We are in north east Leicestershire
Also can any one recommend any pig keeping books? We are tottaly new to all of this!
[Advert on] Yes I can recommend ours!!
The book covers :
Creating the environment fencing, water, food, wallows, shade, arks
Buying weaners pedigree or crossbred; buying for meat or breeding
Feed what you can feed, how much and when, artificial feed vs natural
Regulations a comprehensive guide to complying with the rules !
When will your pigs be ready estimating weight, time of year and impact on pig.
Slaughter planning ahead, transporting, who does what between abattoir & butcher
Finding an abattoir, what to ask and what to do when you go there
Finding a good butcher and what they and you need to talk about
What you get from a pig examples and photos of what cuts you get and how much
Breeding creating your breeding herd, how many, which breeds
What about a boar : Boar Hire or buying boars or AI; pedigree stock
The birth process what happens and what do you need to do
Weaning piglets when to wean, and how
Selling weaners advertising, what to do when people visit.
Pig Health looking after your pigs, and knowing when and when not to call the vet
Pedigree pigs registering and marking
You can purchsae from our website
http://www.oaklandspigs.co.uk/perfect-pigs-book/[advert off]
On breeds of pig, every breed club will tell you that their breed is best for clearing land, meat, mothering, and everything else including making coffee for you in the morning!!
All of the "rare breeds" and rare breed crosses will be hardy, clear your land, and produce great tasting meat. All of the lop eared breeds (eg Large black, saddleback, GOS, Large White, Oxford Sadny & Black) are doclie and with the ears coming accross the face tend (but not always) to be easier for a first timer. The prick eared breeds ( eg Middlewhite, Berkshire, Tamworth) have better sight, and can (but not will!) be more naughty. But many people start with these and get on fine, so this is a guide not a rule ! Kune Kune's will take longer, but Happy hippy will come on in a minute and tell you they're great, and we love Wilmur our liitle KK, but she would take longer to clear your ground and mature for meat - but then again are you in a race?
Overall go for what you like the look of !
Expect to pay anything from £30 to £50 ish for a good meat pig, more for a pedigree that you night want to keep for breeding (if later on you go down that route). You can pick them up really cheap at a market, but you'll have no idea what you are buying and not the experience to see any faults - bit like a 17 year old buying his first car in an auction, he might do ok, but probably will get a lemon with loads of prolems. Better to go to a breeder and get something that will have some reputation behind it. The breed societies will have a list of breeders in your area, and these are normally a good source.
Whatever you choose, enjoy them, they are great workers, great to have around, and good to eat !