[Whistlin]

No, not pigs about to have a breakdown, but more a question about what terrain pigs prefer.

There's about an acre of land on the smallholding which slope down towards a stream. In one or two places it gets a bit steep. It's nicely covered by trees but with a lot of green growth beneath.

Todate I've not used this for anything, but having now taken the plunge to add pigs to the growing collection of sheep and chickens, I'm thinking of using it. The pigs can be happily housed elsewhere without resorting to this land, but their arrival did get me thinking that perhaps the land could have a use.

Does anyone have any experience of pigs adaptability to hilly land?

[princesspiggy]

mine have a 15 acres hillside/woodland, which in places is steep. they are fine and come galloping. they are fit aswell, which was evident when we had 2 new adults joining us, they were not fit at all and spent the first few weeks sleeping and a bit footsore. they have now toughened up and spent most of the day on the hill.

now we have a very steep hillside (3 acres) on the other side of the farm that im considering using next year. its very steep and exposed but also with woodland. im not sure how the pigs would cope all year round as i was wondering if the hill would toughen the meat or increase the feed bill. my pigs have roamed on it but i havent fenced them on it yet. so id be interested to see what people say to u. - seeing that people swim their pigs to increase their muscle, maybe the exercise would improve the meat? - maybe i should keep haggis on it instead lol

[oaklandspigs]

W,

The gradient will get you before the pigs!  They are quite happy on slopes providing they have somewhere level(ish) to sleep, and the whole thing is not a mountainside!.

What I would watch is run-off in to the stream or indeed letting them have access to the stream.  You don't want to be
a)done by the Environment agency for pollution of the waters, or
b) would not I hope want to kill the fish or other aquatic life or
c) pollute whoever is downstream or
d) let the pigs start to erode the bank of the stream.

RPA recommended distance of organic matter from streams is 10 metres for organic matter that is spread (and indeed a requirement for SPS), for pigs spreading themselves (!), you should use your discretion, but I would go a minimum of 2 metres from the bank, and more if it slopes a lot.

[onnyview]

We live on the side of a hill and run a herd of Gloucestershire Old Spot sows, boars and finishers.  My pigs don't mind at all, in fact I think it gives them great muscle tone and excellent hams!

But it does play havoc with our Fencing! Make sure your fencing is adequate and bear in mind you may well have to repair the fence at some point and have to put new fence posts in, can you do this?

If you're only going to have a couple of pigs to finish there shouldn't be a problem though, especially in the summer. If it is very wet the mud does start to move down hill and can pile up against fences. Also, It can be like the cresta run when it gets muddy and very slippery and you are trying to walk uphill to feed/water/re stock straw. Pigs might also get hurt too. If you can, I'd advise a level area that you stone/concrete where you can site the ark/feed and put the water trough.

watch the stream for leeching with mud/urine and muck. The pigs will make a bee line for it, so you might have to fence it off.

Let us know how you get on!

[Miss Piggy]

We have kept Tamworths and Traditional Welsh pigs on a very steep piece of land which flattens off for about 50 metres before a stream runs along the boundary at the bottom of the slope. We contain the pigs with electric wire a good distance from the stream. Their ark, feed and water  and our access are at the top of the slope which is a good flat area, so it works well. The pigs come hurtling up the hill at feed time to be fed. The steep land does not seem to cause them any problems ,and it is steep, puffs me out after I've climbed it and i'm not unfit. It is amazing you cant believe that pigs could run so fast uphill but they do. They have very good strong hams I must admit. They have no need to go down the hill as there is plenty for them to forage through on the level at the top but it is their choice and they seem happy enough and the meat tastes good. Good luck, cant see a problem if you take all the previous advice into consideration. 

[Whistlin]

Thanks all. That's really helpful, always good to know that if I'm going to do a damn fool thing, then at least we're all in it together!

As for swimming pigs! If i kept them in one of the sheeps fields then they'd certainly improve their swimming. Pigs in flippers and snorkels would be a sight to behold.