The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Beewyched on June 15, 2011, 10:39:30 pm
-
Took 2 of the boys to Wishaw abbatoir this morning - very kind & gentle (with me & the pigs) even though they did have a bit of a joke about the 2 for 1 deal (ok Kunes aren't their most frequent visitors :D ).
Anyway ... met a commercial pig man, who was very interested in the Kunes & went on to tell me about some "micro-pigs" ...
He'd been approached by a woman trying to GIVE him 2 "micro-pigs" last week (he'd not taken her up on the offer). He said she was really upset & desperate to "get rid of the awful things". They had both apparently grown "huge" (he reckoned nearly twice the size of my Kunes) & were trashing her garden. She'd paid £400 each :o for these "micro-pigs" :o
I tried not to go into my usual rant (well had just a wee one ;) ) & suggested that he told her to get in touch with the SPKA for assistance.
When will these money grabbers, who don't seem to give a d@m about the welfare of the animals they persist in breeding, ripping-off naive purchasers & causing endless misery, stop. Aaargh!!!!
-
I'm not really sure what the SPKA could do :-\
I doubt anyone who's a member would be interested in taking them on.
This is what everyone who've been 'anti-micro' and trying to educate people were worried about :( There will be many, many more cases I'm sure but unless anyone wants to start a micro sanctuary ??? I doubt the RSPCA/SSPCA wil be able to re-home 'big' pigs and it's doubtfull that the breeders will take them back >:( I fear there may be only one option :yum:
But we'll discuss it next time we're all together and come up with a stratagy ;)
Karen x
-
You are right Karen there is only one option and if anyone out there has a micro pig which has grown HUGE, they can deliver it too me and I will
happily "look after it" as my freezer is a little low at the moment!!!!! ;D :yum:
-
Just got my blood pressure down from last time :D :D :D. Can nothing be done about these people? I think a united appeal to all the programmes on tv and radio to promote good common sense, no such thing as a micro pig. I wonder whether HFW or Jimmie from Jimmies Farm could be prevailed upon to campaign against this.
-
there are a few factors with the micro mentality going round the small agri shows in Scotland one thing sticks out the public love small pigs a sow and litter will attract a bigger audience than two gilts ready for slaughter EVERYBODY WANTS ONE the name suggests small and the buyers anticipate them staying small WHY WOULD THAT NICE BREEDER TELL LIES AND ANYWAY FILM STARS HAVE THEM
so the public want them(the spoiled little child from charlie and the chocolate factory comes to mind) pigs are nice ,cute and intelligent but they are there for meat no ifs buts or whatever about it
THE PRICE if you are selling a car that is worth say £100 and some person comes along and offers £1000 are you going to refuse that generous offer don't think so now selling that £100 car for £1000 is different trade description and all that crap the same applies to selling livestock there is a percentage of the public that will believe micros exist just as well as those that believe coronation street is real
there is no point in getting the blood pressure up the micro industry is here and it is like journalism once it is out it cant go back (just like toothpaste)
jimmy trades on his name better getting his friend the pig expert he is far better
as far as eating them goes the owners wont agree to that just imagine the outrage if some of the pigs mentioned on this forum were to be eaten stopping there before my blood pressure gets up on other subjects :pig:
-
Just to add more horror to this thread ...
Got a call this morning on my mobile from someone (withheld number) who reckoned they'd got my number from our feed stockist (will really have to have a word with her ::) ) asking about our small pigs & did we have any for sale - yes he had land, a CPH number & already had kunes before, still got the ark etc etc. Sounded good so far ...
Well, told him we were expecting piglets next month, but we were possibly looking for a "pet home" for 2 small sisters - told him they were registered, had 2 piris BUT they were not to be used for breeding, so we would be withholding their papers.
HE OFFERED £500 FOR THEM!!! :o ... panic set in - No way, they ain't going there methinks! Apologised & told him that my partner had sold them without me knowing ;)
-
Ah, but it's sooooo cute and dopey looking!
(http://www.parishiltonzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/paris-hilton-pig-e1262478745464.jpg)
(come to think of it, I rather like the wee pig too!).
-
;D ;D ;D
-
that is not a small pig its head is as big as hers NO I AM STOPPING THERE ;D
-
;D ;D
bet there are a few men that would give her a new home!!
