[Lambic]

Hello

Hoping for some advice as I am total beginner to keeping pigs.

When I finally stop working, I hope to have an initial trial of keeping a few pigs.  Given up on the goat idea   If that works out, then possibly expanding a little.  All for personal consumption for the foreseeable future.

I am a registered smallholding of about 30 acres, so I should find a suitable spot.

Obviously there are so many questions, but I guess the first one is what kind of regulations would I have to comply with here in Scotland ?

I intend a do a great deal of research on species, pens etc, but the dealing with the authorities is a different matter....

Many thanks

[SallyintNorth]

I'm not in Scotland so I won't offer more than suggesting you have a look at the guides and articles here on TAS.  "Starting with Pigs" talks about the regs in Scotland, and in England & Wales.

[Lambic]

Thank you Sally.  I shall have a good read.

In terms of meat quality, which is the most significant quality for me, which breeds are recommended for beginners growing on ?

Cheers

[SallyintNorth]

As with most species, we probably all recommend our favourites.

What are your circumstances, plans and objectives?  If it's meat for yourself, then carcase quality will be less of an issue so you'd probably go for a super-tasty breed that's fun to keep, eg., GOS, OSB, Berkshire.  If you want to sell to butchers, back fat will need to be under 20mm, so you'd probably do better with something like uncastrated male Lops.

What you can readily source locally may well dictate your choices.