sara | May 7, 2011
I have just received an email about a sow who is due to farrow soon and her teats are hot and red.
“Hi Sara. My sow, Matilda, is due to have her first litter in the next few days. She is very content but I have noticed her back teets are very red and feel very [...]
sara | December 7, 2010
I have received an email from my friends Gregg and Belinda who got their saddleback pigs from me over a year ago. Two of their three saddleback sows have just had piglets.
Good news. Last night/ this morning one of our sows farrowed…giving us seven healthy piglets. Maggie is due to farrow some time [...]
sara | November 24, 2010
Middle White Pigs are a friendly breed of pig.
Middle White pigs originate from Yorkshire.
They have been bred from Large White and Small White stock.
This breed has a white coat with a flattened face and nose.
They have pricked up ears with feathery hairs around the edges of the ears.
These are early maturing pigs.
Middle Whites are reared for pork [...]
sara | October 8, 2010
I have received an email on behalf of RSPCA about their new campaign, Think Pig.
The RSPCA are raising awareness of pig welfare issues and trying to educate people about the different labels on pork products and what they mean for pigs.
If you are on facebook they have made a Facebook word game which incorporates facts [...]
sara | May 10, 2010
City Screen will be showing the pork industry documentary Pig Business by Tracy Worcester which compares traditional, environmentally sustainable farming with industrialised agri-business on Tuesday 11 May at 8.30pm at York City Screen.
I am going to watch this film on Tuesday night which has been organised by Slow Food North Yorkshire. As I myself was [...]
sara | May 5, 2010
I have been asked what are Oxford Sandy & Black pigs like.
They are ginger/sandy coloured with black blotches and have lop ears, a white blaze, socks and tip of the tail.
Oxford Sandy & Black pigs are good dual purpose pigs, they don’t get too fat, they are docile, easy to handle making them great for [...]
sara | April 22, 2010
I am sometimes asked if you should be present when a gilt or sow is farrowing. Some people believe that you should just let the gilt or sow get on with the farrowing. However if your sow/gilt knows you well then she may not mind you being present. It is useful to be on hand [...]
sara | April 9, 2010
Did you know that pigs can suffer from sunburn? Pigs cannot sweat so it’s important that they can cool down in hot weather.
A mud wallow is a good way to help prevent sunburn and heatstroke as the pigs can go and wallow in the muddy water and cool down their skin.
Make sure your pigs have [...]
sara | April 3, 2010
Pregnant gilts or sows can be fed:
sow breeder pellets/nuts or
milled barley / mixed with pig concentrate and
a selection of vegetables (particularly cabbage and broccoli as they helps with milk production.)
A sow will eat about 5 or 6lbs of feed a day which is the equivalent of up to 40 bags of pig feed.
Don’t feed your [...]
sara | April 1, 2010
Keyley who is a member of the farmingfriends forum has sent me some photos of her Hampshire / York cross barrow and gilt pigs.
The male is called Ben and the gilt is called Goosey and they were 6 weeks old on the 18th March.
For those of you that don’t know a barrow is a castrated [...]
