ATTRA Question of the Week

P.J.
Ohio

Answer: Thank you for requesting information about crops you can raise on a small scale to feed hogs through the winter.

Referenced below are various articles dealing with raising hogs on pasture. But if I understand what you are asking, you don’t necessarily want to know about forage crops; your hogs are going to need some grain through the winter.

It’s too late this year, but for next year you might think about: corn, turnips, pumpkins, and lots of other crops. There is a chapter in “Raising Pigs Successfully”, by Kathy and Bob Kellogg, which seems to answer your question. I also found an article in an old Mother Earth News, and I recommend you ask at your library for “Small-Scale Pig Raising”, by Dirk van Loon. Each of these sources has ideas on supplemental feeding of pigs, and the books do a nice job of explaining nutrition for pigs. From what I read, I would say you should plan to feed a complete feed and then supplement with excess garden vegetables, ear corn, whey or excess milk, and other extra foods. That way you can be sure your pigs are getting what they need, and they will enjoy the treats.

For feeding through the winter, though, it seems to me that ear corn and pumpkins would be fairly practical, since they store well. You may be able to pick up pumpkins very cheaply after Halloween, and experiment with feeding some this year. Storage and spoilage will be issues for you to solve.

For additional information see ATTRA's Hog Production Alternatives publication.

References:
Kellogg, Kathy and Bob. 1985. Raising Pigs Successfully. Williamson Publishing. Charlotte, Vermont. 190 p.

Van Loon, Dirk. 1978. Small-Scale Pig Raising. Garden Way Publishing. Storey Communications. Pownal, Vermont. 263 p.

Resources:

Anon. 1970. Ham, bacon, pork, lard. Mother Earth News. March/April. 8 p.

Kellogg, Kathy and Bob. 1985. Raising Pigs Successfully. Williamson Publishing. Charlotte, Vermont. Chapter 6. p. 65–80.

Van Loon, Dirk. 1978. Small-Scale Pig Raising. Garden Way Publishing. Storey Communications. Pownal, Vermont. 263 p.

Cramer, Craig. 1992. “Hogs just might be the ideal grazers.’ New Farm. September/October. p. 18-23.

Gunthorp, Greg and Lei. No date. Pastured pigs on the Gunthorp farm. 5 p.

Gunthorp, Greg and Lei. 2001. Tips for raising pork on pasture. American Small Farm. July. p. 34, 35.

Kephart, Kenneth B., et al. 1990. Forages for swine. Pork Industry Handbook. 8 p.

Nation, Allan. 2002. Crabgrass said to be favorite of pastured pigs. The Stockman Grass Farmer. April. p. 9-11.

Rachuonyo, H. A., V. G. Allen, and J. J. McGlone. 2005. Behavior, preference for, and use of alfalfa, tall fescue, white clover, and buffalograss by pregnant gilts in an outdoor production systems. Journal of Animal Science. September. p. 2225-2234.