27 July 2008
Oink!
Posted by Richard under: Pigs; Smallholding .
We finally threw in the towel and succumed to the lure of all things porcine. We were given the opportunity to throw our hat into the proverbial pig ring when some friends suggested they wanted a pig - it was discussed that keeping one pig was probably not on, and would we be interested in taking a 50% stake in the operation.
It didn’t take much persuasion - our friends knew someone who breeds Gloucester Old Spots, so we did a bit of fencing to the old chicken run area at their place. Our friend (with us acting as chippies/roofers mates) constructed a palatial pig ark out of old tin roofing and some spare timber- and a few days later the piglets arrived.
The pigs have been making themselves at home in a hurdled off area for the past few days (they seem to have doubled in size in a week), so today we strained some barbed wire around the bottom of pig paddock fence and let them loose.
The plan is that in six months, we both get ample bacon/pork/sausages/hams - and our friends get a newly rotovated vegetable garden ready for next spring.
12 Comments so far...
David Turner Says:
27 July 2008 at 10:35 pm.
With the Dexters sent for slaughter and, therefore beef supplies OK for twelve months or more, pigs are our next project so we look forward to reading about your experiences. Good luck!
sam Says:
28 July 2008 at 1:20 pm.
i love pigs, what are they called?
susi Says:
28 July 2008 at 6:29 pm.
Excellent choice of breed - we get our pork from a friend who has Old Spots and the meat is brilliant. It’s also good to see you’ve got nice spotty pigs - so many of them these days have only one or two spots.
Richard Says:
28 July 2008 at 8:04 pm.
CIG - Thanks.
David - I may have to catch up with you about Dexter management - we were offered one with a calf for £400, but not the right time at the moment with 27 sheep to manage. Would be interested in your experiences - as it something for the future.
Sam - I have avoided naming them, as I have a soft spot for pigs (but I know the kids have called one Snorey and the other Pork Pie) - the advantage of keeping them at our friends is that there is less chance I can get attached.
Susi - They are really spotty fellas - and proper black spots as well (no blue/grey splodges)
Rosie Says:
28 July 2008 at 10:42 pm.
We too are doing a pig share with half shares in 2 Tamworth cross Saddlebacks. This year they are with our friends but of all goes well we may have them with us next year. I really want to try my hand at ham and sausages so I treated myself to a book on Charcuterie recently. As for names - my other half thought Crackling and Scratchings were appropriate and these seem to have stuck!!
Anke Sieker Says:
29 July 2008 at 10:02 pm.
Hi, I am a bit surprised by their prick ears - mine have had lop ones - very good if you are approaching with the food bucket! They can’t see you as quickly as my GOS x middle white ones this year - they have prick ears and VERY good eyesight.
But I have found the GOS put on weight faster than my crosses this year. although I had (entiire) boys and this years it’s all girls, maybe some differences there. But 6 months for the GOS should see you in more meat than you thought you would eat in a year - but you will easily. It’s really great stuff!
Richard Says:
29 July 2008 at 10:27 pm.
Haha! Our friends have the dubious honour of doing the majority of the pig feeding (as they are being kept at their place) - so they will have to run the gauntlet of sharp eyed pigs. You’re right about the prick ears - I hadn’t given it any thought until you pointed it out. The again, I’m not too bothered on breed standard as long as we get a decent amount of pork/bacon - these boys aren’t going to be passing on their genes.
colouritgreen Says:
31 July 2008 at 8:53 am.
canny, I think, keeping them at a friends house. Think I’ll tell my mates they are having pigs… hmm…don’t think they will go for it!..
good idea to share though - means you can still take a break etc, and have pig cover.
Jo Knight Says:
17 August 2008 at 2:18 pm.
We kept pigs for a couple of years (no time at the moment, alas) & found them very engaging animals, great fun to be around. And the pork, bacon, sausages etc are amazing….thankfully we still have plenty left in the freezer which we enjoy as the occasional treat.
Just as well your friends got two pigs, though - I think you’ll find if you consult defra that legally you have to keep a minimum of two pigs as they’re very sociable animals. There’s a booklet on the defra website which lists all the legalities, if you’re interested.
BTW I’m back in the blogosphere after a long ‘break’ - or rather, a manic summer as we launched our new business…..just to prove it can be done with all acres, great or small!
katie Says:
5 September 2008 at 3:02 pm.
Lovely pigs!
A friend of mine in Worcs is looking for some GOS weaners at the moment . Did your breeder have any more coming on? If so, I wonder if you’d mind passing on his address?
Richard Says:
5 September 2008 at 6:46 pm.
Katie - not so sure about the pigs we got, no problems as such but the ear shape (amongst other things) is suspect - reckon they are a GOS X Large White cross, therefore I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them at this point. A friend sourced them and the price was good - but if it is good GOS’s they’re after, then these are possible not the pigs you are looking for.
PS: As long as they don’t eat us first, they should still make good bacon.