Rearing Your Own

So you fancy rearing your own pig, things you need to consider before taking your new HappyPorker home.

They really are not suitable long-term pet animals. They get very big!

There are some very good books and web sites that give detailed information, but hear are a few things to consider.

Space

How much space have you got? A pig doesn’t need a huge area if being reared for a short time for meat, but they will turn over every scrap of dirt and ground they can get to. Ideal for a rough patch of ground that is overgrown or needs preparing and clearing, but it must be cleared of any rubbish that could be eaten.

Paper work

You need to obtain a County Parish Holding Number (CPH) – this registers your land as an agricultural holding. Allowing you to keep 4-legged livestock. This can be obtained from the Welsh Assembly government if you’re in Wales, Rural Payments Agency (England), the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (Scotland)

Herd Number - Once you have purchased your 1st weaners you will need to contact Animal health and inform them that you have pigs, they will send you a herd number that you will use when moving your pigs to slaughter. You need to display this number on ear tags or slap marks when moving your pigs.

Movement Lic – all pig movements must be recorded. These are recorded on the eAML2 website. (You need to be a member)

Housing and Fencing

Recommend having this sorted before you get your 1st HappyPorkers home.

A pig arc or shelter is essential, remember it will need to be large enough to accommodate all your pigs as they grow and reach their slaughter weight (65kg) They love to sleep together so one big one is best, if your having more than one. They are very social animals and prefer to be in two’s at least.

Fencing needs to be strong, ideally the area you wish to keep your pigs will be stock proof fencing with barbed wire at the bottom or a temporary fence of 4 strands of electric fencing will keep your pigs contained as long as its on! Check it regularly!

We have found that the Tamworths are very cleaver at finding a way out if the grass looks greener on the other side! They will VERY happily eat your garden plants, swim in your goldfish pond and dig up your lawn if they get out! Remember the Tamworth 2

They can be noisy! When its feeding time they squeal until they get it. So close neighbors might need to be warned. Maybe offer a couple of pork chops to make up for that.

Food and Water

Clean water available at all times.

Good quality sow nuts or rolls.

Age (Weeks)	Food per day
8	0.7kg
12	1.1kg
16+	1.6kg

There is an old farmers rule about feeding by eye, If they look to thin, they need more food, if they look too fat then cut back a little.

The food ration should be divided up and feed twice a day. I also supplement their dry food with fruit and veg from the garden.

Remember it is illegal to feed anything, which has been through the kitchen either domestic or commercial. (NO KITCHEN SCRAPS, get chickens for this)

Worming

All HappyPorkers weaners are wormed before they leave us so you shouldn’t need to do this again before they reach slaughter age.

Transportation

Ideally this will be undertaken using an animal trailer, but weaners can also be transported in a large dog cage that will fit in the back of an estate car.

If you have any questions please contact Chief Porker who will be happy to help.