Our first real foray into keeping livestock was not the traditional route of getting hens, we started with pigs. One of the areas where taste and flavour are non existent is in modern day pork. Also the way commercial pigs are kept, in large factory type conditions packed in, with their tails docked and teeth smashed in so they don't bite and injure the other pigs. This seemed abhorrent to us and we thought that we could rear pigs outdoors with shelter of course and allow them to forage as they would naturally do and feed them a balanced diet and let them fatten naturally not according to a strict schedule. We had re-roofed a shed that was to be their sty which had an adjoining paddock. So we were ready for pigs but what breed of pigs should we to get. At a chance meeting at a parent/toddler meeting my wife met a young mother who also kept pigs and had three pure breed Tamworth boars for sale. After a bit of internet research we discovered it is an excellent dual-purpose pig, suitable for pork or bacon. The meat came top in a “taste test” carried out by Bristol University which used both commercial and rare breed pigs in a scientifically-controlled experiment. So hey presto we had three Tamworth pigs arrive and we braced ourselves for the steep learning curve ahead.
The first thing to say about pigs is that they are a boisterous bunch especially un-castrated boars that we had, not particularly vicious but certainly forceful. Table manners go out the window when you have a bucket of feed. They have a great sense of smell and are ready and waiting for you and in the heat of the moment you could get a bite if you're not careful.Once they are eating they are very docile and you can slap mark them(i'll mention more about that in later articles). The last thing I will mention in this post that I have learned from bitter experience is if they break out do not run after them to try and get them back, one you won't be able to do it because they are surprisingly quick and also really strong. Pushing a pig a hundred yards would be a feat, the best thing to do is take note of what direction they headed in, go get a bucket of feed and follow them. They will smell you and the feed and then lead them using the bucket back to the safety of the field and sort out your fencing problem.
The first thing to say about pigs is that they are a boisterous bunch especially un-castrated boars that we had, not particularly vicious but certainly forceful. Table manners go out the window when you have a bucket of feed. They have a great sense of smell and are ready and waiting for you and in the heat of the moment you could get a bite if you're not careful.Once they are eating they are very docile and you can slap mark them(i'll mention more about that in later articles). The last thing I will mention in this post that I have learned from bitter experience is if they break out do not run after them to try and get them back, one you won't be able to do it because they are surprisingly quick and also really strong. Pushing a pig a hundred yards would be a feat, the best thing to do is take note of what direction they headed in, go get a bucket of feed and follow them. They will smell you and the feed and then lead them using the bucket back to the safety of the field and sort out your fencing problem.
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