[gavin davies]

I will be taking my pigs to the bacon maker in the sky shortly I have sorted the trailer situation out finally what I need to know is do I feed them them morning they go or night before or do they have to have an empty stomach when they get there  also is there anything else I need to know before the day I am making sure I know everything in advance many thanks

[The Woodsiders]

Good morning, Ok to feed the night before, our abattoir do like them to have been fed in the morning as I suspect many other abattoirs are the same, make sure they are tagged or slapmarked, Eaml2 completed and abattoir booked, that's about it (unless someone thinks of something I have forgotten)

[Hassle]

I always take a print out of the Eaml2 form, police stop, problems on route etc and just as a paper record but also the abattoir I use is cutting edge in sharp blades but not in technology with the office in a separate location.

[shygirl]

we always withdrew food the day before (after a good breakfast) except the few bits they got when loading. its stops so much mess and poop in the trailer too as they are bound to lie in it. we dont water in the morning either. they should be killed soon after arrival so an empty intestine is the easiest way. we do the same for all animals, poultry included.

[Fowgill Farm]

We give them their tea as usual the night before near the trailer tail gate, we close up their house and they sleep in the open trailer so then we sneak up at ungodly o'clock and close it up. At 6am we're away to the abbattoir. Sometimes an apple is needed toget them out of bed at the other end! There is water in the lairage at the abbattoir if they want a drink but by time we are home around 7.30am the deed has usually already been done. We too carry a paper copy of the AML just in case.
Good luck.
Mandy

[honeyend]

My first lot go in September. How clean do they have to be? As I only have two and I have a large trailer I was going to let them have it a  boudoir for their last couple of days in case its muddy, but how much mud is acceptable.

[The Woodsiders]

speak to your abattoir, if they have been in the trailer with fresh straw that normally cleans them up a bit unless they hit their wallow just before they go

[gavin davies]

Thanks for all the reply good idea about printing out the form think I will do that

[sidds]

We always feed night before but no breakfast as they can get travel sick. Fresh straw in the trailer and they will clean themselves in it. Let them sleep in the trailer the night before with the doors open. 2 copies of Eaml2 and maybe a cutting list for the butcher, and always carry water and feed incase of breakdown, or any unforseen problems, not had one but have known of a couple of people had to abandon the journey and not been able to water the animals. You might not have far to travel but we do in Wales. Good luck

[Tudful Tamworths]

Gavin IS in Wales - Rhondda.