[David @ Hector Blooms]

It's a long way off yet (growing to baconers) but when they make their final journey, should they or can they be fed before they go to the abattoir?

[benkt]

In my experience, the abattoir will prefer an empty stomach but, having said that, I have no idea how you get them in the trailer without a bit of pig-nut-bribery!
Ours always go off first thing in the morning so I give them a small feed the night before so they are keen to follow the bucket of pig nuts up in to the trailer. Then they get a few more handfuls so they keep their heads down and still whilst I do the ear tags. When they've been dropped off, I give any remaining pigs a proper feed on my return home.

[Daisys Mum]

I usually load mine the night before so they get fed then. We set off in the morning while they are still asleep and usually have to be woken up when they arrive.

[Bionic]

I usually load mine the night before so they get fed then. We set off in the morning while they are still asleep and usually have to be woken up when they arrive.

This is exactly what I did last time and will do again shortly

[David @ Hector Blooms]

I think that it may be trial and error on feeding, lol, tagging them the night before seems to be the best practice though
Thanks guys, all advice is greatly appreciated

[ferretkeeper]

One abattoir I used said no food on the morning, I answered with the same thing as Benkt, how do you load a pig without food?

And the routine is now the same as Daisy's mum and Bionic, to load the night before. It gives the pigs time to calm down, and you haven't got the worry on the morning of being late etc etc. Way I see it they can have their final meal in peace, I usually chuck in some treats and if it's one pig going alone I back it up to another pen of pigs and leave the ramp down (with inner gate secured) so they can see their friends.

One thing I did with my first lot was leave the trailer accessible to their pen for several days and feed them in it every time, they soon get the idea! I have been lucky since then as most pigs have been well behaved but I have some Iron Age finishers who are so wary of anything new I'll have to resort to trying that again.

[P6te]

We always take them the day before, this ensure no stress for us or them.  Regarding feeding, the first abattoir we used positively encouraged feeding on the basis that pigs are very much like us.  Without food their sugar levels drop and they are more likely to be stressed.  In my opinion when they say not to feed it is just to make there job easier and less messy ...

When we settle them into the pens (always with plenty of straw and fresh water laid on) we scatter plenty of feed down for them.  Having looked after them through their life and taken them on their final journey we do our best to ensure they are going to be as content as possible to the end.

Pete

[David @ Hector Blooms]

I see your point Pete, I don't want them stressed either, I am new to all this but 9 weeks in, they are a joy to watch and seem to be content.   I will call the abattoir that I'm going to use and find out from them what they prefer (they rear livestock too).  I asked, when I first enquired about the cost of slaughter, if it would be possible to see the process.  I'm not really wanting to see it but at the end of the day, I want to make sure that they will be treated well during their last breaths.

[Hassle]

David ... I'd be inclined to trust the man to do the slaughter I've walked in to see a few of my cattle hung up with skin on and I do feel pretty sorry for them and I'm a heartless b*****d

[David @ Hector Blooms]

I know what you mean Hassle, I'm one of the heartless too, my partner says she misses me my reply is miss me when I'm dead... fair point you have though