The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Pandora on May 28, 2012, 11:35:44 am
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After prolonged (mostly useless) vets treatment, we have made the sad decision to put down one of our old Kune Kune sows.
Ada had a huge abcess next to her eye about a year ago, which was lanced and drained, but has turned into a fistula, leaving a gaping hole which keeps re-infecting. So despite many courses of anti-biotics and draining, she is now spending her time completely miserable, with her head buried in the straw of her hut. We have had to seperate her from the other pigs to feed her up as much as possible, as she no longer wants to graze, but she is still very thin... enough is enough.
Trouble is, I do not want the vet involved with euthanaising her, as I can only imagine a stressful fiasco of a job based on their inept 'treatment' so far, and would then have the issue of legal disposal anyway. I have tried everywhere and everyone from DEFRA to local Trading Standards/Animal Health, to locate a humane licensed knackerman who serves South Norfolk, who can do the job quickly and efficiently... then take her away.
All my online research has led me nowhere. Can anyone help with this please?
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A lot of knackermen have stopped killing pigs as pigs have very thick skulls and it takes a good shot to kill them outright, our knackerman told us they stopped doing pigs after it took six shots to kill one pig, it was just too distressing for all concerned so you may struggle. The vet may be your only choice, we had a sow PTS a couple of years ago after she had a stoke, the vet sedated her first with a huge dose of bute and then driped the killer dose in thro a vein in her ear, it took 2 hours but she just fell asleep in her favourite trough and the kackerman came the same day to take her away (he was lovely with us)
Sorry can't be more help but thinking of you at this time as its a tough call to make. :bouquet:
mandy :pig:
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if you get the vet to pts you still have to dispose of her you cant bury her
i think from your point of view she is better pts by injection rather than by captive bolt pistol at least you can be there and is not overly traumatic
i am surprised that you are not well served by fallen stock disposal company's we are well served by this essential service in central Scotland :farmer:
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pigs and not all of them can have double skulls that is the problem :farmer:
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Do you have a hunt kennel near you? they will be equipped.
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Thanks everyone for your response.
I've tried to find out about a hunt kennel, nothing online and nobody I ask seems to know of one. They would only remove the 'carcass' though, not do the slaughter. Think I will have to get the bungling vets to euthanase :( no idea what happens after that if I still can't find out what to do with her body.
All seems so distressing, can't believe it's this complicated... what on earth do commercial farmers do!
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if you know any farmers ask them you just never know :farmer:
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We live out in the boonies in the middle of arable countryside, so unfortunately do not know any livestock farmers. :(
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Have you tried these two
http://angliafallenstock.co.uk/ (http://angliafallenstock.co.uk/)
http://www.misterwhat.co.uk/company/1589158-baxters-fallen-stock-collection-kings-lynn (http://www.misterwhat.co.uk/company/1589158-baxters-fallen-stock-collection-kings-lynn)
Even adult pigs are quite easy to kill with a shotgun no.6 shot 30g load (one of the approved methods by the humane slaughter association) but you need to get the entry point and angle just right to drop them stone dead. I am surprised that in norfolk ther are not lots of companies that would do this.
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Our fallen stock guys won't do boars (not sure about sows/young stock) mainly because of the double skull issue. But they have a marksman who will come and shoot with a rifle (I think) and then they will collect. Sorry I don't know one anyone in your area - hope you manage to get something sorted soon.
Big hugs for what is bound to be a difficult time, but you're doing the best thing for her :-*
Karen
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So difficult for you. Must be very distressing. I do hope that everything works out for the best.
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dunston harriers & north norfolk harriers are both hunts based in norfolk.
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Try your local animal health dept. When I first got pigs ours (south cambs) sent me an information pack that included a list of licensed knackermen with phone numbers.
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I replied on to your post on RC, try http://www.wmartinandson.co.uk/aboutus.html (http://www.wmartinandson.co.uk/aboutus.html) they cover norfolk too.
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A lot of knackermen have stopped killing pigs as pigs have very thick skulls and it takes a good shot to kill them outright, our knackerman told us they stopped doing pigs after it took six shots to kill one pig, it was just too distressing for all concerned so you may struggle. The vet may be your only choice, we had a sow PTS a couple of years ago after she had a stoke, the vet sedated her first with a huge dose of bute and then driped the killer dose in thro a vein in her ear, it took 2 hours but she just fell asleep in her favourite trough and the kackerman came the same day to take her away (he was lovely with us)
Sorry can't be more help but thinking of you at this time as its a tough call to make. :bouquet:
mandy :pig:
You should be able to shoot a pig with one shot only...that is all we are allowed to do here.
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where is here :farmer: