Pig keeping.

  • 4 Replies
  • 24242 Views
*

Eat your greens

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ireland.
  • 10
Pig keeping.
« on: May 07, 2018, 18:41 »
Hi all, recently I've been thinking of getting a couple of pigs to rear for food for the winter. I did a one day pig keeping course which got me even more excited to keep them! Was looking at my land today and the only place I can think of putting them is filled with knotweed which thankfully is growing away from my garden. So my question is would pigs eat knotweed? Cheers Chris.

*

John

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Clogwyn Melyn, Gwynedd
  • 17112
    • Low Cost Living
Re: Pig keeping.
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2018, 20:23 »
Knotweed is edible by people - late spring being the best time before it gets too woody and tough. So pigs should just munch it up. Their rooting should help keep it down when they're bacon as well :)
Have you decided which breed to go for?
Check out our books - ideal presents

John and Val Harrison's Books
 

*

Eat your greens

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Ireland.
  • 10
Re: Pig keeping.
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2018, 08:45 »
Ok great, thanks for that. I'm looking at Tamworth, oxford sandy and black or Gloucester old spot. There's so many breeds to choose from and all with there different pros and cons.

*

John

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Clogwyn Melyn, Gwynedd
  • 17112
    • Low Cost Living
Re: Pig keeping.
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2018, 11:11 »
Knowing the weather in the west (we're in Wales) - go for a waterproof breed :)

There was a recent study by Swansea university on eradicating knotweed that concluded it was near impossible to do chemically. I reckon you've a better chance with pigs since they'll clear the shoots and some of the roots. Any roots left trying to pop up new shoots will get taken out immediately and eventually the plant will run out of energy.

Incidentally, if you've a bracken problem pigs are wonderful at clearing that up too.

*

Kate and her Ducks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Shropshire
  • 5318
Re: Pig keeping.
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2018, 23:17 »
Pigs will certainly clear the land. We keep large Blacks on our smallholding. They are great pigs and clear the ground like you wouldn't believe. The other great thing about them as they are black is that they don't get sunburnt!

Fantastic as pork and bacon too.
Be like a duck. Calm on the surface but always paddling like the dickens underneath.



xx
One day pig keeping course

Started by kegs on Livestock and Growing on a larger scale

1 Replies
10050 Views
Last post August 12, 2011, 08:45
by joyfull
xx
Keeping a Sow

Started by Tiggs on Livestock and Growing on a larger scale

4 Replies
3736 Views
Last post February 16, 2012, 17:21
by nuzuki
xx
Keeping a Sow

Started by Tiggs on Livestock and Growing on a larger scale

3 Replies
3226 Views
Last post April 01, 2011, 10:54
by Gandan57
xx
Keeping Sheep - what breed

Started by John on Livestock and Growing on a larger scale

78 Replies
53123 Views
Last post August 11, 2011, 14:05
by sion01
 

Page created in 0.165 seconds with 39 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |