What do you feed Kunekune pigs?
Kunes thrive on a diet of grass, fresh fruit and vegetables. They differ from commercial pigs in that they do not need high levels of protein. Kunes need a maximum of 16% protein, and by preference a little less. They also need much more fibre than commercial pigs.
What can you not feed a Kunekune pig?
Salt can be toxic to pigs since they do not have sweat glands. Most plants in your garden can be fed except unripened tomatoes, raw potatoes, raw sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes are fine but they absorb more protein when cooked), parsnips, celery, celery root, parsley, onions, avocado pits,, and rhubarb.
How much should I feed my Kunekune pig a day?
How much feed does a Kunekune pig need? Kunekunes should be provided with approximately 1-2% of their body weight in pelleted feed alongside free access to grass or hay. The feed should be split into two feeds a day and could be provided in a trough or scattered in their paddock.
What kind of hay do Kunekune pigs eat?
Alfalfa cubes, alfalfa hay, alfalfa pellets are used when pasture is scarce. All pigs get high quality horse hay as bedding. Beet pulp is great as a filler, to add bulk and fiber to the diet of a pig who you want to lose weight without feeling hungry.
Can KuneKune pigs eat raw potatoes?
Pigs can eat potatoes and can use it as a good source of energy. However, potatoes fed to pigs would either have to be cooked or dried. Otherwise, it can potentially cause some stomach issues.
Can KuneKune pigs eat bananas?
KuneKune pigs will eat all kinds of fruit including strawberries, banana peels, apples and peels, oranges, berries, apricots, peaches, and pears. Fruit should not make up the majority of their diet but should also include grains and grasses.
How much hay does a KuneKune need?
Kunekunes require 1/7 to 1/4 the amount of grain of standard pigs, but they do still need some grain in combination with their grazing to make sure their diet is complete. This is especially true of young (birth through one year), pregnant, and lactating pigs.
Are alfalfa pellets good for pigs?
Alfalfa also contains tannins and sapponins— anti-nutritional factors that reduce the growth rate of pigs. Alfalfa can be a valuable feed for dry sows, but less so for younger pigs. Sows have a greater capacity for fermentation in the hindgut that allows for greater fiber digestion and improved energy utilization.
Do KuneKune pigs need a companion?
Absolutely! KuneKune's love other animals and often will play and interact with them. If you can not have 2 pigs at least plan to have another animal companion for your pig. Always separate animals during the birthing process so that the momma has a chance to bond with her baby or babies.
Can Kunekune pigs eat sweet feed?
We feed pellets twice a day. I usually mix some soaked beet pulp with some sow/pig pellets and a little scratch and sweet feed. They love it.
Do Kunekune pigs eat alfalfa?
They graze on grass and, providing you have enough of it, don't really need anything else in the summer. They can eat hay in winter; however, we have found that our pigs like alfalfa pellets mixed in with their food in a “mush” consistency during the winter when grass is dormant.
Can Kunekune pigs eat oats?
Oats have their highest replacement value when fed at low levels in the diet. Heavy oats of good quality can be used in the diet at higher levels than light oats.
What should a pig not eat?
It's ok to feed pigs uncontaminated fruits, vegetables, bread, grains, dairy, eggs, and vegetable oils. Do not feed pigs meat, fish, or their bones, oils, or juices, or ANY food that has touched these substances. All food scraps can be composted.
Can pigs eat bananas?
Bananas can be fed to pigs either fresh, ensiled (Le Dividich et al., 1976a; Le Dividich et al., 1976b), or in the form of a dry meal, even though the latter is extremely difficult to achieve. Ripe bananas are very palatable and their degree of ripeness affects performance.
Can Kunekune pigs have plums?
You can also supplement with fruit & vegetable scraps from cutoffs, peels, or leftovers from dinner. Sometimes a local grocer will let you have “uglies” for free that they are going to throw out. If there are any fruits with a pit (like a peach, plum, etc) be sure to take it out, because they could get a blockage.
Can pigs eat grapes?
Yes, pigs can eat grapes. But make sure to feed the grapes or grapes juice concentrate in low amounts to balance the sugar contents in the pig's body. Feeding the high sugary food items to pigs can lead to many heart problems and sometimes conditions can become fatal and may cause the death of animals.
What do kunekune pigs eat?
Kunekune pigs do very well on a diet of grass, fresh fruit, and vegetables. They are different from commercial pigs in that they do not need high levels of protein. Kunes need around 16% protein, and in comparison, it is quite less. The fiber requirement is also much more than commercial pigs. Kunekune pigs do well on grass ...
What are the feeding rules for a Kunekune pig?
But first, some feeding rules to live by…. 1. Kunekune pigs are not ruminants but omnivores. 2. Your growing pig needs more food and nutrition than adult Kunes. 3. Your growing pig’s body condition in its first year of life should be round but not too chubby. 4.
What do kunekunes need?
This ensures your pigs are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals. Kunekunes are a grass foraging pig ...
How much should a 4 month old pig eat?
Youngsters up to 4 months old get should be fed up to a 12-ounce scoop of food per day. Observe your pig from starting point and adjust the diet as per their growth. A 4-8-month-old Kunes might eat 1.5-2 scoops. I’d say that adults eat around 1-1.5 scoops per day when in optimal condition.
How much water should a pig drink a day?
Pigs must be fed twice a day when needing to be supplemented, and have easy access to clean drinking water. Adult sows can drink up to 5-litres of water a day during lactation, predominantly during hot weather.
Can you use kitchen waste on pigs?
This means any kitchen leftovers, such as fruit and vegetable peels or pet food, cannot be provided to your pigs.
Is a Kunekune pig overweight?
They are not overweight, nor are they structurally strained. Kunekune pigs vary in size and growth rates and there are no guarantees that a piglet out of fast-growing parents will also have fast growth. But there’s an increased likelihood, especially if properly and amply fed.
How to help a pig with fat blindness?
If your pig is getting fat blindness, make sure you are feeding a quality feed. Do not feed kunekune's "All Stock" or any type of feed that is for other animals. Our veterinarian said the #1 reason she see's health issues in livestock is from "All Stock" feed. Then if you are feeding a good quality grain, cut back on treats and fruit. Still feed veggies and they can get hay and graze. If you are still having issues, take your pig to a veterinarian to make sure nothing else is going on.
When do piglets start eating?
Piglets start eating grain as early as 1 week old, they follow their mom out and will mouth the grain. By 3 to 4 weeks old they are fighting their mom for food. When they are weaned at 8 weeks they are getting 1/2 cup twice a day and fresh fruit and veggies. These are rough estimates for growing piglets. All piglets will grow at different rates and food needs to be adjusted accordingly.
Can kunekunes fatten?
Kunekunes can fatten on pasture grazing alone. If you do supplement with grain make sure it is 16% or lower in protein. I used the feed store's brand "Bryant" 14% Hog Finisher twice a day. I have recently switched to Purina's Pig & Sow from Tractor Supply. It is a 16% feed and I've noticed it helps reduce the tear discharge from their eyes. Depending on the size of the pig and how much pasture they are getting I adjust the amount.
What do Kunekune eat?
KuneKune means “fat and round” and our KuneKunes eat not only Blue Seal Pig and Sow and Hydroponic Barley but, lots of fruits and veggies as well.
How much protein do kune pigs need?
Kunes need a maximum of 16%. protein, and by preference a little less. They also need much more fibre than commercial. pigs. Kunekune pigs live on grass and vegetables in summer, in autumn this can. be supplemented with apples.
When do we rotate pigs?
We rotate our pigs through nine pastures, moving them every time we rotate our goats during the Spring and Summer. Depending on the quality and quantity of pasture available you may need to supplement. We supplement our pigs with soy meal mostly in the Winter.
Do piglets need grain?
While your piglets or younger pigs are developing it is essential that they are provided with grain to develop and mature correctly. My husband said it best when he said, “if you do not feed your KuneKune correctly, God will provide for it”. I totally get what he is saying.
What can Kunekunes eat?
KuneKunes can eat all vegetables including, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.
Why do pigs slop the hogs?
If you have ever heard the phrase “slop the hogs” its because pigs love eating leftovers and food scraps. There are only a few things that I will never feed my KuneKunes and things I have noticed that they don’t like. So lets discuss what KuneKunes can and should not eat. Kune Kunes are omnivores meaning like people their diet can consist ...
Do kune pigs eat grass?
The best part is since they have upturned noses they won’t root up your lawn or pasture. A majority of KuneKunes diet is made up of grass and fresh greens.
Can Kune eat bread?
Kune Kunes can eat all bread products and other grains. Bread has great nutrition for Kune Kunes. Instead of throwing out moldy bread or bread scraps feed them to your Kune Kunes. As much as I hate throwing out bread it is good to know that our Kune Kunes will thoroughly enjoy it.
What do farmers feed their pigs?
One farmer provides pasture and/or hay daily, and also feeds a variety of foods that vary from day to day, including garden produce, kitchen scraps, chicken culls, eggs-too-dirty-to-use-in-the-kitchen. Especially in winter, a bit of COB is given each evening after the pigs have browsed the pasture (or hay) during the day.
What do sheep eat?
There are a variety of feeding systems or styles, none “better” than the other, but merely a matter of personal preference on the part of the breeder. Various feeding systems, in no particular order: 1 One farmer provides pasture and/or hay daily, and also feeds a variety of foods that vary from day to day, including garden produce, kitchen scraps, chicken culls, eggs-too-dirty-to-use-in-the-kitchen. Especially in winter, a bit of COB is given each evening after the pigs have browsed the pasture (or hay) during the day. COB is a purchased mixture of corn, oats and barley. 2 Another farmer provides, in addition to pasture or local grass hay, a supplement twice a day of a small amount of whole wheat and a cup of hog pellets. 3 Yet another farmer feeds only a minimum amount of grain due to the fact that “these hogs eat like hogs, surviving on garden trash, table scraps and other stuff a farm produces. We avoid feeding corn to them as much as possible. Corn seems to produce obesity which can hamper reproduction.” In addition to moving their portable pens regularly to fresh grass, they “feed them a ration of milo, oats, corn gluten, soy hull pellets, wheat, bran and beet pulp. I purchase this custom mixed feed from the local mill.”#N#Hogs enjoying their hay.
Does corn hamper reproduction?
Corn seems to produce obesity which can hamper reproduction.”. In addition to moving their portable pens regularly to fresh grass, they “feed them a ration of milo, oats, corn gluten, soy hull pellets, wheat, bran and beet pulp.
Do hogs eat hay?
Hogs enjoying their hay. While there are as many different feeding regimes as there are farmers, they have one thing in common; these pigs live primarily on pasture and/or hay, and get supplemented with what the farmer has on hand or prefers to buy in.
Kunekune Pigs
In addition to helping with pasture management, Kunekune pigs are popular in non-farming circles as pets. These pigs have oodles of personality. They are friendly, calm, and curious. They are very smart and always want to see what the humans are up to.
Qualities of Kunekune Pork
Kunekune pork is drastically different from the pork that you find in stores. The meat is dark red and richly marbled, leading to moist and tender meat. Many times the chops and pork steaks resemble beef more than pork. The meat has a sweet flavor due to the grass based diet of the Kunekune.
Raising Kunekune Hogs for Pork
Because Kunekune pigs are such great grazers, they are a great choice for homestead pigs. While many breeders do give their young pigs a bit of grain during their growing years, it is a relatively small amount, like 2 cups per day per pig.
Are Kune Kune Pigs Right for You?
Some things to consider before raising Kunekune pigs and other pigs — and any livestock for meat — are:
Housing and Fencing Kunekune Pigs
Kunekune pigs need about a quarter acre of pasture per adult pig. This means that you can have four or five pigs per acre. Rotating pastures will keep the pigs from overgrazing the fields. The pigs will be more likely to root and test fences if their fields are overgrazed. Foraging keeps the pigs happy and intellectually stimulated.
Breeding Kunekune Pigs
Usually around the age of 8 months, Kunekune boars reach sexual maturity. However, they will not be fully fertile until they are a year old. A Kunekune gilt may begin cycling around six months old. However, they do not need to breed until they are 10 months old.
Characteristics to Consider When Breeding
There are certain characteristics to consider. The ideal breeding gilt has the following attributes:
Why I chose to raise pigs over other animals for meat as a newbie
When we first bought our little homestead, I figured we’d start out meat raising with something small, such as meat chickens, and then work our way up to raising larger animals for meat as we gained more experience.
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Well, my birthday came and Mr. Hubs gave me the news that he would be gifting me money to buy pigs.
Second-guessing myself. Am I sure I want to raise meat pigs?
Before purchasing our piglets, we took a trip to Brad’s house to scope out the piglets. Mr. Hubs also wanted me to “ make sure ” this is what I “ really wanted “.
Now, you must understand that the original plan was to purchase two piglets, using my birthday money
That was until we got a-talkin, and Brad said he wouldn’t mind some more goats and we could do a little tradey-poo, (aka barter).
Picking up our pigs
The day came to pick up our piglets and bring them home. Brad kindly had the females separated from the males, as I only wanted females.
Bringing home our first piglets for meat
On the car drive home, the poor pigs were terrified. And I did feel bad for them.
Welcome to The Inspired Prairie piggies!
When we got the piglets home and took them out of their crate, they ran and ran and huddled together in different corners of their fenced in pasture.
