[HappyHippy]

can I just add....
RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!

(that's my main reaction when I see or hear the term "Micro pig!") 

Yep, me too LB - plus the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach 

Yep ! And you start trying to explain the impossible genetics and how these pigs aren't going to stay small and be suitable house pets and THEY DON'T BELIEVE YOU ! 
I think the saying "A fool and his money are easily parted" applies in the case of "micro" pigs  People only believe what they want to believe and there's nothing anyone can do to change that 

[tobytoby]

Beewyched- Picking up from the start of the thread, what age and weight were your boys and what weight was the end product? Have you ever used the abbatoir at saltcoats/ardrossan?

[robert waddell]

that will be   robertsons of ardrossan       they specialise in rare breed pork       or they did

[welshlass181]

These poor animals are being advertised on facebook pages.  I think that they're getting pee'd off with my replies lol and i also tell ppl to look on here before they even think about getting one.  Some people are so gullible and stupid and the poor pigs suffer humans suck ass royally

[SallyintNorth]

Don't mince your words, welshlass!   

[Beewyched]

These poor animals are being advertised on facebook pages.  I think that they're getting pee'd off with my replies lol and i also tell ppl to look on here before they even think about getting one.  Some people are so gullible and stupid and the poor pigs suffer humans suck ass royally

Go for it girl 

[Beewyched]

Beewyched- Picking up from the start of the thread, what age and weight were your boys and what weight was the end product? Have you ever used the abbatoir at saltcoats/ardrossan?

Hiya TT 

Not used Ardrossan - Wishaw are supporting the SPKA, so we've decided to go with them (it's gotta be 2-way) plus we get to call for a cuppa & a natter with Karen & Bruce while were down there too 

Will let you know of the weights when we get them back next week - using the old string method, the castrate was about 105kg & the little boar was 35kg last worming in April.  The boar was a bit small & we would have liked a couple more months on him, but he had to go I'm afraid coz we're losing our field & even though the breeder had registered him, he was not up to breed standards IMHO (should have been castrated as a piglet methinks).

Will report on the taste test next week 

[HappyHippy]

These poor animals are being advertised on facebook pages.  I think that they're getting pee'd off with my replies lol and i also tell ppl to look on here before they even think about getting one.  Some people are so gullible and stupid and the poor pigs suffer humans suck ass royally

Go for it girl 

Another anti-micro convert  Keep fighting the good fight mrs - BUT be careful who you mess with on facebook, there have been many a profile deleted because certain micro breeders take exception to the truth and get the folk who are very vocal about it banned  There's a page called 'The truth about mini/micro pigs' and most of the anti-micro campaign is being fought from there 
Karen 

[Hilarysmum]

I am practising my yoga, so I am calm when I follow up the link, would you post it for me please Karen.  breath, calm, calm, calm  b  r   e   a t   h 

[HappyHippy]

Here's the facebook link http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-truth-about-minipigs/118404678171148
Deep breaths HM and maybe a wee brandy just to make sure you stay calm 
There was a great piece on Fake Britian a few weeks ago, with Dom Littlewood but sadly it's a daytime show so didn't reach the prime time audience - I still don't understand why Watchdog have never run with the story  I'd have thought their 'rouge trades' would have been just the place to out all the unscrupulous micro breeders 

[Stevie G]

that is not a small pig    its head is as big as hers          NO I AM STOPPING THERE

I do hate to say this(being of the male gender), but your not wrong there.
Certainly wouldn't be the only thing grunting.

[Hermit]

Now, I was talking to one of the big shetland pony stud ladies last week and the conversation got onto micropigs. She was totally outraged by the whole affair and compared it to other breeders of animals such as minature shetland ponies and indeed Shetlands themselves, minature versions of dog breeds, etc etc. She said it had been going on for centuries and the pigs for some reason get the attention.' Runt to runt' breeding she called it and it should be banned throughout breeding but some minatures have become the norm. Was she right to compare it to other breeds of animals?     I think she had a good point.

[Hermit]

ps She does not breed small shetlands , she sources ponies from far and wide to get the  old bloodlines to breed the large ponies to get them back up to full height as nature intended. One of only two breeders I know of that are doing this.

[sabrina]

I think she was right, breeding the runt of any breed can only spell problems for someone, birth defects are common be it heart or some other form. What happened to only breeding from the very best of your stock.

[HappyHippy]

I think the biggest problem with the pigs is that they are being marketed as suitable house pets and breeders are (or were, before legal action to change things) saying they'll not get bigger than 14 inches or 18 inches etc. That and the runt to runt breeding, the ridiculosly over-priced pigs, the ill health and dodgy welfare conditions of these pigs, runts from 'standard' litters being passed off as micros, pigs being sold and moved without CPH no.s and movement licences to totally unsuitable homes ........ I could go on ! But won't 
I have absolutely no respect for these types of breeders - shame on them !