Practical smallholding: Starting with pigs (From Smallholder)

Practical smallholding: Starting with pigs

10:00am Saturday 3rd December 2011 in Livestock

Are you a pig fan? Do you love nothing better than a succulent sausage or bacon butty? If you have the time, the space and of course, the inclination, keeping a pig (or two), could be right up your street.

Buying-in a couple of weaners for the freezer is a very different proposition from keeping a breeding herd, but everything revolves around seven basic principles: 1, timing; 2, transport; 3, space; 4, fencing; 5, shelter; 6, irrigation; 7, nutrition.

Before you start, you will need a herd number, obtainable from DEFRA, as you have to register the fact that you plan to keep pigs. It will take time, so sort the paperwork first.

For the top tips detail see the December edition of Smallholder magazine.