Just found this video. We ferment our chicken feed with great success and are getting our first batch of IPPs this weekend. We will be fermenting their feed as well. Thank you!
Very helpful information here, last year we raised our first batch if IPPs and I was never quite sure on how much to feed them and when to add the minerals. I will put to use on what I learned here today. You are a great teacher: your kids are very lucky.
Thank you! We've really narrowed things down and we are feeding our breeders 3lbs per day and 1tbsp per lb. of mineral. Our feeders are fed 1lb of feed per day for each month of age up to 4-5lbs.
This season was the first time raising Idaho Pasture Pigs on our homestead. We liked them so much that we are getting a breeding pair for next season. Thanks for the info- good video.
Most recently I've used a portable concrete mixer for mixing wet feed for pigs fill the drum with middlings turn on in mixer mode and add water to slurry. Then dump into feed holding barrel let it set a day or two then feed
Ma'am you remind me so much of the girl in the movie True Grit that John Wayne starred in. Believe her screen name was Mattie! Liked the explanation on how fermentation helped with digestion. 👍
We when I was young used a 55 gallon barrel that we filled with wheat middlings and water the wheat middlings ran about 16 percent protein... It would get pretty aromatic in a week's time ha ha
We are not fermenting right now. We were at a place where we had 5 full sized breeding pigs, 3 feeders and several piglets. Fermenting just wasn't reasonable. We may go back to it but right now we also need to determine if it is a cost savings for us. We are using a local non-gmo pellet feed right now.
What is the protein ratio of your main feed, and what minerals are you sprinkling/mixing in with the feed ? I've got access to some bulk 13% feed but want to boost it up a bit.
Fermenting became very difficult after we increased our herd size. We now feed 3lbs per day for breeding pigs and 4-5lbs per day for feeders depending on their growth.
How are these pastured pigs if you are feeding that much grain and alfalfa? I thought the point of the breed is that you can raise them on pasture; grass fed pasture pigs. That is a lot of feed that you are feeding to meat conversion. I'm glad you are doing well on this method but I don't understand feeding pasture pigs grain. I love fermented feed by the way and you did a great job explaining it.
I think there is a lot of confusion and misconception about what a "pasture" breed is. These pigs are bred to do well on pasture and forage but all pigs need some amount of grain because grass alone will not meet their protein requirement. Most IPP breeders feed somewhere between 16% and 20% protein. There also has to be a balance for their to be a reasonable conversion for growth. IPPs area wonderful option because you get a pig that growns in a reasonable amount of time 8-10m and still thrives on pasture but doesn't dig terribly.
I’m quite a bit late to the party here, so I hope you see this; I am having a really hard time finding a good non-gmo pig feed. I had to jump through some crazy hoops to get Scratch&Peck last year, but they just priced it way out of my budget this year 🙁 What feed are you getting?
We are not fermenting right now. We were at a place where we had 5 full sized breeding pigs, 3 feeders and several piglets. Fermenting just wasn't reasonable. We may go back to it but right now we also need to determine if it is a cost savings for us. We are using a local non-gmo pellet feed right now. We are in the PNW and another great option would be Natural Farm Feeds out of Spokane. They have drop locations throughout WA.
@@5dfarmstead42 thank you so much for taking time to reply! I had to drive from SE Idaho to Spanish Fork, Utah, but I think I found a mix good for both my pigs and chickens (maybe goats too!) When I can find more buckets, I’m going to experiment with fermenting longer. We’ll see how it goes. My best to you!
We use Red Bridge Farms. They are a family owned company in Eastern WA. The quality of the product is great and 100% non-gmo. I also like that I am supporting a Veteran Farmer!
You would want to use a mash or whole grain. The process is the same. Layers are about a 1/4lb of feed per day but it can be reduced with fermentation so rather than feeding 1lb per 4 chickens you can measure out 3/4lb and then ferment it. Most people will say that you can reduce 30-40% but I wait to see how my chickens do.
I tried doing 3 days and my third day was always really bad smelling like rotten eggs almost. I've been doing two days and I don't have the smell but I don't have the bubbly action all the time. Any ideas of what could be wrong? What sort of temperature should I have my room at? Is it okay in an unheated garage through the warmer times?
It really depends on temperatures. If it is really hot then you can get a ferment in 24 hours. We are in Western WA so most of the summer we had a 3 day ferment and every once in a while it was 48 hours. I stir mine each day to check it as well as make sure there isn't mold. The smell can be interesting. I would say it smells more like spent grains though or a "beer" smell. We kept ours in an open barn. A garage might even get a little too warm.