-
Oh - don't start me off on gender related comments, please :D
-
The thing is - they are soooooooo cute and this photo shows that :love: :pig: :love:
BUT so are all babies whether human, pig, cow, dog, even elephants but I wouldn't have one of them in the house ::)
6 months down the line the once cute piglet becomes a problem pet and by a year you're looking at the best part of 100Kg of pig - how on earth can that sit on your lap for a cuddle ??? That's assuming you've still got a house to sit in and it's not trashed ;)
I sit and cuddle my pigs (some of the smaller ones even climb onto my lap) but it's done IN A FIELD - WHERE PIGS BELONG ! It's just not fair to keep them in a house :'(
-
can I just add....
RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!
(that's my main reaction when I see or hear the term "Micro pig!")
-
The thing is - they are soooooooo cute and this photo shows that :love: :pig: :love:
BUT so are all babies whether human, pig, cow, dog, even elephants but I wouldn't have one of them in the house ::)
6 months down the line the once cute piglet becomes a problem pet and by a year you're looking at the best part of 100Kg of pig - how on earth can that sit on your lap for a cuddle ??? That's assuming you've still got a house to sit in and it's not trashed ;)
I sit and cuddle my pigs (some of the smaller ones even climb onto my lap) but it's done IN A FIELD - WHERE PIGS BELONG ! It's just not fair to keep them in a house :'(
Hear,hear :love: :pig: :love:
-
can I just add....
RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!
(that's my main reaction when I see or hear the term "Micro pig!")
Yep, me too LB - plus the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach ::)
-
can I just add....
RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!
(that's my main reaction when I see or hear the term "Micro pig!")
Yep, me too LB - plus the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach ::)
Yep ! And you start trying to explain the impossible genetics and how these pigs aren't going to stay small and be suitable house pets and THEY DON'T BELIEVE YOU ! ::)
I think the saying "A fool and his money are easily parted" applies in the case of "micro" pigs ::) People only believe what they want to believe and there's nothing anyone can do to change that :(
-
Beewyched- Picking up from the start of the thread, what age and weight were your boys and what weight was the end product? Have you ever used the abbatoir at saltcoats/ardrossan?
-
that will be robertsons of ardrossan they specialise in rare breed pork or they did
-
These poor animals are being advertised on facebook pages. I think that they're getting pee'd off with my replies lol and i also tell ppl to look on here before they even think about getting one. Some people are so gullible and stupid and the poor pigs suffer :( humans suck ass royally
-
Don't mince your words, welshlass! ;) ;D
-
These poor animals are being advertised on facebook pages. I think that they're getting pee'd off with my replies lol and i also tell ppl to look on here before they even think about getting one. Some people are so gullible and stupid and the poor pigs suffer :( humans suck ass royally
Go for it girl ;)
-
Beewyched- Picking up from the start of the thread, what age and weight were your boys and what weight was the end product? Have you ever used the abbatoir at saltcoats/ardrossan?
Hiya TT :wave:
Not used Ardrossan - Wishaw are supporting the SPKA, so we've decided to go with them (it's gotta be 2-way) plus we get to call for a cuppa & a natter with Karen & Bruce while were down there too ;)
Will let you know of the weights when we get them back next week - using the old string method, the castrate was about 105kg & the little boar was 35kg last worming in April. The boar was a bit small & we would have liked a couple more months on him, but he had to go I'm afraid coz we're losing our field & even though the breeder had registered him, he was not up to breed standards IMHO (should have been castrated as a piglet methinks).
Will report on the taste test next week :yum: ;)
-
These poor animals are being advertised on facebook pages. I think that they're getting pee'd off with my replies lol and i also tell ppl to look on here before they even think about getting one. Some people are so gullible and stupid and the poor pigs suffer :( humans suck ass royally
Go for it girl ;)
Another anti-micro convert ;) Keep fighting the good fight mrs - BUT be careful who you mess with on facebook, there have been many a profile deleted because certain micro breeders take exception to the truth and get the folk who are very vocal about it banned :o >:( There's a page called 'The truth about mini/micro pigs' and most of the anti-micro campaign is being fought from there ;D
Karen :wave:
-
I am practising my yoga, so I am calm when I follow up the link, would you post it for me please Karen. breath, calm, calm, calm b r e a t h
-
Here's the facebook link http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-truth-about-minipigs/118404678171148 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-truth-about-minipigs/118404678171148)
Deep breaths HM and maybe a wee brandy just to make sure you stay calm ;)
There was a great piece on Fake Britian a few weeks ago, with Dom Littlewood but sadly it's a daytime show so didn't reach the prime time audience - I still don't understand why Watchdog have never run with the story :-\ I'd have thought their 'rouge trades' would have been just the place to out all the unscrupulous micro breeders ???
