[Devon Boy]

Hi everyone, newbie here

we are currently at the start of our smallholding process and are seriously considering pigs as some of our first occupants.

Thinking of having a breeding pair of pigs and using the young for meat.

Can anyone give me an idea of the cost benefits of doing this against sourcing meat from the usual routes? I have seen the calculator on here but I'm not sure it would give me the answers.

Also what is the deal with selling the meat. I imagine it involves a raft of paperwork and inspections?

as you can tell I am mind mapping here

[FiB]

Cheapest ethical meat you could obtain for your family :-). I'm sure others would echo... DONT start with breeding. Get a cople of rounds of weaners gone before you think about it. Pigs might get on your nerves :-). When we have them, they are the biggest tie here and I am pleased to see the back of them for a bit. But the pork etc is beyond compare ...

[devonlady]

I am not a pig expert but have kept a few for meat. I would say it would not be cost effective to keep a boar for just one female, they eat a LOT of grub. A.I. would be your best bet. I borrowed a boar for my Kunes, the meat from Kunes by the way is lovely, but otherwise bought weaners. I always reared a couple for other people, they paying for the feed, straw etc. so that my own pig cost very little to rear.
If you are going to rear pigs properly then your meat will cost a great deal more than the supermarket or butcher, but it will be the best pork/ham/bacon you will eat. They will wreck your land though and are great escape artists, the land can be put right and going to fetch them from your neighbour is great exercise
If you have electric  fencing this can be avoided.
Pigs are lovely, fun animals, go for it

[Backinwellies]

Definitely start with a couple of MALE weaners ...... Male means you won't be tempted to keep for breeding!   That will give you chance to try out you system and adapt without long temp commitment.

[Rosemary]

I agree with FiB and BiW, start with a couple of weaners for yourself and family.

If you decide to breed in future, you must establish some sort of market for the meat - don't rely on selling weaners. An a sow can farrow twice a year, maybe 9/10 piglets a litter - that's a lot of pork to shift. And a lot of feed to buy before you have any income. Selling weaners at £5 each through your local mart will just lose you heaps of money - then you'll never want to breed pigs again.

Start small, do your plans and think it through.

[Devon Boy]

That's great everyone, thanks for the advice

[Bekka]

We started keeping pigs last summer - and we have successfully raised 6 weaners - 2 to pork weight and 4 to bacon. Sent the last 2 to the abattoir yesterday and boy did they do us proud - 99kg deadweight! Cant wait for the bacon!!
We got two weaners (boys) to start with, Build your confidence with them - then we decided to get 4 more. Wouldnt recommend trying to fatten to bacon weight over the winter though - costs a fortune.
Is a fantastic feeling to know that your pigs had a fab life, happy and healthy. I am very thankful to my boys and enjoy every bite.

Have fun! Pigs are awsome!

[Fowgill Farm]

Echo all others have said fatten a couple of boar weaners for yourselves, by time you get them to slaughter you'll know whether pig keeping is for you or not, check out the GOS website for pig keepers with weaners near you
www.gospbc.co.uk, think theres somebody near Tavistock with weaners to sell at the mo. Check the for sale section of forum its free to look.
When you've done that then think about investing further so do the homework.
Enjoy
Mandy