Spring Greens & Calcium

[PiggyOinkOink]

I have been reading the Piglopaedia and it mentions about the calcium/bladder stone issues.
As I had basically been feeding mine mainly Kale (which has lots of calcium) since I had gotten them ~4mths ago) I was worried and switched to Spring Greens as some of you suggested. However, I just came across this:

www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/calcium.htm

..which it states that Spring Greens have about 50% more calcium than Kale lol I looked at other pages online and have seen nutritional information for Spring Greens stating anything from 0 - 10% calcium per serving. I am a little confused and was wondering if anyone actually knew the truth about the calcium content?

I am aware that Spring Greens is a loose term and can range from the cut offs of turnips & swede to cabbage so the nutritional information can vary. The ones I get are usually pre-chopped tesco 200g but ive just found unchopped 500g at Sainsburys cheaper at only £1! The information page doesn't come up on Sainsburys for me to check but the 200g pre-chopped they do doesn't have calcium information on it.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/sain...sburys_ready_prepared_spring_greens_200g.html

Also, since they are 'Spring' Greens, are they only available in the Spring or all year round and if not, then what do people switch to?

 

[helen105281]

It was most likely me that suggested it on here as I feed spring greens as part of the special bladder diet my friend who runs a piggy clinic has suggested I follow. She has done absolutely loads of research on diet and I trust her advice. Since following this diet she has had no calcium deposits in her pigs and neither have I. She has also never had a stone in any of her pigs apart from one who arrived with a stone, which was years ago. This diet has also worked for other pigs and has the approval of the exotic vet who works with London zoo as a diet least likely to cause stones, though ideally no veg should be fed at all, but if need be then very small amounts.

Balance is key here, yes on some sites it seems that the calcium in greens is higher than Kale but it is negligible especially as the portion size of the greens we feed is so small that they only get about 6g a day. Kale is also one of the veg known to cause gas and bloat if fed in large amounts, which is another reason I avoid it. Kale is higher in carbs, sodium and protein too but greens have much more dietary fibre which is the most important element in a pig's diet. Any veg should be fed in very small portions and as 90% of their diet needs to be fibre the rule should be hay hay and more hay and as many varieties as possible, small amounts of veg and a very small amount of pellets (I feed and recommend grainless).

This link should help

http://skipthepie.org/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/kale-raw/compared-to/collards-raw/

 

[Briony_S]

I am not all that scientific when it comes to my veggies but I just feel small amounts of everything and as much variety as possible is the way to go. With regards to leafy veg mine all get some sort of cabbage once a week only and only a slither each. In such a small portion it shouldnt matter so long as you feed different things. I may feed spring greens one week then next week it may be savoy next week it might be kale. I have 18 pigs and when it comes to cabbage they only ever get a bit of whatever we are having that week with our roast. I bought some spring greens this week ive made two roasts and the 18 pigs have had a portion and I'm going to probably throw out 3/4 of it lol.

 

[PiggyOinkOink]

Thanks for that info! Perhaps I am overfeeding them then. I have 4 piggies nearly 6mths old and 3 babies about 3wks and I will go through a 200g bag of greens in 2days! It's their main veg source with celery & broccoli next and occasionally cabbage, carrot & apple.

Based on your advice I will now weigh them only 6g of it and try that. They won't like it I know as I usually only put a little until they finish and then they wheek and climb the side of the cage begging for more lol I shall have to vary my veg more then so as not to be forced to feed them more green leaves and be cruel to be kind and leave them to eat hay lol

 

[Sara412]

I have 5 pigs and feed them 2 leaves between them each night - I buy this pack from asda which is 75p

 

[helen105281]

Thanks for that info! Perhaps I am overfeeding them then. I have 4 piggies nearly 6mths old and 3 babies about 3wks and I will go through a 200g bag of greens in 2days! It's their main veg source with celery & broccoli next and occasionally cabbage, carrot & apple.

