happy to help
Yes they should be fine they naturaly explore themseleves just leave them to it you cannot believe how hardy they are untill you work with them.
Also If you have the choice try to get gilts they dont grow quite as quick but with boars theres a chance you might get boar taint in the meat if reared to long. If youve ever had pork that tastes funny/ iffy from the supermarket chances are its from a boar if its in still date. not to alarm you its usally in older boars once theyve been mating for a while but only a slight risk tho. Ive had boars and fattened to 6/7 months and never had an issue. If you can feed them once a day with some grub to help them with fattening if not it could take a lot longer for them to grow.
Have you sorted out the new movement regs as they have now gone electronic now instead of the old colured forms for when you come round to send to the slaughter house.
And if you are thinking of keeping a mating pair its a costly unless you have several sows
(breeding females) to reclaim the feed cost over the winters ect. Where do you get your feed from local agriculutral supplier/ equine shop or direct from the mill?
axelt123 wrote:. You also want to starve them for abt 48 hours before to aid loading eg use an apple as a bribe and the slaugter house like empty tummies.l
Great - so they can't even live out their last couple of days with a full belly, but have to be starved to make it easier for the slaughterhouse.
Vegetarianism is looking more attractive every day.
axelt123 wrote:. You also want to starve them for abt 48 hours before to aid loading eg use an apple as a bribe and the slaugter house like empty tummies.l
Great - so they can't even live out their last couple of days with a full belly, but have to be starved to make it easier for the slaughterhouse.
Vegetarianism is looking more attractive every day.
As someone who contributes to charities like Compassion in World Farming and being keenly aware of where my meat comes from I have no issue whatsoever with the way these animals are being treated. In fact, in comparison to most methods, this is fantastic and I am really happy to see people trying this sort of rearing. I hope to one day be able to do the same and give animals a dignified, happy open life before they continue their journey in the circle of life.
Each to their own of course, but I'll still enjoy my bacon butty on a morning
axelt123 wrote:. You also want to starve them for abt 48 hours before to aid loading eg use an apple as a bribe and the slaugter house like empty tummies.l
Great - so they can't even live out their last couple of days with a full belly, but have to be starved to make it easier for the slaughterhouse.
Vegetarianism is looking more attractive every day.
As someone who contributes to charities like Compassion in World Farming and being keenly aware of where my meat comes from I have no issue whatsoever with the way these animals are being treated. In fact, in comparison to most methods, this is fantastic and I am really happy to see people trying this sort of rearing. I hope to one day be able to do the same and give animals a dignified, happy open life before they continue their journey in the circle of life.
Each to their own of course, but I'll still enjoy my bacon butty on a morning
I have no objection to how Su is rearing her pigs, I don't believe that I ever stated that I DID object to that. What I said was that I disagree with the fact that 'best practice' appears to be to starve the animals for two days before they are killed.
I have no objection to how Su is rearing her pigs, I don't believe that I ever stated that I DID object to that. What I said was that I disagree with the fact that 'best practice' appears to be to starve the animals for two days before they are killed.
Can't see where I said you did object
In practice I would expect given these are outdoor pigs, whilst actively feeding with a manufactured feed may be ceased, they will still forage around for bits and pieces anyways, I am sure they won't know too much different. As long as the amount of distress when being taken for slaughter is reduced to the absolute minimum, they should not be adversely affected.
I understand what you mean we were told by a friend who has pigs to starve them for 24 hours althogh they still eat weeds and plants so noty starved as such just from pellets foods. but the vet at the slaughter house said 48 hours is better. You wont make friends with the slaughter house if you send then in will full bellies it makes there life hard and mayby youres when it comes to loading the pigs if you dont have any insentive.
As has been mentioned although the commercial food may cease before they go to slaughter they will have the natural environment to source their food during that time.
We are trying to raise these pigs in the most natural way possible, which in turn will give us a better quality meat.
Obviously the pigs will end up dying to give us that meat but they will have a damn good life before that!
Although I see the need for a discussion because it helps us understand the process this thread will hopefully be a diary of the whole process which I hope may help someone else who might be considering keeping pigs.
