Pigs

We have 3 breeding sows; two are Gloucester Old Spots and one is a Saddleback. One of the gilts, Harriet, is very popular with our guests. She is very friendly and always comes running to be fed. She loves to roll over and have her belly tickled! We have one boar, Paddy, an Old Spot from the Patrick line.

The pigs are part of the arable rotation and we also use them as 'gardeners' on some of the more weedy fields. They spend a maximum of six months on any piece of land before being moved to fresh ground. The pens will not be used again for pigs for three or four years. This long rotation reduces the incidence of parasites and disease and avoids the need to worm the animals. This is in contrast to many other systems where pigs often remain on the same ground for 18 months.

During the summer months, the pigs have a wallow in their pens and on the hottest days will get a cooling shower. As well as their organic feed, they eat grass and dig around for roots. They also love apples and other fruits, potatoes, carrots and any overgrown vegetables from the kitchen garden as well as acorns which we gather for them in autumn.

During the warmer months the piglets are born outside, but in winter we move the sow into our 'pig nursery' which is a warm, brick-built building with an outdoor pen. When the piglets are old enough, the whole family is moved outside to a fresh pen.

We allow the sow to feed her piglets until they are 8 weeks old when they are gradually weaned. The sow is removed at about 3 months and the piglets stay as a family group until they are ready for slaughter.

You will find that the pork from a rare breed pig is much tastier than the standard supermarket offering. You may be forgiven for thinking you are eating a different type of meat altogether. We have a small butchery, so all of our meat is butchered on site.

We have recently acquired some Kune Kunes. Kunes are small, rounded pigs that were imported into the UK from New Zealand during the 1990s.They were kept by the Maoris who allowed them to free range around their villages so the pigs were used to living near people. They are between 24-30 in tall, and come in a range of colours including ginger, black and white. They have a dish-shaped face and many have two tassels called piri piri under their chin. They are incredibly gently, friendly pigs that can be trained, the ideal first pig for novice pig keepers. Kiri is an 18 month sow and she has just had her first litter of 7 piglets. She is at the top end of the size scale for a Kune Kune and we will run on some of the boars for meat. We have two adorable registered gilts that are just 3 months old and from the looks of it they will be at the smaller end of the size scale. Coming from New Zealand, and being small like Hobbits we have named them after the female hobbits Lobelia and Primula.

Have you ever wished that you could keep a pig for some home-grown pork but you lack the space or time. Let us raise the pig for you. You can book one of our piglets within days of their birth and receive regular updates on its progress, with photos. The pigs are raised to full organic standards. You can even visit if you wish. When the time comes for slaughter we take it to the local abattoir and then butcher the meat for you. If you want you can come to the butchery and join in, cutting up chops, make some sausages and cure some ham. There's a lot of meat, about 40-50 kg so you may want to share your pig with some friends, or we can find somebody who would like to share. We will have piglets available from April.

The cost of raising a pig is £330, with a deposit of £100 on booking, the rest payable on delivery.

Call us now if you would like to book a piglet or arrange one as a very unusual gift!