Based on your advice I will now weigh them only 6g of it and try that. They won't like it I know as I usually only put a little until they finish and then they wheek and climb the side of the cage begging for more lol I shall have to vary my veg more then so as not to be forced to feed them more green leaves and be cruel to be kind and leave them to eat hay lol

My pigs get coriander as the bulk of their leafy veg and the other veg they have is cucumber, celery, green beans and pepper. I have 14 pigs and a pack of spring greens lasts at least a week. We eat them too sometimes.

 

[Briony_S]

Mine get a lot of variety I always guve them a vit c veg which is normally pepper but they get brocolli twice a week to replace the pepper. They get celery most days lettuce twice a week. Carrot once or twice a week they get herbs very frequently I feed parsley coriander mint and basil on different days. They also get turnip or swede or parsnips once a week. they love beans they get fine beans most days sometimes runner beans then there are bean sprouts and cress!

Also they love cucumber with 18 they get through a whole cucumber in a week!

 

[Sara412]

I feed coriander and parsley, and basil- they twitch their noses at the mint and refuse to eat it. They also refuse to eat parsnips, turnip and swede, tomatoes and peppers- so diet is getting boring, carrots , celery, cucumber , broccoli and lettuce daily with a different herb or carrot tops every other day for treats. How do you go about introducing new foods, as they all follow suit if one doesn't eat it the rest refuse as well, so it can be costly trying to experiment??

 

[TAN]

Mmmm! spring greens... make nice bubble and squeek .... and the pigs like them too.

 

[PiggyOinkOink]

I feed coriander and parsley, and basil- they twitch their noses at the mint and refuse to eat it. They also refuse to eat parsnips, turnip and swede, tomatoes and peppers- so diet is getting boring, carrots , celery, cucumber , broccoli and lettuce daily with a different herb or carrot tops every other day for treats. How do you go about introducing new foods, as they all follow suit if one doesn't eat it the rest refuse as well, so it can be costly trying to experiment?

I am having the same problem. Their diet has not been as adventurous in the past so maybe I'm thinking that could be the problem, but for the past 2 days, when I have put the spring greens out the adults just turn their noses and pretty much just leave them there.

I have nothing else to give them but Kale (which I am not) or carrot and apple (which I know are too sugary to give everyday). I tried celeriac today and a few of them ate the inside bit but not the outside thou and then they all just turned their nose at it lol Mine haven't taken to mint either but I may try it on the babies. I am stuck now on what to do for the green veg since they are so picky all of a sudden..or whether I should just leave it and feed them kale very sparingly. They do love that black italian cabbage but it's not the cheapest or easiest to source, though with their reduced diet of 6g greens it won't really make much difference I guess.

Can I get this right: I can give them lettuce but just not iceberg as I have just been avoiding all lettuce.

 

[helen105281]

Have you tried coriander? Mine love it and I get it really cheap from an Indian supermarket in town - 2 massive bunches for £1. Don't know if you have a similar shop or market stall?

 

[PiggyOinkOink]

Yes I used to give it to them before as all except 1 of them ate it but recently they even turn their nose up at that too! Not completely but basically, if I get one of those small packets from Tesco then most of it will go to waste. I think they do love parsley but I think it's got too much calcium from what I remember?

 

[helen105281]

It should be fed in moderation.

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

My pigs get coriander as the bulk of their leafy veg and the other veg they have is cucumber, celery, green beans and pepper. I have 14 pigs and a pack of spring greens lasts at least a week. We eat them too sometimes.

My boys have this everyday Romaine.cucumber, celery, green beans and pepper. I give a small floret of brocoli once a week or savoy or carrot. Once a month they get a grape or a piece of apple each. I now feed 2 types of hay unlimited and a handful of Burgess nuggets a day. I tried dandelions they were not impressed....

 

[PiggyOinkOink]

Hmmm..I will have to get some romaine lettuce and cucumber to try. Green beans/pepper they do not touch.

I have to say that mine are living in luxury by your standards for having some apple at least once a week lol