[WinslowPorker]

Hi all

Another amateurs question i am sure to many of you, but just wondering at what point do you stop feeding pigs before they go for slaughter? i assume they need a couple of days to empty their bowels??

Thanks

[HappyHippy]

I wouldn't fancy having to try and sleep within a mile of any pigs that hadn't been fed for a couple of days 
Maybe other people do it differently, but I usually feed them the night before, just not on the morning of the 'deed' it has the added bonus of making sure they'll follow me and the bucket when we get to the abbetior (not a pig board in sight ) We have had some which broke out of their pen on the morning of going to the abbetior and gorged themselves on apples - I was expecting the abbetior to have something to say about it, but luckily it didn't seem to matter.
Everyone will have their own ideas about what's best - if you're in any doubt I'd suggest a quick phonecall to your abbetior to double check with them.
Hope this helps.

[Fowgill Farm]

We generally feed ours the nite before around 4pm , they go off the next morning around 6am and we've had no problems. HTH Mandy

[JulieS]

I usually feed mine the night before, then give them a little to encourage them into the trailer just before heading off the next morning.

[dixie]

Same here, the night before and just a handful to get them loaded!

[WinslowPorker]

Perfect, thanks guys. It was one of those conversations we had and just did not have a clue on the answer! they are boisterous enough now at 3 months old when they want food, so god knows what they will be like in 3/4 months time!!

[langdon]

i tell you now you think there mad for it now!!!!
wait untill then, blimey we are new pig keepers we have three british saddlebacks, one is ready to go
next month for pork and gosh going in to feed them is crazy but good fun, please im not trying to put you
off, you will love it all along the way
what breed have you? good luck and happy pig keeping

[dixie]

You can teach them not to barge and be patient, they learn very quickly! my boar is now 18 months old and large!!! he waits patiently at his pallet for dinner, I cant take chances with him, but he learnt easily!

[sabrina]

I fed mine the night before and the morning they went each got an apple 

[JulieS]

You are right Dixie, they soon learn.  Teach them how to wait now and it will make life a lot easier and more enjoyable for you ...and them. 

[Eve]

How do you teach them to wait and by what age are they trained? Ours only live to six months, but their enthusiasm for food can make the trip to the trough a challenge at times! 

[Wizard]

Hello WP Seems to me there is quite a lot of ways to interpret this question!By some of the answers. I always gave them a 1/2 tea the night before they were to be slaughtered the next day,They tend to fret if they don't get fed at all.With out you are worried about cleaning tharmes what is the point of no food?

[Daisys Mum]

Dixie please tell us how you teach them not to barge at you when you go in to feed, mine are only 8 weeks old now and are pretty pushy, sometimes even biting at my feet so never go in without my neoprene wellies. They were VERY nervous when I got them and it was hard to get near them then so I was perhaps too soft on them. I just couldn't bear to have pigs that I could not get near, one of them threw himself down on my feet this morning for me to rub his belly so now I have them allowing me to handle them what is the best way to teach them manners?
Sorry for hijacking your thread WP. 

[Hilarysmum]

I'm teaching mine to sit before they eat .....

[Wizard]

 I observe it is not wearing a napkin  Has it washed its hands ? It's a grand look set of rashers on the hoof intit?