Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Hi everyone, have just joined. 13 years ago I kept pigs for one summer. Now I would like to do it again. I have 3/4 acre and plan to keep the pigs fenced in on 1/4 and I will make a home made ark for them. I intend to keep the pigs next year 2010, but I want to plough 1/2 of the area so I can plant food both for ourselves and the pigs.
I would like advice or comments on my following plan. I will get the grass this summer for hay/silage, about 4 round bales. Can I keep this and feed it to the pigs next year?
I intend to plant turnips, potatoes, kale as feed for the pigs, would this be enough with the grass and hay?
Will I need to supplement their feed with pig feed from the local farmers co-op or just buy rolled barley. I would like to feed them the grain wet, as in soaked in water.
What other feed would you suggest for them. Also where would you recommend for the slaughter of the pigs. I am in Co Sligo and the nearest that I know of is the the factory in Ballaghdereen, Co Roscommon. Are there any others in the area?

Hello Felim,

Welcome. Glad to hear you are thinking of keeping some pigs after 13 years.
You should have received a list of slaughter units for pigs when you received your herd number from the Department of Agriculture, its then a case of phoning round and finding the best one for you and your pigs.

Is your intention to rear a couple of weaners for the freezer? if so, I feel you are giving yourself a lot of extra work that may not be nessessary. The straw will be great for bedding but the pigs will prefer grass and to root around for roots, grubs and soil. They can have most veg. garden waste to supplement their mixed grain diet or pig pellets (whatever you choose). I would be inclined to grow the veggies for yourselves and give them the scraps that way you will have more control of their diet, a couple of weaners will root up all your hard work in no time at all.

Have you decided on a breed of pig? I would recomend a rare breed if you are going to eat them, the flavour and fat content is much better than the modern breeds (in my humble opinion)

Good luck with your pig venture.

Morag

Be wary of the cheap pig feed, it's full of GM ingredients. All bags must have their ingredients labeled clearly, so check see first. Best of luck!

Morgan