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Pigs, acorn, grass

 
Posts: 192
Location: SW of France
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I dig a little in scientific publications about the "montanera" way of fattening pigs on acorns of Q. ilex rotundifolia and grass during months of november and december, here are some numbers :

Each pig eat 5-8kg of acorn and 2-2.5 kg of grass every day (fresh matter) (0.45 kg of grass DM)

>99.5% of bite was either for acorns or grass (50-50 or 60-40)

Daily volontary intake is (g/day)
Crude protein : 230
Crude fibre 183
Crude fat 390

Yield / stocking rate :

* Yield of oak is 8-14 kg/year, so this means you need 0.3-1 oak (Q. ilex) / day / pig
* Pasture yield 200–500 kg dry matter (DM) of the autumn grass production per hectare
* One article says "A stocking rate of 0.76 pigs/ha was established so that the supply of acorns would not run out before the end of the fattening period"

Daily weight gain : 500g

Refs:

article - article - article - aricle

 
Posts: 418
Location: Eugene, OR
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Once I get land I definitely want to try raising pigs this way. Thanks for all the info!
 
pollinator
Posts: 1459
Location: Midlands, South Carolina Zone 7b/8a
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Hmmm...I may have to do a little digging on turkeys eating acorns.
 
            
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Did you have acorns nearby? 
 
Jeanine Gurley Jacildone
pollinator
Posts: 1459
Location: Midlands, South Carolina Zone 7b/8a
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At work there is building that has TONS of acorns around it every year.  Since my husband is in charge of the maintenance of all of the grounds and buildings I know which areas have been treated with chemicals and which have not.

It would be great if I could find a use for all of those acorns.
 
pollinator
Posts: 494
Location: Klickitat, WA (USDA zone 8, Sunset zone 5)
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Know anyone with goats? They love acorns...
 
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