The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: waterboy on May 28, 2010, 10:03:20 pm

Title: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: waterboy on May 28, 2010, 10:03:20 pm: I'm very new to pig keeping and have got 5 middle whites 1 boar and 4 guilts. I've had them 2 months and they haven't made much impact on the ground, with the sunny weather the grounds pretty hard-going,I was expecting them to have turned it over by now but they seem more interested in snoozing in the arc. Their area is roughly 100m by 50 meters. Is this normal?
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: banbh on May 28, 2010, 10:07:39 pm: I'm in the same boat. There's been a cool north wind blowing over Ireland for the last 4 months. The ground is hard and dry and growth is down. I think that pigs aren't doing half as much damage as normal.
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: gavo on May 28, 2010, 10:31:15 pm: Please remember short nosed breeds don't do as much damage as longer nosed ones;don't expect too much of them.
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: Padge on May 29, 2010, 08:06:45 am: i would have said the same as Gav middle whites are more of a grazer than a rooter ;D
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 29, 2010, 08:15:06 am: If you want a digging pig go for tamworths.
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: waterboy on May 29, 2010, 03:14:13 pm: Thanks, its been quite a learning curve since we picked them up!
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 29, 2010, 05:24:49 pm: It always is, but isnt it fun ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: little blue on May 29, 2010, 05:49:00 pm: does it depend on their age as well?
ours are kune kunes, which contrary to popular belief DO root the ground, but less so as they've got older...
Title: Re: How much should i expect pigs to dig/root
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 29, 2010, 06:33:38 pm: Well Edwina is 5 and still digs amazingly huge holes, deeper than herself. When she has finished she tends to fill them up which is fortunate.