've learned that using rotationally grazing techniques for pigs is a lot different than the ruminant animals (e.g. cows, sheep, goats, etc..) that many of us are accustomed to thinking about when we consider grazing. So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some experiences and lessons I've learned over the years.
Pigs Need Supplemental Feeds. Pigs have one stomach (a.k.a. monogastric) like we humans do, and gain weight much more efficiently on foods that are easily digestible. Providing a regular source of feed such as a grain mixture or waste milk mixed with grains as the basis of a pig's diet is important for weight gain and overall health.
The protein content of the feed is also critical, as younger pigs will grow much faster on a grain mixture containing 18 percent protein compared to a lower protein mixture or straight corn, which can range from 8 percent to 10 percent protein.
That said, there aren't too many living plants and creatures that pigs won't eat, ranging from leafy greens to a dead animal they might come in contact with in the pasture. Food scraps can be fed to pigs when they are fresh, but do not feed rotten food scraps, which can lead to botulism poisoning.
I've also noticed that they seem to be particularly fond of the fecal material from the ruminant animals, and certainly nuts (e.g. acorns) that fall from the trees. Thus, we should look to use the grazing opportunities as supplements for pigs, and not the basis of the diet.
Electric Fence Might Contain Pigs. Just last week, I spent an evening searching the jungle behind my barn for five feeder pigs that decided to go for an adventure. Luckily, I found them because I could hear them grunting in the brush about a quarter of a mile from my barn, and they weren't too wild, so I fairly easily herded them back to the barn.
Pigs are typically very respectful of electric fence, even just one wire placed about 6 inches above ground. But the first time that they encounter such a fence, they will run through the fence instead of backing up. Depending on how wild the pigs are, they may immediately turn around and go back to where their home is, or they may run wild into the woods.
Once pigs learn what an electric fence is, they are very respectful of just one wire, but make sure and teach them in a low risk situation where there is a secondary fence. It also helps to contain them in a secure pen for the first few days after arrival so they get used to a where "home" is.
Finally, while more expensive and sometimes harder to work with, electric netting can be a more secure option for rotationally grazing pigs, especially if the holes in the netting are small enough that the pigs can't physically get through the barrier.
Pigs Love to Dig. The first couple of years with pigs, we rotationally grazed them through all of our pastures. They loved it, and ate a lot of plants in the process. However, they also turned over the sod in almost the entire pasture, which led to a multi-year long process of recovering to return to optimal grazing conditions for my ruminant animals. It also made the pasture very rough for driving over to mow or do other fieldwork.
I've since moved towards grazing the pigs in wooded areas only, where there isn't as much sod to disturb. If you do graze them in pastures where there is a lot of sod, I would suggest planning to use tillage and replanting after the pigs go through to smooth it out and re-establish the plants you would like to have in the pasture.
Pigs Acquire Parasites. Commercial pork is produced on concrete or slat floors, and the pigs have very little contact with soil. This generally leads to lower numbers of parasites, as the pigs pick up parasites through the soil and associated biota that live in the soil. Thus, when grazing pigs, you can anticipate that they will have parasites, particularly roundworms, especially if pigs have been in the same area within the past couple of years.
Pigs can still be raised without the use of de-wormers, but typically results in poor feed efficiency and slower growth. I would recommend an oral or injectable de-wormer about two weeks after purchasing the feeder pigs, and again after two months. Make sure and read the labels of any de-wormer given to them, particularly as it pertains to time to slaughter restrictions.
It's also important to know that the roundworms that parasitize pigs can also infect humans. Thus, it's a good idea to keep pigs and pig manure out of vegetable garden areas.
Overall, pigs can be a great addition to the rotational grazing operation, and a tasty addition to the freezer. Use the guidelines above to help you be successful with your pig grazing operation.