The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: danconfessed on April 04, 2016, 12:33:58 pm

Title: Loading pigs
Post by: danconfessed on April 04, 2016, 12:33:58 pm
Hi all,

I have some pigs due to slaughter tomorrow AM.  In the past we have always loaded them up early and set off.  Unfortunately, due to circumstances i dont have any helpers in the morning.  have any of you loaded the night before? If so, how long before? 
Obviously they will have access to water and plenty of room for the three of them. just contemplating the ethics of it
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 04, 2016, 12:35:22 pm
Mine always sleep in the trailer the night before.  Lots of straw, what's not to love?
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: shygirl on April 04, 2016, 12:58:37 pm
we did this, yes plenty of bedding to keep them clean.
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: danconfessed on April 04, 2016, 01:37:24 pm
What time the previous evening did you load them?

Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: shygirl on April 04, 2016, 01:39:55 pm
daylight and when helping hands were around. if they are from the same herd, they shouldn't fight, will sleep if not disturbed.
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: Bionic on April 04, 2016, 02:31:15 pm
Mine are always loaded at tea time the previous evening. So that would be about 6pm.

Put straw and water in the trailer and lead them in with their tea. They then eat and bed down for the night.

We have never had a problem with this. In fact they are usually still asleep when we drive off the next morning.
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: Rosemary on April 04, 2016, 02:31:32 pm
We load the night before if we're leaving really early; big straw bed and water and their "last supper" in the trailer. They have more room than in their ark.
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: hughesy on April 04, 2016, 08:55:34 pm
I've often thought about loading the night before but never seem to find the time. Last minute seems to work out ok for us though.
Title: Re: Loading pigs
Post by: benkt on April 07, 2016, 08:40:12 am
I've done both depending on availability of a spare pair of hands and had no problem either way - plenty of water if done the night before  (seems to get kicked over a lot in the trailer so I usually go out and fill up again last thing before bed).