Practical Pigs Magazine No.14 Enclosure Act Back Issue

Keeping pigs over the winter always presents a challenge,
which is why so many fi rst-timers opt to grow weaners
during the spring and summer, ensuring that they’re away
to the abattoir before the weather turns.
However, those keepers who decide to breed, or
get into the exhibition scene, have to keep stock all
year round, with all the additional complications that
that inevitably throws up. Things have been made
doubly awkward this year, thanks to all the rain.
Thankfully, though, if there’s one thing that pigs aren’t
fussed about, it’s mud! Assuming they’ve got a continuous
supply of good food, clean, fresh drinking water and a dry,
well-bedded ark to sleep and shelter in, then the weather
can do just about what it likes as far as they’re concerned.
Our native pig breeds are brilliantly resilient creatures;
undemanding and uncomplaining. Meet their basic needs
and they reward us with engaging companionship then
copious amounts of meaty deliciousness. So remind
yourself of this the next time you’re struggling with a
heavy feed sack, leaky jacket and boots caked to three
times their size and weight with mud!
Domestic pigs make it easy for their keepers,
especially when compared to many other types of
livestock. We do very well out of the relationship and
really don’t have much cause for complaint, however
bad the weather gets.