[sallyw]

I have just acquired a 4 acre field and would like to buy four oxford sandy and black weaners to fatten. How much of the field will they need and any suggestions what to do with the rest of it. Historically it has been maintained by a chap who just takes the hay each year which is a bit dull for us but it keeps it under control. the boundaries are mostly hedges so it needs work before we do anything. Thanks in advance.

[Hilarysmum]

The experts say that its ok to keep 6 sows to an acre.  Its good to have areas in use, areas to rest and a small area for emergency isolation.  You could put pigs on a small area, when they have dug it over use it for veggies, this rotation can work over a number of years.     Four pigs on four acres, absolute heaven.   

[sallyw]

Thank you. Great idea to use the area for veggies and rotate. I shall have to think about whether to secure the entire field or carve it up - its piggy heaven verses fencing costs!

[Rosemary]

We keep two weaners for about 6 months, April to October, on 2 pens 30m x 40m roughly. At the end of the period, the pens are mostly mud, but that doesn't seem to bother the pigs. Although we're close to the river, our land is fairly free draining and by the time April comes round again, the vegetation is regrown ready for the next two. If we had pigs all year, I wouldn't keep them on this land but with a 6 month break, it seems to do fine.

The original plan was to have three pens, one for pigs, one for veggies and one growing a forage crop for the enxt batch of pigs but it didn't quite work out like that.

Rosemary

[MrRee]

Just a little tip I picked up from another forum....... If you keep your weaners on a smallish amount of land for only 5-6 months of the year,the rest of the time it's regrowing/recouperating....... once the pigs have left,follow them with chickens and ducks on the land for a couple of weeks.They clear out all the "nasties" and prevent a build up.

I've been told by some people that they keep a couple of weaners on a plot 7m X 5m. This,to me,seems excessively small. I've divided up my land and there'll be about 20m X 18m for them,plus a 10m X 4m barn with a concrete floor. Even with this size I'm wondering where I can steal some more square meterage for them without the OH noticing that the garden has shrunk!!!

[pigsatlesrues]

A good tip re putting chooks and ducks on the plot after the weaners.

Just goes to show you learn something new every day in animal keeping.

Kate

[Tony.K]

Just a quick reply,
you cant have an isolation unit in a field, Reason being quite simple, They are not isolated,
An isolation unit by definition is a place where no other animal can come into contact with them, ( disease precaution's )
If a vet visited they would want to see the animal in a place that they could examine the animal, prescribe the required medication if required and the animal could be observed for signs of recovery or worsening problems,
tonyk

[Hilarysmum]

 

You are quite correct Tony that was an oxymoron.

[katelock]

Hi all, I have just measured the land we have enclosed for my 4 tamworth weaners - 12yds x 11 yds. I think it might be OK at the moment, but small when they get bigger (they are just 3 months old at present). I have more land to move them on to if I need to, but I can't make my electric fence any bigger. Is it OK to just rotating them to new ground? any thoughts? Kate