The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: wicklow dave on March 09, 2011, 11:54:02 pm

Title: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: wicklow dave on March 09, 2011, 11:54:02 pm

As the title says people!! What do I have to do to keep pigs in Ireland. Sorry if covered somewhere else. Moving back to the country after 16 years confined to a town. Had cattle years ago but now have only 8 acres so would like a few pigs to mix in with the venison sausages!

Title: Re: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: Sylvia on March 10, 2011, 09:57:12 am

Your local authority should be able to tell you.

Title: Re: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: kbomgte on March 10, 2011, 11:46:41 am

hi. you need a pig herd number. you contact agriculture, fisheries and food to get this.

Title: Re: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: Mothman on March 10, 2011, 12:35:07 pm

Relevant page on Department of Ag website
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/animalidentificationmovement/nationalpigidentificationandtracingsystem/ (http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/animalidentificationmovement/nationalpigidentificationandtracingsystem/)

Title: Re: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: Glaswegian on March 10, 2011, 07:43:24 pm

hi dave.
the forms are easy to fill in. then send to dep of ag. a short time later you will get a visit from a gov vet to check if pigs have adequate space,shelter, water etc. if vet is happy with your set up you will get your herd number within a couple of weeks. (done same last year.)


                     cheers.

Title: Re: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: wicklow dave on March 10, 2011, 08:33:22 pm

Thanks for the info. What is the story with slaughtering them? Can it be done at home? I would really like to process them myself.

Title: Re: Legal requirements to keep pigs in Ireland
Post by: Glaswegian on March 11, 2011, 07:32:00 pm

i think you need a licence if you want to slaughter them yourself,but you can have them slaughtered in an abbatoir then bring the whole carcass home for processing.