Starting your own Herd :

The cottager’s pig was a common sight right up until the 1960’s. This practice virtually disappeared until recently and is now undergoing a revival as people have become more aware of the origins and quality of their food.

Keeping your own pigs is a big commitment in terms of time and money but can offer substantial rewards and enjoyment. Whether you are considering keeping Gloucester Old Spot pigs for breeding or for pork the benefits are numerous. Gos weaners for pork offer the prospect of enjoying ‘old fashioned’ pork with crunchy crackling along with its own distinctive taste. Gos gilt weaners will offer hours of enjoyment as they grow ready to go to the boarfor breeding. The GOS breed of pig is known for its easy manageable calm temperament.  

GOS pigs usually respond well to their owner’s attention if treated with respect and kindness. They are social intelligent animals that enjoy being kept in a herd and initially keeping two pigs would satisfy their need for companionship.

A couple of weaners for fattening need a relatively small piece of land, sectioned off with electric fencing for rotation purposes, a constant supply of water, shelter with bedding and a good quality feed twice a day. It is no longer legal to feed kitchen waste to pigs although alternative feeds are available which will help to keep costs down. For more information see the British Pig Association website. The cost of feed has risen dramatically recently but raising your own livestock is still a viable option. It is not necessarily the cheaper option to self sufficiency but you determine the quality of life your pigs lead, the food that they eat and their overall welfare.

A finished pig should ideally weigh 45kg plus at died weight depending on a number of factors such as the breed of pig, how they are fed and the age at slaughter. Boars (male pigs) should be slaughtered between 24-26 weeks dependent on size but no later to avoid boar taint. Gilts (female young pigs) can be reared longer and in time will make a good size for pork, bacon, ham and sausages.  

There is a certain pride and achievement that comes from rearing your own pork or rearing breeding stock.

Anyone keeping pigs should have a holding number and a herd number which can be obtained from DEFRA.