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Author Topic: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know  (Read 3695 times)

lokismum

  • Joined Mar 2013
  • kent
OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« on: May 29, 2013, 11:53:41 am »
have been ploughing through the posts for months now and it seems that those of us that want to follow the rest of you lucky pepole and want to get some Piggy's or are new to Piggy's are finding it a little confusing (all the rules and regs) :dunce:
thought that a list of questions and simple answers in one place  may help
so here we go ill start if off if anyone else wants to add on please feel free

what and who do we have to register with ?

if we keep our pigs in woodland / weedcovered ground (not knowing what they might eat) can we still sell our meat?

can we feed them veg waist from veg patch (without it going into the kitchen of course)you never know what dirt might be in there :roflanim:

if they will go to the freezer do we need to worm and vacs

would buying castrated males stop taint or would we be better to keep male and female separate to stop taint

will add more as i can think of them but please feel free to add you own
and thankyou all in advance for your help and advice from us less fortunate soles
we will get there
ONE DAY !!!!

Fowgill Farm

  • Joined Feb 2009
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2013, 12:06:10 pm »
No its not that hard if as you are doing commit to the research first.
My advice get a good book Traditional Pig Keeping by Carol Harris is a good place to start or the National Trust little pink book of pig keeping by Richard Lutwyche. Second hand books on Amazon are reasonable price. if you can't afford the book you can't afford to keep pigs, its not a cheap hobby but you do get good meat as the reward.
Also check out the DEFRA website if you are in England SERAD if in Scotland.
Go on a pig keeping day course or track down a nearby pig keeper who'll be happy to talk to you for free (i'm in North Yorkshire if thats nay use)
Forums are useful but there is a lot of misinformation as well as good information as everyone interprets rules to suit and what works for one pig keeper may not work for another.
To answer your questions
First you need a CPH number from your local DEFRA/SERAD office then a herd number from your local Animal Health office all contact info from relevant govt offices websites.
Yes you can sell the meat from animals living in woodland
If they're for the freezer we usually recommend you buy weaners already wormed by the breeder so you don't need to do any further jabs.
Don't keep males & females together buy a couple of one gender so no taint problem, suggest for first time you get two boys and take to butchers at approx 24wks no later than 28wks that way you can see if you like pig keeping and it likes you.
hth
mandy :pig:

Bionic

  • Joined Dec 2010
  • Talley, Carmarthenshire
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2013, 12:17:31 pm »
Great info from Mandy as usual.
 
I would echo getting a couple of weaners, we have twice had 2 females, once you have done your research that is. That way, if you find out that pig keeping isn't for you then you will only be keeping them for 3-4 months before they go off for meat.
Having done this and despite seeing all the lovely piglets I have decided that breeding from them myself just isn't for me. The weaner option works well though.
 
Life is like a bowl of cherries, mostly yummy but some dodgy bits

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2013, 01:17:22 pm »
Can't really add much to what Mandy has said already  :thumbsup:

Definately worm (or buy wormed) weaners - keep them on concrete for a few days after they've been jabbed just to stop them potentially contaminating your 'clean' ground.
Go and visit and talk to as many pig keepers as you can, or the course idea is a good one too (we run beginners courses in Lanarkshire, Scotland)

A couple of boars (either castrated or entire) is the best way to start - they have to go to slaughter at the end, you've always got that in your mind and it makes it a bit easier when the time comes  ;)

The Haynes pig manual by Liz Shankland is also a really good book and covers everything you'll need to know too and the GOS website (and many others) all have loads of info to get you started  :thumbsup:

And we're all here to offer support & advice too  ;D
Karen  :wave:

lokismum

  • Joined Mar 2013
  • kent
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2013, 01:17:58 pm »
will be getting at 8 weeks old

anyone that sells meat from there gate advice and experience would be wonderfull
meat would be jointed and packed at abattoir
we will get there
ONE DAY !!!!

lokismum

  • Joined Mar 2013
  • kent
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2013, 01:21:13 pm »
we are doing endless research and reading and have been doing for about 6 months now
so not jumping straight in and have both been involved with pigs before but not for years and belonged to others
we will get there
ONE DAY !!!!

oaklandspigs

  • Joined Nov 2009
  • East Sussex
    • OaklandsPigs
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2013, 01:41:01 pm »
[advert on!] Our book is great, and answers all your initial questions in detail, as well as a mass of other things. As we self publish, we are able to cover the regulations in detail and keep them up to date.
Our one day courses are also a great introduction, giving you the chance to see lots of different set-ups, loads of types of Arks, discuss fencing, health, feeding and many many other things.
 
visit our website www.oaklandspigs.co.uk fro details [advert off]
FF has answered your initial queries, but hope you enjoy pig keeping
 
www.Oaklandspigs.co.uk
"Perfect Pigs" the complete guide to keeping pigs; One Day Pig Courses in South East;
Weaners for sale - Visit our site for details

Dan

  • The Accidental Smallholder
  • Administrator
  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Carnoustie, Angus
    • The Accidental Smallholder
    • Facebook
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2013, 02:41:16 pm »
We put together a set of introductory articles covering the basics, so you wouldn't have to trawl through the forums:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/pigs/

We should probably advertise this a bit better on the forum index...

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #8 on: May 29, 2013, 02:49:20 pm »
If you want to sell meat from your home, you'll need to register with trading standards/environmental health. It's fairly straightforward (and there's no charge)  :thumbsup: They'll keep you right with regard to storage & transportation and labelling guidelines.
The easiest way by far is to sell halves or quarters and have the buyers collect direct from the abattoir/butcher  ;)
HTH
Karen

P6te

  • Joined Jan 2012
  • South Derbyshire
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2013, 06:58:50 pm »
We've only been keeping pigs for a few years now but have had lots of different breeds and lots of crosses too.  We've purchased from lots of different people and find it fascinating seeing how others keep theirs. We have learnt a lot just by visiting and talking to those we've bought piglets off.

One topic that frequently comes up here is the price of feed and blown vs bagged.  Just over a month ago when we bought some GOS's the breeder had a very interesting setup for his feed.  He purchases his feed blown and stores it in a container (a steel container off a lorry).  The container is located about 25 metres away from his (smallholding) entrance - beyond which a lorry carrying the feed would not pass. By the gate is a 4" diameter plastic pipe (the type used for drains) which went underground and emerged by and entered into the container.  When the feed is delivered it is blown in by the gate and its delivered via the pipe into the container.

.... as well as being interesting in its own right, the point I'm really making is that its worth getting to see as many other peoples setups as possible, you'll learn lots that way.

Pete
Live for today
Plan for tomorrow

Hassle

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Lincolnshire
Re: OMG is it realy that hard?? things we should all know
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2013, 08:39:32 pm »
Pete you are so so very right  :thumbsup:

 

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