The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: tinytribe on May 04, 2012, 03:12:58 pm
-
:thumbsup:
Hey All.
We are looking at some land at the moment, its covered in brambles mostly, and some nettles. We would like to use pigs to clear this land. Can you recommend a breed of pig to do this? We would like a meat pig too, Can is there a breed that would cover all that, or are we looking at two seperate breeds?
How much do these piglets cost? Where do you get them from?
Thanks
Beanie and Ben
-
where abouts are you
all pigs forrage and can be eaten
how much ah the old Indian rope trick (how long is a piece of string) it depends on who is selling and what is available tell us your location and somebody will point you in the right direction :farmer:
-
We are in north east Leicestershire :)
Also can any one recommend any pig keeping books? We are tottaly new to all of this!
-
There's a lot of information about raising weaners for the freezer on the main TAS website. Click on LIVESTOCK in the top bar, then pigs. We know it's all true, 'cos we did it and we wrote it :pig: :pig:
-
We are in north east Leicestershire :)
Also can any one recommend any pig keeping books? We are tottaly new to all of this!
[Advert on] Yes I can recommend ours!!
The book covers :
Creating the environment fencing, water, food, wallows, shade, arks
Buying weaners pedigree or crossbred; buying for meat or breeding
Feed what you can feed, how much and when, artificial feed vs natural
Regulations a comprehensive guide to complying with the rules !
When will your pigs be ready estimating weight, time of year and impact on pig.
Slaughter planning ahead, transporting, who does what between abattoir & butcher
Finding an abattoir, what to ask and what to do when you go there
Finding a good butcher and what they and you need to talk about
What you get from a pig examples and photos of what cuts you get and how much
Breeding creating your breeding herd, how many, which breeds
What about a boar : Boar Hire or buying boars or AI; pedigree stock
The birth process what happens and what do you need to do
Weaning piglets when to wean, and how
Selling weaners advertising, what to do when people visit.
Pig Health looking after your pigs, and knowing when and when not to call the vet
Pedigree pigs registering and marking
You can purchsae from our website
http://www.oaklandspigs.co.uk/perfect-pigs-book/ (http://www.oaklandspigs.co.uk/perfect-pigs-book/)
[advert off]
On breeds of pig, every breed club will tell you that their breed is best for clearing land, meat, mothering, and everything else including making coffee for you in the morning!!
All of the "rare breeds" and rare breed crosses will be hardy, clear your land, and produce great tasting meat. All of the lop eared breeds (eg Large black, saddleback, GOS, Large White, Oxford Sadny & Black) are doclie and with the ears coming accross the face tend (but not always) to be easier for a first timer. The prick eared breeds ( eg Middlewhite, Berkshire, Tamworth) have better sight, and can (but not will!) be more naughty. But many people start with these and get on fine, so this is a guide not a rule ! Kune Kune's will take longer, but Happy hippy will come on in a minute and tell you they're great, and we love Wilmur our liitle KK, but she would take longer to clear your ground and mature for meat - but then again are you in a race?
Overall go for what you like the look of !
Expect to pay anything from £30 to £50 ish for a good meat pig, more for a pedigree that you night want to keep for breeding (if later on you go down that route). You can pick them up really cheap at a market, but you'll have no idea what you are buying and not the experience to see any faults - bit like a 17 year old buying his first car in an auction, he might do ok, but probably will get a lemon with loads of prolems. Better to go to a breeder and get something that will have some reputation behind it. The breed societies will have a list of breeders in your area, and these are normally a good source.
Whatever you choose, enjoy them, they are great workers, great to have around, and good to eat !
-
Kune Kune's will take longer, but Happy hippy will come on in a minute and tell you they're great, and we love Wilmur our liitle KK, but she would take longer to clear your ground and mature for meat - but then again are you in a race?
Here I am :wave: and yes, Kunekunes are great - but they're not everybodies first choice, it really depends what you're looking for from your pigs.
If you want something that will turn over rough ground, clear weeds and be ready for the freezer in 4 months then Kunekunes shouldn't be your first choice, however if you're looking for a pig that's nice and friendly to have around, cheaper to raise to slaughter (even though it does take longer) and less damaging to land than a big breed then you won't go far wrong with them ;)
I'd echo Oaklands - go for what you like the look of and try something different next time ;)
Books - I have Andy Case's "Starting with pigs" (amongst many others) and it's a good quick guide, Oaklands' (for the very quick look I had at it) seems very comprehensive and would cover pretty much everything you'll ever need to know ;)
I'd really recommend going on a course if there's somewhere local to you that runs them - that way you'll get to see a selection of pigs up close and learn about them before you part with any cash :thumbsup:
Good luck and keep us posted
Karen
-
now that kunnies have been mentioned you may strike it lucky with them a lot of people are left with them and you may get them for nothing there have been some on here free to good home but check at the slaughter house if they will take them to hairy
-
I've had Old Spots, Lops, Whites and now Saddlebacks - they all do a fantastic job. I've found GOSs a bit fatty, but all are delicious. Of them all, the Saddlebacks have settled into their rooting the quickest.
Books, there are a good few - I would alway supplement anything with a question on this forum - you get such a range of very good, experienced advice.
-
:wave:newark show is next weekend may be worth a look you can see the different breeds and talk to the breeders.
you are better off buying from a breeder they will give lots of advise and should be on the end aof a phone should you need help too rather than buying from a market you dont know what trouble you could be buying being a novice.