Rare Breed Pigs

We have learnt that whether they are big pigs, small pigs or even pigs that are so big they totally dwarf me that every single one responds to kindness and compassion (‘compassionate farming’ is not just a phrase at ‘Piggywigs Farm’ it is a reality!)

When you are considering making the sort of decisions we took you need to avoid some of the mistakes we made. Look carefully at all the breeds pictured below but then:

Take heed

It is very easy to think that any old pig will do but we now know that this is not the case. The same pig that will produce outstanding pork for you may not produce equally good bacon, ham and gammon whilst a pig that produces terrific cured meat may well only produce average pork. There are pigs that make ideal ‘pets’, some that are ideal ‘first timer’ pigs, others that make remarkably docile mothers (if you are considering breeding) and some that you would do well to avoid until you gain some awareness of what is involved whether you are fattening, breeding or just want a companion ‘pet’ pig.

We very quickly learnt that experience is a great companion

Did we make mistakes? Of course we did and some of them are so hilarious that it is almost impossible to believe that they happened (see 'The Pig Keepers Year').
We started with the wrong ideas, wrong pigs and wrong land and definitely wrong water supply - leaping in and out of a freezing stream with gallon containers in December is not my idea of fun - specially not if you forget your wellies and water proofs - and are due in work in twenty minutes!

We have since met many people who made the similar mistake of bounding off into the unknown without having prepared themselves sufficiently but we were lucky. I saw an advertisement for a course on pig keeping advertised in a Countryside magazine to which we subscribed. It was a life changing experience. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Driving up to 'Pig Paradise' (www.pigparadise.com) - apprehensive because I didn't know what to expect but excited at the prospect of meeting real rare breed pig farmers. I hoped to gain something from the experience but never ever realised just how much I would gain or how much of a life changing experience it would become.

'Laugh and learn' is the philosophy adopted by Pig Paradise farm on their pig keeping courses. It certainly worked for us, we drove home that evening with smiles on our faces and minds so crammed with ideas that we just couldn't wait to get started. It was a salutary experience for me, as a teacher, to have someone tell me 'No don't do it that way' but the knowledge and know how Tony had accumulated over the years helped us put 'Piggywigs Farm' on the road to success.

It made such an impact on our lives that after thinking very seriously (for almost 18 months) about what we had learnt I decided to stop playing at pig keepers and make 'Piggywigs Farm' a reality. I threw away my timetable and hairbrush, said a fond farewell to my fingernails, packed away my skirts and heels - One delighted piglady and and one ecstatic, but ever so slightly nervous daughter!

The first decision you have to make is …….What breed is best for you!

Two pigs of contrasting colours, different temperaments and poles apart when it comes to keeping them. The Large Black has such large lop ears that you will wonder how it ever sees where it is going but the rattle of a bucket will soon convince you otherwise. A pig that if it were a human could easily be referred to as ‘passive, unassuming and laid back’ producing outstanding bacon/ham/gammon as well as very good pork. The Tamworth, on the other hand, has ‘prick ears’ that stick right up to the sky with long legs that literally cause them to ‘bounce’ along. Appears far more alert and watchful (maybe it’s those ears!) than many other breeds but is a caring mother whose piglets make great pork and around six months of age with wonderful cured meat when ten to twelve months old.

Now for two of the all white rare breed pigs that gain so many more ‘brownie points’ at the abattoir because of their lack of pigmentation and ease with which they can be cleaned in the scalding tank. They may be the same colour but again the differences between the two breeds are quite marked. If you are looking for a pig that will give you pork of the highest quality and you have no concern for bacon, ham or gammon then the Middle White is your pig. Ignore the looks (the wall it ran into has been rebuilt!) and just taste the quality. The British Lop, despite being ‘just a white pig’, has all the qualities that make rare breed pig keeping so special. It is full of personality and seems to know that it is a cut above any of the commercial white pigs. With a length and shape that ensures you will get great meat whether you want pork, bacon, ham, gammon or ‘everything in one pig’

Two of the best known of our rare breed pigs and both are black and white – one spotty and one striped. The British Saddleback was once the most popular of our rare breed pigs. Before ‘commercialism took over from taste and quality the fields of East Anglia were full of them (then known as the ‘Essex’) as were the areas in and around the New Forest (the ‘Wessex Saddleback). Scarcity brought these two very similar breeds together in the 1960’s but such a union has done nothing to diminish their qualities as a good, hardy, all round pig that is easy to handle and will fill your table full of the finest quality meat. In many ways the Gloucestershire Old Spots matches the British Saddleback point for point and is one of a number of rare breed pigs that falls under the category ‘great for beginners’.

Two closely related pigs but one (Berkshire) a recognised rare breed and the other (Oxford Sandy & Black) known as a ‘reconstituted’ breed. Both are superb meat pigs with the Berkshire producing the sort of pork that will more than match that produced by the ‘Middle White’ whilst the ‘Oxford Sandy & Black’ takes a lot of beating as far as both pork and bacon are concerned. Both are very easy to handle but in terms of temperament the ‘Oxford Sandy & Black’ just wins by a short head in the docility stakes. Both are first class ‘starter’ pigs.

Pet Pigs

We know that everyone doesn’t want to breed pigs and many of you may not want to keep pigs for the table but that certainly need not prevent you from enjoying the pleasure and happiness that keeping a pig can bring you. We started by keeping two ‘pet’ ‘Kune-Kune’ pigs and take my word for it this was a case of

‘Love at first sight’.

Kune-Kunes come in a variety of colours but most commonly they are black, black and white or black white and brown. They are the most adorable little pet pig you could ever imagine with each one having a character all of their own. The children who visit our farm have to be almost dragged away from them but then so do their mothers …….and their fathers!!

It is said that in life 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and as far as we are concerned the same applies to our pigs. As a result of our pigs I have had a life changing experience in a way I cannot even begin to explain but words such as 'Happiness', 'Contentment' and 'Peace' spring to mind.

We are pleased to announce that we are now holding weekly Rare Breed Pig Keeping Courses in conjunction with Pig Paradise at our farm in Wiltshire. For full details on course dates and our free information pack contact www.pigparadise.com or call us on

Carron	01380 813454
	07734 099950

Tony	01985 851121
	07817491143

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