[SouthMains]

So this year we raised our first pair of Tamworth weaners.  We got these as we are trying to get some disused farm back into production and the Tamworth's are great for digging the land over. They did their job admirably and have cleared what will now be the veg plot.  We now need to decide if we want to get another two next year.  So the pros are that we have lots more land needing cleared, and I really loved having them.  the con is that two pigs produce a lot of meat and as we have been unable to find an abattoir near us that I am happy with we went with the home kill and slaughter, which means we can not sell the meat or even give it away.  However I was so happy with the process one minute the pigs were alive next they were not and they were completely unaware of any of it so no stress whatsover for them.  However this means that we then had the stress of de hairing them ...mighty me that took a lot of time.  it has then taken us about 10 days to fully process all the meat. Am very proud to say we used absolutely everything, even the bones were boiled for stock then have fed the dogs and cats for 2 weeks.  Now though we have a vast amount of pork and we are not really very big meat eaters.  So for us the pork is a side product rather than the main reason.  I am sort of struggling to justify having another couple of weaners again this year...but I do so love having them around.  However I am looking forward to being able to go home and not have to turn my kitchen into a butchery every evening.    Oh I just can decide what to do.   Unless anybody has some pigs and not enough land we could foster them for the summer?

[Button End Beasts]

Where are you?

[SouthMains]

Forfar, Scotland

[HappyHippy]

Might be worth considering a couple of Kunekunes 

They'll grow more slowly, rootle about and graze down overgrown land (they're not quite as mighty in the snout department as the Tamworths though) they're friendly, easy to keep pigs and great as more permanant residents (they also don't eat as much as 'big' pigs). We usually slaughter around a year old and get a deadweight of 50-60Kg. They are a complete joy to keep IMHO 

I'm way down in Lanarkshire (but regularly come up to Aberdeen and will be delivering piglets to Dundee area in the next few weeks) but there's also Alison (The Stephens on here) in Aberdeen who might have some and Kim Falconer near to you with Kunekunes too (just drop me a pm for Kim's details - she posts on here, but not very often)

HTH
Karen