I was really disappointed when I visited Adam's place, the Cotswold Farm Park, and saw his pigs were ringed. Even Kate Humble's beloved kunekune sows, which were there with their litters, had rings. So much for the claim that only the "worst offenders" get rings!
This wild boar x Tamworth (Iron Age) sow had rings and was clearly thoroughly bored, continually biting at a chain on the gate.
Denied normal behaviour, she was trying to find another outlet for her frustration. I spent 15 minutes watching her (I'm doing an animal behaviour degree) and felt really sorry for her - particularly as I used to have Iron Age and even though they trashed the ground, I loved seeing them rooting - displaying normal behaviour - which is one of the "Five Freedoms".
I wrote about it in my blog
http://pigsinwales.blogspot.com/ but, with hindsight, I should have said something while I was at the park. I feel an email coming on.
I can understand Adam wanting to keep his visitor attraction presentable, but ringing does seem to go against the impression he gives on telly. Moreover, with the whole micro pig thing sweeping the nation, and people abandoning their pets as soon as they discover what true pig behaviour is (rooting up earth - or carpets or floorboards), surely Adam could help educate people as to the kind of damage pigs can do? If you aren't prepared to allow pigs this one basic expression of true behaviour, you shouldn't keep pigs.