Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Noni Mammatt has been raising pigs in Australia for 16 years. She began with a sow that
farrowed a month later and presented her with 15 piglets. Through many twists and turns
over the years, Mammatt has come to have a current operation of 130 sows. She has had
as many as 400 sows and says that she will probably have about 500 sows again soon,
along with a large number of grower pigs. Mammatt's focus is selling mated or bred gilts.
Mammatt says she raises pigs for several reasons. “I like the animal immensely and the
habits and their curiosity aspect. If other people like pigs the way I do, then yes, they should
grow them. They are not like sheep and cattle. They come for a look instead of running
away.”
Mammatt suggests that others can get started raising pigs the same way she has done. “Do
as I have done and get one that is mated and a few smaller gilts and a small boar and give it
a go. A little reading might be a good idea beforehand. Borrow topics from the library and
from older members of the pig industry. You also get some verbal experience from these
people on how to feed and what to add when making up your own feeds and how to keep
them warm and dry and lean for market.”
Mammatt prefers to keep her pigs outdoors. “I run my pigs all outdoors... I have done this for
16 years. I have them in paddocks, and they are given grain. They also have access to pas-
ture when the paddock is locked up for the season and this is free feed so to speak. The
pasture is only around knee high, so there is plenty of protein in the feed, which will last a
good amount — for 25 to 30 sows around five to six weeks of feed.
“I like the idea of outdoor production as it is a healthy way to produce pigs. It is also a cheap-
er option than building an indoor unit.”
Mammatt says she raises several breeds, along with one of her own creation. “ I raise large
whites, Hampshire, Berkshires, Landrace, Duroc, and red saddles, which are a little different
from the norm. These are a breed of my own, which I have slowly developed, and I am now
getting pure litters coming through. They are quiet, produce plenty of milk, have good num-
bers, do not seem to lose too much condition while they carry their young, and make great
mothers as well as fosters. Are good to handle, also.”
She says she feeds wheat, barley, and lupins to her sows via a selection of diets formulated
by a nutritionist. “I then only have to follow what is given to me and add the grain that is on
the diet. I have experimented a little with feeds as well. I give hay for bedding, and the sows
consume some of this as well. The growers also eat hay, and this helps them digest the
grain feed.”
As for tips on raising pigs, Mammatt said, “The old timers who used to grow pigs back when
I was not around would feed their pigs beer if they saw a sow with problems during labor.
This quieted the old girl down.”
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