Pig Fodder Forest

 

Discontent to rely upon outside sources for pig feed, I have decided that it is essential for me to find ways to give my pigs a healthy, balanced diet from within the farm itself. This is important for many reasons.

 

• Commercially available pig feed is very expensive and can contribute to 80% of a pig’s production. Part of the reason for rearing pigs is to save money and although the purchase of commercially available pig feed will guarantee a plump pig at slaughter time, it hardly justifies the need of the small holder trying to produce their own product to save money, especially when you consider vet costs, slaughter costs and other associated costs. Perhaps it would be cheaper to visit the butcher?

• Part of the reason I wish to grow pigs is to take pressure of the resources that currently are consumed by large scale processing industries, such as the ones that produce pig feed. Mono cropping of corn and other grains, freight of those grains between production sights and associated packaging all add to the resources consumed by the end consumers (me and my family)

• If the pig feed is guaranteed organic and free of GMO products, this will further increase the cost of pig feed. I would be less enthusiastic about pig rearing if I knew it was contributing to GMO products.

• The need to rely on outside sources, suppliers and systems for my food goes against the philosophy of being self-sufficient. If I have to purchase 100kg of feed to grow a 100kg pig then all I have done is convert one external resource into another.

• Quality of life for my pigs. I wish that my pigs have a rich and varied diet that mimics what might be found in a natural diet.

• Availability of resources and ability to produce resources. My farm has a rich variety of established trees, crops and food sources which would be suitable for pig production.

 

Part of the philosophy of permaculture is to design systems that replicate natural cycles in nature and I feel that one of the best ways to grow healthy happy pigs would be to provide the with a “fodder forest” system that would provide a large percentage of their nutritional needs. The rest of their diet would be supplemented by products produced on the farm but not necessarily grown in the “fodder forest”

We have a large population of feral pigs around here and I have a good idea of the damage they can do (and the foods they love!). Pigs are great little rotary hoes and I have seen large amounts of taro crops and banana trees wiped clean by hungry pigs foraging. Considering this, I have decided to produce two fodder forests that will be separated by a pig proof fence. While one area is recovering and regenerating, the other will be grazed. This system also has the benefit of being fertilized by pig poo. Perhaps I will incorporate ducks or chickens into the recovering forest but we shall see.

 

First up is to select an area suitable for the fodder forests to be located. I have been eyeing off the corner of my large paddock and have decided that two, approximately one acre plots will be good for the project. Each will need to be fenced and gated in a permanent manner, but I am considering using electric fencing to start out with. Ideally a strong mesh fence with gates will be employed.

Next comes a rough idea of water availability to my fodder plants. The area selected has some natural recesses and is relatively sheltered but the soil is a rough alluvial granite which, although well drained, has little or no water storing capacity. My water is gravity fed and I am able to leave various taps running or trickling permanently. Living in the wet tropics, lack of water is not a problem, in fact the opposite is true. Excessive water can be a major issue in the wet season.

I don’t want to have to install irrigation into the system so I will select plants appropriate to the site within the forest. I will be using a constantly flowing bath tub of water to give fresh water and the overflow will give a good muddy wallow for the pigs.

Low lying “wetter” areas.

 

• Banana

• Plantain

• Taro

• Coco Yam

• Kankong

• Gingers

• Heliconnia

• Brahmi

• Gotakola

 

Higher “well drained” areas

 

• Mulberry tree

• Moirnga tree

• Bread Fruit tree

• Jack fruit tree

• Chempadak tree

• Cassava

• Pigeon Pea

• Pinto Peanut

• Coconut tree

• Papaya tree

• Sapottee varieties (mamey, canistal, black, white)

• Guyana chestnut

• Ice cream bean

• Sweet potatoes

• Abiu tree

• Nitrogen fixing legumes

• Cucubrits

• Okra

• Yams

• Amaranth

 

Their diet will also be complimented by additional sources including fruit that has been collected from the orchards outside the fodder forests, roots and seed crops grown for the pigs and duck eggs. I have a large reliable quantity of Muscovy duck eggs which would be a good protein source but I may need to cook them first. I plan to boil up a whole lot each week and give them to the pigs, shells and all. I can also procure coconuts very easily. Swill feeding is illegal so the kitchen scraps are not really an option. I am considering the use of nature kelp to add to their water for health benefits.

Of course, the next question is, where do I start? Do I establish the fodder forest first and let them develop for a few years or do I bring the pigs into the system straight up. Considering that the paddock is under a large quantity of brachiera grass, planted for cattle and almost impossible to get rid of, perhaps it would be an idea for my pigs to be included from day one as rotary hoes and fertilisers.

Without the food forest formed, they will need to be fed a lot more which means I need to consider the current availability of food stuff on the farm and the possibility that, at least in the first instance, I will need to purchase feed.

Housing or course is the final consideration. Many have advised me that the housing should be upon a cement floor which makes it more or less permanent but this does not really suit my philosophies. I feel that all areas should be able to be moved from time to time to stop the inevitable build-up of animal wastes, pests and diseases. I need a home for my pigs that is sturdy enough to withstand two 100 kg pigs, secure enough to protect my wieners from snakes and easy enough to move from place to place every now and again – especially between pens. Old timber pellets might be useful for this. Click here to follow this story as it unfolds in my blog.