Practical Pigs Magazine Practical Pigs Autumn 2013 Back Issue

One of the beauties of rearing a couple of weaners at home – apart from the pleasure they provide and the wondrous nature of the pork they deliver – is the fact that, by and large, they’ll be remarkably undemanding and straightforward to rear. Assuming you’ve done your homework, and made all the necessary preparations, your animals should grow without drama or fuss. However, this isn’t to say that things can’t go wrong; of course they can. You may be unlucky enough to get a sickly specimen, or have one that becomes injured or ill. But disease-related issues are pretty unlikely these days if you buy with care. See our Breeders Directory, which starts on page 55, for a
guide to the best suppliers. In most cases, problems with pigs arise from a combination of mistakes and oversights on the part of keepers. Inexperienced newcomers are most vulnerable to these shortfalls, so it’s essential that beginners make every effort to get the basics right. At this time of year, it doesn’t get much more basic than ensuring that your pigs always have a decent supply of clean water to drink, and enjoy access to both a muddy wallow and shade from the sun (other than their ark) when they need it. So get it right and don’t let your pigs down!