[kjohnson34]

I live in the leaminton spa area of warwickshire, can anyone tell me of good breaders to buy weaners from and what kind of price I should paying, they will be for my freezer so x breeds are fine, also any good abbatoirs in the area, I don't mind a bit of traveling for the right service

[robert waddell]

Bill Howes has pedigree tamworths in your area, but i am unsure of the price. You can get his details from www.tamworthbreedersclub.co.uk. I do know that he will not over charge you for them

[farmershort]

I live in the leaminton spa area of warwickshire, can anyone tell me of good breaders to buy weaners from and what kind of price I should paying, they will be for my freezer so x breeds are fine, also any good abbatoirs in the area, I don't mind a bit of traveling for the right service

I use a chap called Merv - he has many different breeds and crosses, and will happily talk you through them. His farm is called "Elgany Farm"... I can't find a website for him, but I can give you his number if you pm me... He is stratford way - not too far from you. We're very happy customers of his, and he's always been cheaper than the usual "hobby brigade" prices.

[Eve]

Wherever you go, it's important the pigs are weaned properly, not just pick up a few youngsters from a pen when they're still with mum. Don't be scared to ask to see their paperwork, the sow and if possible the boar. 

Don't go by price, and don't worry about people who have the need to look down on hobbyfarmers - the latter tend to look after their animals very well.

Have a you considered going on a course such as Tony York's (Pig Paradise)? Not cheap but worth it, it'll give you a really good starting point.

[farmershort]

Wherever you go, it's important the pigs are weaned properly, not just pick up a few youngsters from a pen when they're still with mum. Don't be scared to ask to see their paperwork, the sow and if possible the boar. 

Don't go by price, and don't worry about people who have the need to look down on hobbyfarmers - the latter tend to look after their animals very well.

Have a you considered going on a course such as Tony York's (Pig Paradise)? Not cheap but worth it, it'll give you a really good starting point.

Hope I didn't offend Eve... It's just that Merv works within animal health, so his commitment to healthy happy animals is a matter of some importance to him. The fact that he also sells at a commercially viable price is just brilliant.

I'm afraid if we were to buy pigs from people who charge £100 a weaner, we'd end up loosing money with every batch. We are hobby farmers / small holders. I wouldn't pretend any different. I'd only add that I'm no mug, and I know where I need to be within a market. I can't be the happy clappy experimenter paying through the nose for a pedigree registered pig, if I hope to make some money from selling the sausages to out customers. I'm not slating the hobby farmer in any way. I just think this chap is very fortunate to live near to our favoured breeder.

I do understand what prompted your post - I should have phrased my initial reply better - apologies.

[Eve]

£100 a weaner, good lord, do people actually try to get away with that?? I can see where you're coming from now 

We've always paid £50, sometimes after some negotiating when buying several weaners in one go which were £60 originally, though we are in the Home Counties where everything costs a bit more, especially land.  Uuh, let me correct that, there is no land!

Lucky you having Merv in the business! I started off doing a course and buying books, and luckily the farmer on whose land we keep our pigs is brilliant - we learnt about osteochondritis dessicans this year, thank goodness 'our' farmer was there!


Eve 

[farmershort]

£100 a weaner, good lord, do people actually try to get away with that?? I can see where you're coming from now 

We've always paid £50, sometimes after some negotiating when buying several weaners in one go which were £60 originally, though we are in the Home Counties where everything costs a bit more, especially land.  Uuh, let me correct that, there is no land!

Lucky you having Merv in the business! I started off doing a course and buying books, and luckily the farmer on whose land we keep our pigs is brilliant - we learnt about osteochondritis dessicans this year, thank goodness 'our' farmer was there!


Eve 

yeah, sadly they do try and flog them at that.... and some ex-city goodlifers will happily pay it. I see what you mean about the home counties... it's a little cheaper all round up here, but saying that, more and more of our local breeders are moving to a fixed £50 a weaner. I can't blame them what with the feed costs, etc. I've done the maths on breeding our own, and it's still overall a few quid per pig cheaper to buy them from our friendly farmer. That says something in itself I guess.... just not sure what - except that we shouldn't breed them yet!

[robert waddell]

a few years ago the kune kune society passed a resolution that pet pigs were x pounds and breeders were y pounds the office for fair trading got wind of it and said by all means  adopt it but we will do  you for running a cartel  before feeding increased in price it cost 1pound to feed a pig per day thats 365 +cost to buy +2 services per year or buy a boar +straw    and incidentals to give you 16/18 piglets per year £40 each your loosing money £50 your breaking even £60 your just clearing your feet then your losses if your lucky none or 1 or 2 or you lose the whole litter

[Eve]

Yes, that's why it's so strange that some will sell weaners for £40, or even less... and they then give the impression that those are the going rates so expectations are set too low. I'm happy to pay £50, future piglets I assume will be more expensive given the feed and next year's lot will be bought in stages - I want the lady we buy them from to be happy keeping and selling pigs, so that I don't have to start doing the breeding myself! 

[littlemisspiggy!]

we got 4 piglets for £40 each this year and i was over the moon with the price,most seem to be advertised from £50-£85 around here..feed has gone through the roof in last few years and even paying £40 each by the time ive fed them and payed the rent on the land aswell as straw then slaughter and butcher etc i cant see how we will of gained anything from buying straight from a farmer!(except the joy of keeping pigs! )we bought half a pig for £75 last year! we have our own piglets due in feb so hoping that will shave a bit of the cost off!we already kept the 2 sows and boar as pets/breeders anyway so no extra cost there anyway as we would have them regardless.