SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

Camp fences should be high enough that pigs cannot jump over them. Electric fencing is one of the best ways to keep free-range pigs in and other threats out of your camps. Rotational grazing is one of the more sustainable methods of free-ranging, allowing pastures to recover before being grazed or foraged on again. Wallows should be available in the camps to aid pigs in cooling down in hot weather, as pigs do not have the ability to sweat. Herd nutrition, management, and breeding Foraging alone does not provide adequate nutrition for efficient growth. Foraging should be supplemented by grain-based feed when pasture quality and availability are good. However, supplying a high-quality complete feed and allowing supplementary foraging results in the best growth rates, slaughter weights, and health of the pigs. Feed can be provided in troughs at the same time each day – minimising stress. Then the pigs may forage to supplement their intake. This allows pigs to express their natural behaviour, while still benefiting from a high-quality diet. Alternative systems include purely pasture-based systems, ideally with rotation grazing and high-quality pastures. These may include a mixture of legumes and natural grasses. Other pasture-based systems may include byproducts such as brewers’ grain and vegetable wastes. Pasture-based systems must be managed better to limit protein deficiencies. Where it is easier to ensure optimal growth and performance with good quality complete feeds. Access to clean water is critical for free-ranging animals, as water is one of the most important nutrients. All water sources, including boreholes, dams, rivers, and canals, should be routinely tested to ensure high-quality water availability to the pigs. Water troughs, as well as water nipple systems, can be used in free-range farming. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of free-range pigs is always higher (worse) than that of commercial pigs. This is due to the lack of climate control and higher energy expenditure on other activities. Due to these factors, piglets in free-range systems are often lighter when compared to their commercial counterparts at the same age. In a free-range system, piglets are weaned between 4 and 8 weeks of age, compared to a commercial setting where weaning takes place at 3 to 4 weeks of age. It is required to extend the weaning age of free-range piglets to ensure heavier, more robust piglets. One of the key elements in producing good-quality piglets with high weaning weights is nutrition. Creep feed should be offered three days after birth; this will supplement the sow’s milk and result in better intakes. High-quality lactation feed will support optimal milk production. In an ideal free-range system, the sows, boars, and growers would be housed separately. Housing the sows separately allows for better control of the nutrition pre- and post-farrowing. In free-range systems, it is feasible to produce two litters per sow per year and, in exceptional cases, up to 2,5 litters/sow/year. Providing separate housing to the boars prevents uncontrolled breeding, allows them to maintain body condition and avoid overheating in the warmer months. Natural mating is the most common and viable option in free-range systems. The breeding ratio ranges from 1 boar per 10 sows to 1 boar per 20 sows. In cross-breeding systems, it is advisable to use the sow as the indigenous breed and the boar as the commercial breed. One of the most common crosses in South Africa is the Kolbroek cross with Landrace. This maximises hybrid vigour, ensuring a sow with good mothering abilities that produces hardy piglets with improved growth potential. The best approach to cross-breeding is the 2-way rotational or 3-way terminal cross. In the 2-way cross, you would use an indigenous breed as the sow and cross her with a commercial boar. You would then keep the crossbred females as the sows and breed them to the indigenous breed in the second generation. In the third generation, you would mate that crossbred sow back to the commercial breed. In the 3-way cross, you create a maternal line by crossing an indigenous sow with a commercial boar. You keep the first generation as your sow base and mate them to a third terminal boar. Figure 6: Schematic of a pig tractor (left) and farrowing hut (right) Figure 7: Piglets foraging with a sow (left) and an example of a water nipple system (right) hitched up to a tractor. Movable units are good for supporting rotational grazing. By government regulation, a free-range system must have 5 m² of floor space per pig. Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 80