The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: SilverFox on April 22, 2014, 01:58:57 pm
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Our dream of owning 3 Kune Kune pigs is dashed - a sad day indeed! We studied the books, researched web-sites, visited the breeders, identified suitable accommodation and in doing so saved in time, effort and money. The ONLY abattoir capable of handling small pig numbers is 2hrs away...... in Grantown on Spey. We considered the financial implications of 'pigs for pets' as an alternative solution but that is not a practical proposition.
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where are you? we are in aberdeenshire, thats one of the reasons we stopped having pigs too. its an expensive time consuming trip, then again to collect the meat.
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What about home dispatch?
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Granton on spey are very good, its where we sent ours. The butcher is also very good. If it helps, we may be able to combine end dates and do a drop off service for you?
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unless you are selling alot of meat, its only once a year. :innocent:
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We are about 3 hours to where we have to take our pigs, but they get delivered back. Worth it for the yummy pork, yes it is a lot of diesle/time, but I reckon we've still saved over buying that meat elsewhere.
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What about home dispatch?
Lots of regs around this - link to scary gov leaflet about this below - scary cos obviously they don't want you to do it! if you just feeding yourself and immediate family living with you and are happy to dispatch, have an ounce of sense about hygiene, can wield a knife and are after taste not pretty look, then it's quite doable.
http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/guidancenotes/meatregsguid/home-slaughter-livestock/#.U1aocZVOW1s (http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/guidancenotes/meatregsguid/home-slaughter-livestock/#.U1aocZVOW1s)
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Thank you for all your posts, its kind of warming to know there are people out there with similar experiences but have knowledge to overcome them. Its possible that a solution may have been found if only the piglets can assist us with "end dates".... (thanks to fsmnutter). Fraserburgh offers 2 abattoirs within easy reach - Turriff & Inverurie but not for pigs or small numbers......... which doesn't help the 'rare breeds'. Home despatch is not something I would consider given the pain, suffering and of course - those regulations.......
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If done correctly, dispatching any animal at home should not involve any more pain or suffering than if done at the abattoir.
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Also saves the stress of the journey and waiting around but I understand actually pulling the trigger (assuming you're shooting them) is difficult to do