The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: BillyBerridge on November 17, 2009, 09:23:12 pm
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http://www.farmingads.co.uk/category/farming-and-livestock-pig-gloucestershire-old-spots/region/w-uk-scotland-north-grampian-banff/SowAndweanersforsale-6721027.html?impression=normal_impression
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Yes, can see what you mean - that Sow is extremely thin.
Would be tempted to buy them if I lived over there just to rescue the poor sow.
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Yes lack of feed and too many weaners suckling i think! Did you notice the larger weaner stood behind the sow? No doubt that still having a suckle!
No to mention the boar stood next to her no wonder shes in shocking condition!
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Criminal condition
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Absolutely awful!
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It's amazing that this person thinks THESE pictures will tempt people to buy the piglets - more chance of reporting them to SSPCA looking at the condition of mum >:(
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Thats shocking! it brought a tear to my eye, how can people let there animals get like that! :'( >:(
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Terrible :o :'(
Is there no-one near to these poor pigs, that could go for a viewing and have a word with the SSPCA and/or Animal Health Dept ?
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The only person I see on the 'members map' is Greenfingers - but they've not been here in a while, don't know if there's anyone else ?
Maybe a wee email to the SSPCA ??? (or if we all do it - they'll definately have to take notice !)
http://www.scottishspca.org/contact (http://www.scottishspca.org/contact)Here's the contact email for the SSPCA.
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I feed my sow Daisy and her 6 piglets 12 kilos of commercial pig nuts per day, and have never fed less than 8 kilos per day since their birth 6 weeks ago. She looks like a toast rack. I would wean her except that she will not let them go yet. I know from experience that once she allows them to be weaned (probably 10 weeks) she will quickly put on weight, to the point where she will become a butterball in around 3 months time. She only has one litter a year, it amazes me that she can get pregnant as when she goes to the boar she is well overweight. She carries her weight through until the piglets are around 4 weeks old. After 10 weeks Daisy looks like a skeleton. It may be the same in this case. It is agonisingly embarrassing as we pride ourselves on the condition of all of our animals.
It may just be the same here. I hope so.
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HM, I understand that some sows are more inclined to loosing weight than others but lets look at the fact presented in the picture:
And by the way, what do you mean when your sows ready to let them go arnt you surposed to make call if you have too?
There is no excuse for it, I don’t care if the sow is lean and looses weight easily, there are ways and means of keeping the weight on most obviously increasing feed!
Lets look at the facts in the picture - one sow looking extremely thin, several piglets which don’t look much cop, a weaner (stood behind the sow) that looks at least twice the age of the piglets and a boar... all in the same pen.. So you can guess what is happening, the older weaner is still suckling pushing the piglets out, the boars and the piglets are stealing all the food, the sow is thin and getting weaker and she probably already back in pig!
Its no wonder these pigs look in such a poor state and to top it off there sleeping in an old trailer that looks like its going to fall over at any minute!
How can anyone defend husbandry as bad as this!
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Billy I was attempting to be devils advocate. Regarding my own sow, I would happily accept your suggestions to keeping weight on her.
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let's just hope the picture is misleading and the girl is just feeding her own litter and is getting her proper nutrition. The owner of these pigs may have seen the postings and be cringing with embarassment, while sorting things out sharpish. people make mistakes, and hopefully learn from them before harm is done.
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I wonder if anyone has rung the advertiser since this had been posted here and RC, I wonder if you have Billyberridge??
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All very critical comments here, have any of you bothered to contact the seller?
All sows lose weight after giving birth, it always takes a while for them to regain their plumpness,
and more so in the rarer breeds.
Although, it is agreed that this picture may not have been the best picture to advertise a sale, I have seen pigs kept in far worse conditions than these appear to be.
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There is no excuse for it, I don’t care if the sow is lean and looses weight easily, there are ways and means of keeping the weight on most obviously increasing feed!
Totaly agree with that one!!!
My old spot sow, had 16 piglet on her first off which dwindled down to 10 by 3 weeks, she was in good condition (not fat!) and has stayed exactly the same all thru!! now weaned 2 days ago and has lost next to no weight!
I also have tbred horses which are known for loosing weight, also never had a problem!!
Pleanty of feed is all it takes
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dont mean to put a fly in the ointment, but i have seen pigs in much worse condition than this, they were eating a carcas!!. I reported them to RSPCA, who in turn said it wasnt their issue it was animal health. AH inspected and said they had food and water when they got their and no sign of a dead pig so nothing they could do. I did upset her and asked why it had taken almost two weeks for them to inspect, of course the dead pig would be digested by then!!!!!!!!!
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I am no pig expert but looking at the photos that you guys have put on the website, this poor thing is in a shocking state. Ground is bare and dry and she is a bag of bones AND they are trying to sell her!!! Poor baby.
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If this is a genuinely starved animal why is no one ringing the RSPCA or animal health - there are photos after all.
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If this is a genuinely starved animal why is no one ringing the RSPCA or animal health - there are photos after all.
I showed this picture to my friend yesterday who is Animal Health Officer with my local Council, she thought the picture distressing and was going to mention this to someone she knows in that area. If there is no neglect then there is nothing to worry about, if there is we all know we did something to help the poor animal. So, better to report it I think.
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I also did my good deed and emailed with link yesterday :pig:
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HM, sorry if I sounded like I was having ago at you in my previous post, I wasn't. Looking back my post may have come across as if it was aimed at you which it wasn't! ;)
The issue's in picture isn't just about the sow looking extremly under weight, it's the bad practice you can clearly see going on, and you can see all those pigs are paying the price. Just take a look at those piglets.
A sow and litter should not be mixed with a boar and weaners of different ages - its a recipe for disaster.
Hm interms of your sow, have you tried giving the piglets a crep feeder where mum cannot get too, (which always has feed for the young ones) then feed the sow away from the piglets to maximise the feed in take of the sow? I don't know if you do already, but I would stick her on a finisher diet, as high in protien as you can get your hands on.
I would also wean early around 6 weeks dependant on her condition at the time.
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Hi Billy thanks for your kind reply. Yes have tried these things.
I do agree with all that has been said regarding the sow. It breaks me up to see animals in poor condition. I am probably a bit prickly as have been involved in helping to "rescue" starving animals from a serial animal abuser. Sometimes the bureaucracy here can be very frustrating, especially when animals are involved.