[rispainfarm]

At last , someone trying to get a handle on the pet pig/smallholder situation.
http://survey.liv.ac.uk/TakeSurvey.aspx

[Bodger]

Your link isn't working   but tell us, why do you think that a particular 'someone' needs to get a handle on the pet pig/smallholder situation?
Some of us have been smallholders all our lives and are experienced stock people and for those who aren't, forums such as this one, offer huge support through shared knowledge, experience and sound advice.
You might not be but please don't fall into the trap of associating the vast majority of smallholders with a small group of mindless idiots. You can't cater for them, they'll still be the same mindless idiots at the end of their days, no matter what.
 
 

[rispainfarm]

http://www.liv.ac.uk/farm/pigs/

Try that bodger. Although I think the link is in the other survey post.

As I said in my other post a survey like this if it goes to DEFRA might just push home about the thousands of pigs out there that are not registered with DEFRA. If not then I agree it is a total waste of time. I would like to know where the information goes and what is done with it.

[Bodger]

I got to page 13 of 26 of the survey and terminated it. Have a look, you'll see why. They can keep their chance of receiving a £40 quid token.

[hughesy]

I think the danger is that there is now a distinct difference seen between "smallholders" and "farmers". Isn't a smallholding just a small farm? This means that smallholders who are trying to run a serious business don't get taken seriously because the powers that be think they are just hobbyists or part timers or people who keep farm animals as pets. This needs to change.

[hughesy]

To be honest when I saw it would take half an hour I couldn't find the motivation to go any further.

[hughesy]

Had a look and it won't let me go to the next page without filling in the first one so can't scroll through to see the questions.

[rispainfarm]

Yes I tried that Hughsey. Whats on page 13 bodger, you don't mean about the meat feeding do you.

[rispainfarm]

I think the danger is that there is now a distinct difference seen between "smallholders" and "farmers". Isn't a smallholding just a small farm? This means that smallholders who are trying to run a serious business don't get taken seriously because the powers that be think they are just hobbyists or part timers or people who keep farm animals as pets. This needs to change.

Totally agree smallholders are not taken seriously, and for some reason DEFRA are fixated on the fact that they think smallholders are the risk when it comes to spreading disease, that fixation definitely has to change. I think smallholders in the main are the ones that are so particular about not spreading disease. Of course you are going to get the few that don't care. I think the garden/house pig people are the ones that are likely to put our pigs at risk and of course the breeders that sell without the relevant paperwork which happens along in the pet world.

[Bodger]

The survey itself, is hardly a serious one.
 
Talking of smallholders not being taken seriously. What really angered me, was when during the last foot and mouth outbreak, farmers representatives came onto the national media and blamed smallholders in some way as being responsible for the spread of the disease. Its sometime now since the outbreak but its something that I've never forgotten.

[rispainfarm]

Yes its a problem Bodger. The crofting community bigwigs have apparently set up a group that speaks directly to the powers to be on this problem, smallholders not being taken seriously. Trouble is pet/micro pig owners don't do smallholders any favours because many of them are the ones that break the rules continually and their attitude which many speak about quite openly towards pigs are not helpful.  (remember the case of the micro pig owner who was trying to get movement forms for pet pigs revoked so he could take his pet pig with him everywhere he went.

 I would be interested in knowing the statistics between smallholders, farmers and pet pig owners when it comes to breaking the rules and getting caught. 

[benkt]

It took me five minutes to fill out - if only ignorant pet owners fill it out due to the stupid questions it asks then it will make us all look bad - you'll see a headline like "(some huge %) of smallholders ignore movement licences/feeding rules/tagging/whatever".

[rispainfarm]

It depends on where the information is going and what it is used for, as I said if it goes to Defra, might be useful if we all fill it out. As you say Benkt, it only take five minutes or so.

[Berkshire Boy]

You can only fill it out if you live in England, for some reason the views of the Welsh, Scottish and NI aren't important.

[rispainfarm]

I filled it in, does that mean it will be discarded, never saw that.