I brew beer and it's kinda the same concept. That rotten egg smell is not a good sign. A good fermentation does have bubbles. I'd recommend adding a little brewers yeast or bread yeast in the beginning to help kick start that fermentation. Leaving your buckets some what uncovered is a good thing for wild yeast but be mindful of bugs.
The mineral mix is from Wolfkill, which is a local company. It can be ordered through natural farm feeds. The mash is from RBF - Red Bridge Farms which is veteran owned company out of Kettle Falls WA.
This is from the website of Red Bridge Farms -A Complete Ration. No need to supplement anything! Barley, Peas, Wheat, Canola Meal, Canola Oil, Vitamins and minerals, Probiotics, Enzymes. Probiotics and enzymes added, aiding in better digestion of the grains, better absorption of the nutrients and overall better health of your pigs. Enhanced with raw Cold Pressed Canola Oil, rich in Omega 3's and energy.
Just found this video. We ferment our chicken feed with great success and are getting our first batch of IPPs this weekend. We will be fermenting their feed as well. Thank you!
So amazing my sister
Very helpful information here, last year we raised our first batch if IPPs and I was never quite sure on how much to feed them and when to add the minerals. I will put to use on what I learned here today. You are a great teacher: your kids are very lucky.
Thank you! We've really narrowed things down and we are feeding our breeders 3lbs per day and 1tbsp per lb. of mineral. Our feeders are fed 1lb of feed per day for each month of age up to 4-5lbs.
We are enjoying our pig meat. Thanks for introducing us to our food.
We are very pleased with Del Fox and the processing and the flavor is amazing!
This season was the first time raising Idaho Pasture Pigs on our homestead. We liked them so much that we are getting a breeding pair for next season. Thanks for the info- good video.
We absolutely love this breed!
Most recently I've used a portable concrete mixer for mixing wet feed for pigs fill the drum with middlings turn on in mixer mode and add water to slurry. Then dump into feed holding barrel let it set a day or two then feed
Holy Moly that woman is pretty. I didn't hear a word she said about chicken feed hahaha. I guess I'll need to watch it again.
Interesting video again. We raised pigs twice.. love them. Had a short break and hope to get two again in the spring!
Great info, thanks for sharing.
Ma'am you remind me so much of the girl in the movie True Grit that John Wayne starred in. Believe her screen name was Mattie! Liked the explanation on how fermentation helped with digestion. 👍
I love to take care of my pigs and they are so fun to film with on my own channel!
Thank you so much! We get our pigs in October and I was very nervous on food ratios! This has been extremely helpful!
I’m so glad!
We when I was young used a 55 gallon barrel that we filled with wheat middlings and water the wheat middlings ran about 16 percent protein...
It would get pretty aromatic in a week's time ha ha
What is the protien value of your feed, and what kind of mineral do you use, does it contain selenium?
Again great video.
Doing a great job! Lots of good things going right here! Please reach out if you ever need additional nutritional advice.
great information. new subscriber! we just got IPP's. 2 gilts and 1 barrow
Very well done Mam.
One could add some of the fermented water from a ready-to-feed batch to boost probiotic action in the new mixes.
Thank you for the video! Are you adjusting the feed amount as they grow?
We will only adjust slightly because they will max out at 6lbs of feed per hog.
Where do you get your pig feed from? And it's already mash/powder?
I loved this video! I would really like an update on your pig process. Have you changed anything?
We are not fermenting right now. We were at a place where we had 5 full sized breeding pigs, 3 feeders and several piglets. Fermenting just wasn't reasonable. We may go back to it but right now we also need to determine if it is a cost savings for us. We are using a local non-gmo pellet feed right now.
Wow! That’s a lot! We ferment for our chickens in 5 gal buckets, I’m struggling to imagine the infrastructure needed to ferment for that many pigs.
What is the protein ratio of your main feed, and what minerals are you sprinkling/mixing in with the feed ? I've got access to some bulk 13% feed but want to boost it up a bit.
The feed we use is 16% protein. I get a hog mineral through a local company call natural farm feeds.
We are getting our first pigs on Monday, like your video, what kind of pigs do you have. We are getting IPPs.
We have IPPs and we love them!
Do you feed the pigs and chickens the same mash?
NEW SUBBIE! Great info! Thanks!
QUESTION: How often do you recalculate the amount of feed needed due to animal growth?
Fermenting became very difficult after we increased our herd size. We now feed 3lbs per day for breeding pigs and 4-5lbs per day for feeders depending on their growth.
How are these pastured pigs if you are feeding that much grain and alfalfa?
I thought the point of the breed is that you can raise them on pasture; grass fed pasture pigs. That is a lot of feed that you are feeding to meat conversion.
