The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: macfarlane on January 16, 2010, 02:55:00 pm

Title: pigs
Post by: macfarlane on January 16, 2010, 02:55:00 pm

Wheres the best place to buy a pig from can just anyone buy one obviosly ive got a lot of reading to do first ,im near Edinburgh if that helps.ta

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: HappyHippy on January 16, 2010, 04:37:33 pm

Hi,
First you'll need a CPH number before you buy anything livestock wise.
You're best to buy from a breeder - depending on what breed you're looking for there may or may not be someone near you, maybe even someone on the forum ?
Don't buy just 1 pig, they're very social animals and will get depressed on their own - you need at least 2.
I can recommend "Starting with Pigs" by Andy Case as a good book to give you the basics.
Lots of learning to do first though  ;)
Good luck,
Karen

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: Daisys Mum on January 16, 2010, 05:52:08 pm

Hi
I am in Berwickshire and I got my pigs from Ballencreiff near Drem in East Lothian They have Saddlebacks, Glouster Old Spots and Berkshire. As Happy hippy says you will need your holding number and then a herd number for your pigs. Good luck and do get more than one pig they are very social animals.

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: Lavinia on January 17, 2010, 08:35:46 am

hi where abouts are you, we live at the back of bilston by roslin..... we have applied for our small holding number, the local office is in galashields and they were really helpful...

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: ballingall on January 17, 2010, 10:03:15 am

Hi,

There's a woman local to us that breeds Tamworths that I'm thinking of getting a couple of weaners from- she's within 10 miles of Linlithgow. I don't know anyone else locally who breeds pigs yet.

Beth

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 17, 2010, 10:24:12 am

Echoing all other postings one pig will become depressed or an escape artist. 

Read as many of the postings you can from this site, a wealth of information and a lot of humour.  Also second the recommendation for Andy Case book. 

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: Malc on January 18, 2010, 01:08:27 pm

Get in touch with an experienced pig breeder to show you the ropes. Have a look at the various breed websites to find one in your area. Make sure the pigs have a snug shelter and are well-fenced in (stock fencing and electric wire). If the basics are right, the pigs will be happy and you will have great fun looking after them.
All the best, Malc

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: Anke on January 20, 2010, 11:05:19 am

Look at the BPA (British Pig Association)  (http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/pedigree.htm) website, you can search for breeders in your area (Scotland, Northumberland), and also ask around. If you only want to fatten up, tell the breeder beforehand, so that you don't have to pay for registered pigs or you can take crosses.

The first two weaners we bought were entire males ones (GOS), so that way we made sure that there was NO possibility we would be getting soft and keeping one or both for breeding. Now no problems, I can rear females as well and am usually VERY glad when they leave for the abattoir!

Title: Re: pigs
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 21, 2010, 07:05:24 am

Quote from: Anke on January 20, 2010, 11:05:19 am

. Now no problems, I can rear females as well and am usually VERY glad when they leave for the abattoir!

After all these years, and many, many pigs I still loathe sending females off to the abattoire.