The keeping of any animal no matter how large or small needs careful consideration and planning. This guide outlines the requirements and demands of pig keeping and provides recommendations to aid the correct selection, husbandry and management.
Why pigs?
Pigs are kept for several reasons but traditionally pigs were kept for their produce i.e. their meat, with the old saying that all parts of a pig could be eaten apart from their squeak! Pigs were either reared on a holding being home produced or bought in as young stock as piglets.
As breeding developed, pigs were kept specifically for pedigree breeding and showing and although not companion animals affections for pigs have always been apparent especially recently with breeds such as the Kuhn Kuhn, Vietnamese Pot Bellied and Micro pigs.
What are my basic requirements?
Available land area per pig would be a maximum of five pigs in a one acre area. Suitable housing for shelter and warmth is also necessary particularly on heavy land.
Piglets in particular need additional accommodation with good ventilation and hygiene being essential. Warmth is vital, with piglets needing heat lamps to maintain a temperature of 35 degrees centigrade in their early days.
Adequate knowledge is one of the most important requirements covering a range of subjects including a calendar of pig husbandry and breeding.
Other necessities are forms of restraint e.g. a handling cradle or crate and also adequate fencing, hedges and electric fencing which must be sound together with the ability to repair and maintain them. A local slaughter facility is also a must for those pigs being bred for their meat.
What breed should I choose?
Purpose and suitability are the determining factors with pigs i.e whether they are to be utility animals or purely pets. Availability from local breeders for males is important. If genetic preservation is important Middle Whites, Berkshires and Large Blacks may be suitable. If attractiveness or colour is the determining factor then Tamworths (orange) or Gloucester Old Spots could be most suitable. The recent introduction of Mangolitzas, often called the Sheep-pig because of their fleece like coat are proving popular.
What about feeding and management?
Availability of pasture is essential for outdoor pigs on well drained soils. Pigs love to root through the pasture, and heavy clay soils can be problematic. Home grown or bought in cereal or concentrate feeds are also essential plus feeding systems such as feeders and mechanised handling. Small bales of straw or shavings which are used for bedding, are easier to handle and store for smaller holdings compared to their bigger forms.
A feeding timetable also needs consideration. Will keeping pigs fit in with full or part time employment and who will provide holiday relief? Will farrowing times be convenient and help at hand seven days a week to do this? The feeding regimes of different ages of pigs and particularly piglets are a factor as are seasonal variations.
Recommended equipment includes
- Feed and muck handling
- Suitably strong fencing and arcs
- Restraint crate or cradle
- Feed storage
- Pig boards
- Extra help and relief cover where necessary
Common ailments and conditions to look out for include:
Preventative medicine eg worming and parasite control throughout the year for outdoor pigs
- Iron deficiency
- Scours
- Mange and lice
- Sunburn
- Mastitis
- Notifiable pig diseases include swine fever and foot and mouth
- Access to veterinary care and an animal health plan are recommended.
Legal requirements:
All keepers of pigs must register with their local authority and possess a holding number and herd number. Ear tagging and movement licence regulations must also be followed as well as those for notifiable diseases such as foot and mouth. You can identify your pig by an ear tag, tattoo or double slap mark. An ear tag must display the letters "UK" followed by your herd mark. Tags used for slaughter must be metal or plastic but must be able to withstand carcass processing. Tags used for movements between holdings can be plastic.
A tattoo of your herd mark must be clearly visible on the ear. For example, AB1234 UK is not needed. A permanent ink mark of the herd mark applied on each front shoulder area of the pig is needed for a slap mark. It should be legible for the life of the pig and throughout the processing of its carcass. For example, AB1234. UK is not needed. A temporary slap mark for example, a red line, black cross or blue circle is also allowed.
The mark must last until the pig reaches its required destination and combined with the movement document, the temporary mark identifies the holding from which the pig moved.
For the correct identification of Pigs under 12 months old pigs can move between holdings with a temporary paint mark. Pigs can move to slaughter or market with an ear tag, tattoo or double slap marks.
With the identification of pigs over 12 months old, pigs can move between holdings, to any type of market and to slaughter with an ear tag, tattoo or double slap marks bearing the Defra herd mark. The Defra herd mark must be applied to a pig before it moves off your holding. Transport qualifications are now a must with qualified hauliers being used with adequate vehicles following the stipulated wash up procedures.
The sale of produce also requires regulation through farm assurance, food hygiene regulations, local authority registration for farmers market and slaughter requirement
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