Pel
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Finish an OSB on finisher pellets or growers?Ok, not the kind of question i'd normally ask, however, i'm helping advise some newbie pig keepers on feeding their pigs. We have them on BOCM farmgate growers (18% protein) at the moment, they are quite happy to finish them on this (at the moment they are 19 weeks old, due to go off at 30 weeks old), but I myself have concerns about this as one of the pigs is an OSB and the other is a welsh.. if we had two welshs then i wouldn't be concerned just restrict feeding a little, rather than ad-lib which they are on at the moment.
However we dont have 2 welsh, we've got a pure OSB.
So i was wondering to the OSB keepers, can you finish them on growers with a restricted diet or would it be better to swap to finishers? And to first time pig keepers how stressful is it for you guys to change diets?
The wife (of the owners) doesnt want too much fat, if she could get around 12mm that be great, however she has said that she doesnt more, just not excessive.
I dont want to make it too complicated for them (i have a habit of doing this) thats why i said put them on pellets... but i dont know if i should step in here or not? or just let them get on with it?
Also the other problem which isnt a problem, other than that they need to be finished by the date is that the welsh is a boar and the OSB is a gilt.... if the gilt does get preggers then that isnt nessicarly a problem, but the idea is for both to go off for the chop without any suspsion of being 'knocked up' (as the wife puts it).
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VSS
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Our growing pigs are half bred OSB. We switch to finisher ration about 5-6 weeks before we aim to finish them.
Probably not much help 
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Pel
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Nope does help a little  (at least someone replied)
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RichardW
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| Pel wrote: | | Nope does help a little (at least someone replied) |
All to busy enjoying the weather / weekend / DS meet
Richard
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woodsprite
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Sorry Pel, we used to keep pure OSB's but I never fed them commercial rations, always mixed my own. No help I'm afraid.
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Mr O
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I have kept OSBs and finished them on breeders nuts (14% protein) I would not advise any higher than that as they can get a bit fat.
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Rob R
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On higher protein they get fat?
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Pel
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The higher energy/carbs they get fat, which does make it seem a bit odd the lower protein you get the more of that they add... makes it hard to get a perfect KK diet (well i know buy potbelly feed).
This is the plus side of mixing your own.
Would anyone else put their pigs on just flaked peas and vit/mins supps... i've read the research behind it which says its fine, but just wondering if anyone else would do that?
Sorry for the grumpness at no one answering, it was a sunny weekend, not on saturday though for me it was raining up here in the mountains... sunny from then on though.
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ninat
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we don't have OSB's but were recommended by someone to add soaked beet pulp to our pigs ration to bulk it out and prevent them turning fat (GOS x berkshire). They didn't like it very much unless we soaked all the food well and gave it a good mix.
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