Author Topic: which pig (Read 2955 times)

harry · « **on:** January 23, 2014, 06:40:24 pm »

hi,,ive got an acre of roughish grazing with 60% grass 40% docks and nettles..... had kune kunes 2 -3 years ago but they didnt graze much or dig... i wanted the land turned over they didnt really touch the docks so they increased......... what pig do you suggest...same sex only... i want the land turned over and everything uprooted (except my laurels they are 15- 20 feet tall now)..... i want slow growers small medium size at adult, kune size, say 1 year to 15 months to killing.... dont want huge holes everywhere.... just want everything uprooted and eaten so i can grass seed again later for geese.....

Azzdodd · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2014, 07:03:21 pm »

Most pigs will turn everything over...but not just the top layer with regards slow growing maybe a kune kune X off some sort

shygirl · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2014, 07:06:57 pm »

my gos was worst for making big sods, only use pigs if you are happy to maybe have to disc harrow before reseeding with grass.

HappyHippy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2014, 07:23:41 pm »

Isn't Laurel poisonous to pigs

I'm sure it is so you'd maybe be safer to fence them off.

Any of the big breeds will churn it up - if you want something slower growing what about Mangalitzas ?

Tamsaddle · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2014, 07:41:23 pm »

We had loads of laurel in our woodlands where the pigs were, and they completely avoided it, even tiny weaners seemed to know not to touch it. Amazing what good biochemists they are quite naturally.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2014, 08:13:55 pm »

Portugese laurel is poisonous. If you really want things turned over try Tamworths - but only if you have very good fences.

ScotsGirl · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2014, 08:48:14 am »

We have OSBs and they are great grazers. They did turn over ground well once grass was low or where they found their favourite roots. They make no attempt to escape or push the fencing and we have found them very easy.

We hope to have weaners available around April.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2014, 10:32:51 am »

Do you find OSB's to be very noisy? We once had a few and our neighbour across the valley (a mile away!) always knew when we were going to take sheep to market because we fed the pigs earlier!

shygirl · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2014, 12:15:16 pm »

tamworths are very noisy, gos not quite so.
but i think my pigs trained me because if we had visitors they got extra rations just to keep them quiet enough to hold a conversation. many a conversation was lost to screaching at the gate. very loud they were

ScotsGirl · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2014, 02:11:19 pm »

The OSBs are very talkative but not too noisy. They only squeal if we go up with no food and don't fuss them. Generally the conversation is quiet.

hughesy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2014, 04:21:17 pm »

We've found OSB's to be very peasant and easy to deal with pigs but boy they are slow growing. Maybe just the strain we've had I suppose. The GOS we've had were pretty noisy and lively but nice pigs. Saddlebacks are still my favourite for their good natured behaviour and potential for hitting the abattoir at an early opportunity.

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2014, 01:42:27 pm »

Hi
What about Large black pigs? they're grazing pigs. I have some gilts for sale at the moment. They are very friendly pigs and excellent to handle. When we bought large blacks we expected them to be turfing up the ground, however when we bought them we found out that they preferred to graze.
Hope this helps