[Womble]

.....he charges over £500 a piglet......

Are you serious??   Like who on earth....? 

OK, so I haven't watched the program, and I'm not going to now, but can somebody fill me in on the basics here?   My understanding is that these are standard pigs selectively bred for 'smallness', which are then sold for high prices as pets - is this right?   

So people really go through all the hassle of getting a CPH number etc, just so they can pay £1000+ have a pair of piglets running around at home?  Am I missing something here, or has the world gone completely mad? 

[Hilarysmum]

What if we all write to the producers of the show and complain loudly, strongly explaining why the arrangements were so bad.  And what sort of example does it give to new pig keepers.  I thought it was illegal to keep any animal in a trailer overnight.  Isnt he breaking the law?  If so what about a mass complaint to DEFRA.

(Now I have broken my NY resolution already)

[robert waddell]

now let us look at this constructively and at a distance
the first series was very good and no doubt had a high viewer count
there is going to be more on this as the series progresses
now the pigs themselves tammies crossed with pot belly(never yet seen a tammie with a belly like the one that was filmed)
yes happy hippy so much for selective breeding (if you are not first your last) all running together if he had he service date he would know the farrowing date what about the natural instinct to nest build and yes you are supposed to house them where they are going to farrow all he did was add to the stress she was suffering
the only tears were of joy was for the publicity he has obtained and not paid for it (in all probability he is being paid for appearing)
the new born piglets sh#te they were older than 1 1/2 hours old so much for selecting his breeding stock
now these piglets are sold not as pairs but singally now some points i have not covered because other posters have done

[HappyHippy]

My blood's still boiling this morning - and the facebook pages are heating up too 
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/the-truth-about-minipigs/118404678171148

[princesspiggy]

didnt anyone watch "essexmas" (woteva it was called) bloke bought his girlfriend a micro pig 4 xmas, didnt look that small to me, kept in a crate in her house. poor thing, wont be there long.

[Mo]

You've all said it all.
I was upset when I knew they were doing a piece on "Micropigs" but felt compelled to watch.
I'm just wondering whether, without the "Micropig" tag, the programmers would have accepted his practices so easily.

[CameronS]

http://www.pigsrus.zoomshare.com/1.html

This is his site.

What i didn't like was the fact he was encouraging people to keep pigs indoors!!! as pets

[HappyHippy]

I'm sorry, but almost everything I've heard breeders advise about micro mongrals in terms of pig keeping is appallingly wrong and even on his own website he's being very economical with the truth ! An example :
The bit on the home page where he says "DEFRA'S INTERPRETATION OF A MICRO PIG IS A PIG THAT HAS BEEN BRED OVER GENERATIONS TO BE SMALLER IN ADULTHOOD THAN MOST OTHER SPECIES OF PIGS" is only partially copied from DEFRA's website - what the whole thing actually says is
"‘Micro’ pigs are not a recognised breed, but have been developed through selective breeding to create a pig that is smaller than those produced for commercial pig keeping. However, such selective breeding, as with other specialised domestic pets such as cats and dogs, can lead to animals which have genetic weaknesses or susceptibilities. A number of owners have also been caught out when their ‘micro’ pig has grown into a full size pig weighing 150-200kg. Because they have not had the facilities to care for an animal of this size they have had to make some difficult decisions."
Funny how he's ommitted to tell the whole truth, but that wouldn't be as public friendly (or profit friendly !)  Hell, I could set myself up with a tidy little franchise from "Little Pig Farm" for £10K and sell these micro's till the cow's come home if I wanted to - all their breeding stock comes from this 'founder' after all. But I've got a bit more sense and an awful lot more morals than these money hungry business people (because that's what they are - NO self respecting pig breeder would behave in this manner.
Ah, sorry - ranting again ! I really have to stop reading this thread ! 

[robert waddell]

happy hippy your right they are mongrels

[Hilarysmum]

At 3 months old Digby was smaller than our admittedly very large cat.  At 18 months and 3 weeks he is taller than my friends falabella horse.  He weighs more too.  He was never supposed to be a mini pig, but could easily have been passed off as one when young. 

[pigman]

In answer to lillian's post about him probably being paid, and I hope I don't stop you from typing this time in disgust Lillian as indicated in a previous post. He would not be paid. I have done television work and you don't get paid, appearing on the show is usually considered reward enough. In all probability, he would have been approached or something would have gone into the local paper advertising for potential people. I feel he has done the trade no good whatsoever and it just reinforces what is already in the public domain, these pigs don't exist (did you see a small pig on the programme?) I personally think that the programme would have done more harm than good. You are obviously going to get morons who think they are cute and they want one, but on the whole there were no favours done.

[robert waddell]

we have done television work as well we were paid  although the last one we done was not paid i heard a while ago that you were into the mini pig market  pigman is this correct           friend of ours in the summer were determined to get a mini pig money no object the effort that went into diswading them from making a wrong decision  was unbelievable yet they would not concider buying normal pigs

[HappyHippy]

There REALLY needs to be a high level programme (Watchdog or something similar) who are prepared to take on the 'micro' breeders to educate the general public - they have no reason not to think these breeders are right in all they say and do.
I've seen people advertise them for sale after owning them for a very short time and amongst other things they say in the ad that 'he enjoys mash and gravy' and another advocating feeding kitchen scraps - do these people not read the info that DEFRA send them  
I have, and I know others have too, written to Watchdog about this subject, but haven't seen or heard anything to indicate they intend running a story  
Without a major push to educate people to the probable pitfalls there will be thousands of these maxi micro's being rehomed in a VERY short space of time - probably just in time for Valentines when all the not so cute anymore and not so little piggies are replaced by the next celebrity gimmick
Many of the breeders have had advertising bans slapped on them, so it amazes me that TV programmes are helping publicise what is (in MY opinion) an irreputable and irresponsible trade in live animals - a quick google of 'Little Pig Farm' or 'Valley of the Pigs' shows ALL the sides of the story - not just theirs  

[pigman]

Lillian where on earth do you get that from, I have never owned anything smaller than a berkshire and never will. I am a traditional breed person. God don't people gossip. Pigs are for breeding and meat, not pets in houses. I hope that isn't being spread about, I will lose all credibility.

Just to add I have been working for the past nine months trying to get this trade stopped, writing to the media, getting the bpa involved and tradings standards as well as the NPA so you can rest assured my name will never be associated with keeping mini pigs unless they are ornements!

i have had numerous solicitors letters from the micropig people threatening all sorts if I didn't keep quiet, one even demanded £40,000 in compensation, so I am shocked to think this is going about. (in case anyone didn't already realise!!)

[robert waddell]

sorry to hear about you personal battles i cant remember who or where we were informed at least you have the opportunity to to denounce it the letters are just saber rattling