-
that is not a small pig its head is as big as hers NO I AM STOPPING THERE ;D
I do hate to say this(being of the male gender), but your not wrong there. :bouquet: :wave:
Certainly wouldn't be the only thing grunting. :yum: :yum:
-
Now, I was talking to one of the big shetland pony stud ladies last week and the conversation got onto micropigs. She was totally outraged by the whole affair and compared it to other breeders of animals such as minature shetland ponies and indeed Shetlands themselves, minature versions of dog breeds, etc etc. She said it had been going on for centuries and the pigs for some reason get the attention.' Runt to runt' breeding she called it and it should be banned throughout breeding but some minatures have become the norm. Was she right to compare it to other breeds of animals? I think she had a good point.
-
ps She does not breed small shetlands , she sources ponies from far and wide to get the old bloodlines to breed the large ponies to get them back up to full height as nature intended. One of only two breeders I know of that are doing this.
-
I think she was right, breeding the runt of any breed can only spell problems for someone, birth defects are common be it heart or some other form. What happened to only breeding from the very best of your stock.
-
I think the biggest problem with the pigs is that they are being marketed as suitable house pets and breeders are (or were, before legal action to change things) saying they'll not get bigger than 14 inches or 18 inches etc. That and the runt to runt breeding, the ridiculosly over-priced pigs, the ill health and dodgy welfare conditions of these pigs, runts from 'standard' litters being passed off as micros, pigs being sold and moved without CPH no.s and movement licences to totally unsuitable homes ........ I could go on ! But won't ;)
I have absolutely no respect for these types of breeders - shame on them ! >:(
-
I have a large black runt, that we struggled for weeks to bring up - came out barely alive but with lots of TLC has carried on life. Now at 18 weeks is the size of an 8 week old - maybe I'll sell it at £600 (bag of food thrown in for free of course and a nicely printed birth certificate!) - am sure it will only grow to knee height if you don't feed it much - any takers???
or maybe not.... ;D
-
I want to post a picture of my micro pig (Digby) and the latest sofa, sadly nearly defunct, but hey ho, why should I want to buy new wellies, when I can spend the money on yet another Digby sofa!!!!! I have logged in, how do I continue....
-
HM if you look for the page 'the truth about mini pigs' once you've found it click on 'like' once you've done that you'll be able to post photo's and comment on the other posts. Oh and look for me & add me to your friends list - Karen Lindsay McKay (photo is of a little brown KK piglet ;))
Oaklands - you've no idea how close to the truth you are ::) ;)
I have heard reports of a certain breeder who was known to have bought a runt from a litter of GOS's, as they loaded it into their car they were 'allegedly' overheard laughing and gloating about how much they could sell it for :o >:( Oh yes, and the underfeeding is a regular thing - as is early weaning >:( What chance of a long, healthy life have these pigs got ??? The barefaced cheek, lies and total disregard for animal welfare never cease to astound me :-\
Bet your micro Large Black soon catches up with his littermates ;) ;D
Karen :wave:
-
HH will do tomorrow. My "micro pig" is wrecking the house because he is on a diet and wants more food NOW bless him.
-
HH to be totally honest they can say what they like. I am not slagging a person off just the people in general lol there is no personal attack on anybody and i am simply posting my views LOL bring it on i say hehe i've got a so called "Micro pig" in my herd and she is the biggest one i own :( her first owner bought her as a micro, she grew and grew and GREW so she rehomed her to the lady i got her off. The other sow she had died and she pined so now she is with me
-
HH to be totally honest they can say what they like.
But they can't though Welshlass :-\
Yes, ordinary people will listen and can be taken in by what they say BUT trading standards and false advertising do come into play in these cases. The breeders were making false claims and IMHO that's the same as a cleaning product manufacturer making wild claims about their product or a car manufacturer doing the same. Obviously the court agreed as said breeder was prosecuted and have since changed the wording on their website ;)
Unfortunately until some BIG TV programme or newspaper run the story there's no way to let the public know the truth - there are bits and pieces of info getting through, but not enough to really make a difference. Til then there are going to be not so micro 'micros' all over the country looking for new homes :(
Karen x
-
I have a large black runt, that we struggled for weeks to bring up - came out barely alive but with lots of TLC has carried on life. Now at 18 weeks is the size of an 8 week old - maybe I'll sell it at £600 (bag of food thrown in for free of course and a nicely printed birth certificate!) - am sure it will only grow to knee height if you don't feed it much - any takers???
or maybe not.... ;D
There's a MUG born every day, but unfortuately for you are not like that otherwise you would be a "Millionaire", instead you are just pig Farmer.
Help educate them, rather than scaring the "s#*T out of them and you might make a difference instead of certain persons growling like a prehistoric cave man!!!!! :wave: :wave: