[maryharra]

Hello! Some advice please.

We have a small forest area about 2 acres and we are considering keeping 2-3 pigs for the summer. Can anyone here recommend a good breed (other than Tamworths) for clearing forests?

Also, the farm is hosting a party in September and we would like to have a hog roast. Is there a particular breed best for hog roasts? We are expecting approx. 70-100 people and it would be great if we could spit roast one of the pigs we cared for. It is almost May and we would need the pigs to be ready by September...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[Tudful Tamworths]

What have you got against Tamworths? They were my first breed and I've stuck with them - as have lots of my repeat customers.

[maryharra]

Nothing at all! In fact I love their colouring. I have just been told that they really dig up the earth as their rooting abilities are a bit too good!

Would you recommend Tamworths for our purpose?

[Tudful Tamworths]

ALL pigs will root - even KuneKunes if they run out of grazing or get bored. It's what pigs do; an expression of natural behaviour. What I'd suggest is strip-grazing them with electric fencing so that you move them along to new ground as they clear the scrub in a particular area.
What are you planning to when they've cleared it all for you? Hopefully you're just planning on getting weaners for the freezer rather than breeding stock.

[maryharra]

Like I said, I am new to pig keeping! Thank you for the suggestion. We are not interested in breeding stock, just weaners for the freezer. We have electric fencing and can also make a temporary pig shelter for them.

We are looking to buy now and slaughter in September. Any advice on best breeds, age and weight for hog roasts would be much appreciated.

[FiB]

As the grand keeper of only one set of weaners... Not in position of great experience   But a couple of things worked well for us....

• Choose a pig you like the look of and is suited to outdoor living (saddleback a worked brill for us, and I quite fancy large blacks this time....
• Choose a breader near you, then you can go and visit first and have a chat about that breed, and pick up some tips before hand. Also they will probably help you with any queries afterwards. That's how we ended up with saddle backs. Plus it supports pedigree breeders which hopefully keeps the breed going...
• Make sure your nearest slaughter house does private slaughter for that breed (some won't do dark pigs)
• Ask ask and ask away on this site

Temp house ing worked for us we made a strawbale sty.  Imagine Lecci fencing would be a bit of a nightmare in woods, but great if it works - how is the boundary fencing?

No idea about hog roasting, but know a few on here do do it. Good luck fi x

[Nethermoor Pigs]

Where are you?  Some pedigree breeders sometimes give an option of registered which can make a difference or £10/pig.  If only for meat, this makes sense! 

[Marches Farmer]

Take a look at the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders Club website for lots of information.  You need to think about fencing, continous water supply, feed, shelter, shade in summer, transportation, getting a holding number and herd number, signing up with a livestock vet, whether you'll be able to judge their condition so you don't end up taking a trailer full of lard to the abattoir .....  All that before you start thinking about which breed.

[Fowgill Farm]

Take a look at the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders Club website for lots of information.  You need to think about fencing, continous water supply, feed, shelter, shade in summer, transportation, getting a holding number and herd number, signing up with a livestock vet, whether you'll be able to judge their condition so you don't end up taking a trailer full of lard to the abattoir .....  All that before you start thinking about which breed.

Ditto - www.gospbc.co.uk under pig management. Also under the members directory you will probably find somebody near you for a visit or piggies.
Pigs would be delighted with your woodland and already you've thought about the end result so well done for thinking ahead.
hth
all the best
mandy

[maryharra]

Thanks for all the comments. This is such a useful resource!

We have ticked off all the above apart from the fencing which we are looking into this weekend.

Do we really need to take them to the vets if we buy them from a reputable breeder and slaughter them in September?

Thanks!

[FiB]

If you are lucky no (we had no medical costs whatsoever).... But I guess you just need to think about the what ifs and be ready :-) .  We were registered with our local vet because of the sheep. It doesn't cost anything, but helps if you need a callout etc. look forward to seeing what you get!