I'm glad you are doing well on this method but I don't understand feeding pasture pigs grain.
I love fermented feed by the way and you did a great job explaining it.
I think there is a lot of confusion and misconception about what a "pasture" breed is. These pigs are bred to do well on pasture and forage but all pigs need some amount of grain because grass alone will not meet their protein requirement. Most IPP breeders feed somewhere between 16% and 20% protein. There also has to be a balance for their to be a reasonable conversion for growth. IPPs area wonderful option because you get a pig that growns in a reasonable amount of time 8-10m and still thrives on pasture but doesn't dig terribly.
I’m quite a bit late to the party here, so I hope you see this; I am having a really hard time finding a good non-gmo pig feed. I had to jump through some crazy hoops to get Scratch&Peck last year, but they just priced it way out of my budget this year 🙁
What feed are you getting?
We are not fermenting right now. We were at a place where we had 5 full sized breeding pigs, 3 feeders and several piglets. Fermenting just wasn't reasonable. We may go back to it but right now we also need to determine if it is a cost savings for us. We are using a local non-gmo pellet feed right now. We are in the PNW and another great option would be Natural Farm Feeds out of Spokane. They have drop locations throughout WA.
@@5dfarmstead42 thank you so much for taking time to reply! I had to drive from SE Idaho to Spanish Fork, Utah, but I think I found a mix good for both my pigs and chickens (maybe goats too!) When I can find more buckets, I’m going to experiment with fermenting longer. We’ll see how it goes.
My best to you!
I do this for my chickens. Curious as to what grain you're using to ferment
We use Red Bridge Farms. They are a family owned company in Eastern WA. The quality of the product is great and 100% non-gmo. I also like that I am supporting a Veteran Farmer!
Do you feed your chickens the alfalfa pellets, too?
No I only ferment the grain for them and add some ground kelp. I use the pellets to supplement the pigs.
I have been thinking about fermenting for my chickens. How/what do you use for your chicken ferment?
You would want to use a mash or whole grain. The process is the same. Layers are about a 1/4lb of feed per day but it can be reduced with fermentation so rather than feeding 1lb per 4 chickens you can measure out 3/4lb and then ferment it. Most people will say that you can reduce 30-40% but I wait to see how my chickens do.
I recommend Red Bridge Farms or scratch and peck for grains.
Thank you!
I tried doing 3 days and my third day was always really bad smelling like rotten eggs almost. I've been doing two days and I don't have the smell but I don't have the bubbly action all the time. Any ideas of what could be wrong? What sort of temperature should I have my room at? Is it okay in an unheated garage through the warmer times?
It really depends on temperatures. If it is really hot then you can get a ferment in 24 hours. We are in Western WA so most of the summer we had a 3 day ferment and every once in a while it was 48 hours. I stir mine each day to check it as well as make sure there isn't mold. The smell can be interesting. I would say it smells more like spent grains though or a "beer" smell. We kept ours in an open barn. A garage might even get a little too warm.
I brew beer and it's kinda the same concept. That rotten egg smell is not a good sign. A good fermentation does have bubbles. I'd recommend adding a little brewers yeast or bread yeast in the beginning to help kick start that fermentation. Leaving your buckets some what uncovered is a good thing for wild yeast but be mindful of bugs.
Would this work for pigs in gestation
We have used fermented feed for our sows who are currently pregnant and had no issues.
Can you share where you get your mineral mix and what it's called?? Also same for the mash mix??
The mineral mix is from Wolfkill, which is a local company. It can be ordered through natural farm feeds. The mash is from RBF - Red Bridge Farms which is veteran owned company out of Kettle Falls WA.
@@5dfarmstead42 thank you!
What grains are in your pig grain?
I've been considering growing fodder for my livestock but fermenting looks easier lol.
This is from the website of Red Bridge Farms -A Complete Ration. No need to supplement anything!
Barley, Peas, Wheat, Canola Meal, Canola Oil, Vitamins and minerals, Probiotics, Enzymes.
Probiotics and enzymes added, aiding in better digestion of the grains, better absorption of the nutrients and overall better health of your pigs.
Enhanced with raw Cold Pressed Canola Oil, rich in Omega 3's and energy.
How much feed are you giving them?
A feeder IPP needs around 4.lbs per day and a breeder is 3lbs per day
@@5dfarmstead42 awesome, thank you
What type of mineral are you adding?
It is a hog mineral from Wolfkill in WA state.
So instead of calling them a pasture pig should be called a lard pig
Well they do have Kune Kune which is a heritage lard breed. They are a pasture pig because they thrive on pasture.