Ideation 8,216 Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Been meaning to say, the fences are up, railway carraige is almost fixed up, and holding number is on it's way. Looks like i will be getting some pigs soon, probably saddle backs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kabar 14 Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 I started with pigs last year, had 2 saddlebacks then 2 saddleback x middle whites. You need a county parish holding number and be registered to keep pigs with the local authority to keep pigs on your land. You have to notify defra when you move the pigs to and from your land and you will need to tag or tattoo the pigs when they go to slaughter. They will clear any brambles or nettles for you in no time, they need fresh water all the time and the main cost will be the feed. It's against the law to feed them scraps from the kitchen. You can slaughter them your self but it's not something I'd fancy doing, by the time they're ready to go they're strong enough to tip you over and if you get it wrong you've ruined your hard work. It costs me about £100 to have two killed, cut, bagged, sausages and bacon cured. It's great fun and the meat tastes better than anything you will buy from Tesco. 2 pigs from weaners to bacon weight cost me about £300, you can get some of that back from selling some of the meat. For me it's more about rearing my own food and the fun in keeping them. Best tip I had?.. Put a line of barbed wire along the bottom of the fence line as it stops them digging out, and they do love a good dig! All the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Just to update you all, the fencing is up, shelters pretty much done, etc etc, all good to go, and just waiting on the next market day to go pig shopping haha. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Caravan Monster 323 Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Good luck. They hobby farmed Gloucester Old Spots here for six or seven years, getting up to 3 breeding sows at the height of the madness. Cost a fortune - simple fact is feed (even with a mill) to slaughter weight is more than value of carcass. So far as fencing goes, it seemed as though buried wire, electric fence and fences made from pallets couldn't contain them. When they get out they can destroy large areas of good grazing land fast and it was dangerous when they got onto the road. Feckin difficult to herd. Intelligent and destructive animals, and powerful when they get big. A nice project to do though if you have the time, money and inclination. Personally, I would only do it with a walled and concrete floored yard, masonry shelter and just raise a couple of weaners for own freezer, which would have to be a long term plan to justify the building costs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted May 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 I'm just ging to raise a couple of weaners to start, and ive managed to get the lad rent free so far. If they escape, then i guess it becomes a pig hunt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
esoxluscious 44 Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 any pictures of your set up? sounds like heaven, rent free land, livestock for the freezer and a lean-to drink beer in! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 Sorry havn't read the whole thread.........so sorry if its been said You need a holding number and relevent animal movement papers They clear and turnover ground very quickly They also like to be occupied , they love a football to play with , I bury apples etc in the ground so they can forage for tgem With regards electric fences , I only have mine "live" for a couple of days they soon become wary and wont go near , to the point when I strip graze them , they wont cross where the fence used to be for a day or two , even when the fence isnt there....lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nrat 8 Posted June 2, 2012 Report Share Posted June 2, 2012 Glouster old spot, them and Tamworth good old traditional breeds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
staffs riffraff 1,068 Posted June 2, 2012 Report Share Posted June 2, 2012 if you need any advice im sure happy larry off here wont mind he keep them started from scratch got it worked out to a T now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
unclepesta 101 Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 So, does anyone on here keep pigs? For home consumption, for sale? Just looking for any info on keeping them, any pics, or stories etc. Seriously considering getting a few. saddlebacks are good if puttin em on rough they will only need a small percentage of pig nuts they shape well and good fat.genrally easy keepin good for crossin with whites and damn tasty old spots large blacks all good,can be exspensive if plannin on just feeding pig nut from bags,bag of feed £7 or more and they eat some too will be more expensive rearin than feckin tesco but tesco wont be nothin on home reared done right,better off findin fruit and veg wholesaler and collectin trims and out of dates by trailer,yellow pages is the way to go kid,no waste licence cos its feed tell em,no swill allowed nowadays,if you wanna sell pork has to go through abbatoir,homekil for family only not public.it can be quite hard work but very very enjoyable.i do my own usually kill scald and butcher myself, if your just startin sit back and think before you jump,they can take some securing,nothin worst than a*shole pig always escapin,you want everythin ready before comitting,and buy piglets if youm never had em before dont buy somethin already big from market could find he be a ba*tard you.oh yeh that ba*tard im on about bites lol.goodluck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
unclepesta 101 Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 So, does anyone on here keep pigs? For home consumption, for sale? Just looking for any info on keeping them, any pics, or stories etc. Seriously considering getting a few. saddlebacks are good if puttin em on rough they will only need a small percentage of pig nuts they shape well and good fat.genrally easy keepin good for crossin with whites and damn tasty old spots large blacks all good,can be exspensive if plannin on just feeding pig nut from bags,bag of feed £7 or more and they eat some too will be more expensive rearin than feckin tesco but tesco wont be nothin on home reared done right,better off findin fruit and veg wholesaler and collectin trims and out of dates by trailer,yellow pages is the way to go kid,no waste licence cos its feed tell em,no swill allowed nowadays,if you wanna sell pork has to go through abbatoir,homekil for family only not public.it can be quite hard work but very very enjoyable.i do my own usually kill scald and butcher myself, if your just startin sit back and think before you jump,they can take some securing,nothin worst than a*shole pig always escapin,you want everythin ready before comitting,and buy piglets if youm never had em before dont buy somethin already big from market could find he be a ba*tard you.oh yeh that ba*tard im on about bites lol.goodluck. tamworth great escapers and overated pork nice bacon tho,just my tasebuds opinion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Cheers for all of the advice etc guys! I just wanted to tell you that i have had three Glouchester Old Spots on my land for a couple of weeks now and it's going good so far 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
unclepesta 101 Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Cheers for all of the advice etc guys! I just wanted to tell you that i have had three Glouchester Old Spots on my land for a couple of weeks now and it's going good so far good pigs nice hams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Well . . . . my three pigs went off to slaughter today. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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