[Arnfields]

Does anyone know if it possible to keep pigs on an allotment?  The lottie is owned by the village church rather than a local authority so I'm hoping they may be more accommodating but is there anything I should know before I suggest it to them?

We have chooks but at home, there are no livestock on the allotments (yet)

Cheers all

 

[underhill]

You may be lucky as it's Church land ,but usually you may only keep hens (not cockerels), rabbits and bees, providing the main use is growing vegetables, fruit and flowers.

[madcat]

Are there other plots on the land?  If there are, the other tenants might be a bit wary of pigs.  I confess if anyone wanted to raise pigs on our site, I wouldn't be very supportive.  Any escapees would cause a lot of damage very quickly, and with the best will in the world, pigs are clever and accidents happen.

[poppies]

Hi have to agree with madcat, we keep pigs and sometimes use them in the veg plot  to clear areas and belive me you know they have been there after a couple of hours, you would have to have very secure fencing -although alot of people keep them in with a couple of strands of electric fencing but havent tried it ourselves.

[SUTTY1]

i hot a big NO to keeping them on my council plot in Liverpool!!!!!!!!!!

[Arnfields]

Crikey, there's a lot to think of isn't there?

Ok, so it might be ok cos it's church land...there are other plots and plotholders but it is a small site at present, only 16 plots so I could feasably ask all of the other plotters what their thoughts are.
We know a couple (through landshare) who keep pigs (weaners) and keep them in with electric fencing with no problems so that seems to be the way forward...also the pigs seem to protect their hens and ducks too!
I suppose I could always offer the pigs 'help' to turn over the other plots at the end of the season, saves a whole lot of digging!:)
Ideally I am looking to get a couple of weaners in spring and feed them till Nov/Dec and keep one for our freezer...if I can persuade my OH to eat something we have raised 

[madcat]

You could always try a little bribery and corruption with fellow plotholders???  The promise of some sausages maybe?   

[Yorkie]

I'd have concerns if I was one of the other neighbours, on a couple of points:

- will they have enough room on a standard size plot?  They grow to large animals and I imagine would need a fair amount of room to roam / roll about in etc

- how will they be secured?  It will partly depend on the strength of your fencing.  Do the plots have fencing at the moment or will you be altering the character of the site by enclosing part of it?  Is there electricity to the site for electric fencing?

- is there water to the site at present?

- what does your allotment tenancy say at the moment?

[mrs.ploppy]

Surely this would not be legal as to have pigs (livestock) you have to have a holding number for the movement and transportation of stock. Without a holding number you would be owning unregistered stock??

[Arnfields]

I'd have concerns if I was one of the other neighbours, on a couple of points:

- will they have enough room on a standard size plot?  They grow to large animals and I imagine would need a fair amount of room to roam / roll about in etc

- how will they be secured?  It will partly depend on the strength of your fencing.  Do the plots have fencing at the moment or will you be altering the character of the site by enclosing part of it?  Is there electricity to the site for electric fencing?

- is there water to the site at present?

- what does your allotment tenancy say at the moment?

Golly!:)

Currently we have a single allotment but I was thinking of taking on another next year specifically for the weaners so they would have plenty of room.
There is no electric but a solar powered electric fence would be ok and not look too intrusive.  The site itself is a corner of a field and isn't fenced in as such.  It has hedgerow to 2 sides but each lottie has their own 'fencing' to keep out bunnies etc, usually a hotch-potch of chicken wire and leftover bits of timber.
No - there is no water via tap, however there is a stream not far and a good rainwater collection contraption so that side of it should be ok, although the next 12 months of growing will soon tell me if there is enough water available.
Regarding the DEFRA certificate - that is something else I would need to look into as I am aware it is required - complicated isn't it!?!?

[chooknewbie]

I was told for our lotties that we were able to keep hooved animals however we would need to apply to DEFRA for the correct permits... and as this takes so long, and is such a pain in the bum its not worth the effort to try.... lol  there always used to be pigs on our lotties...in fact my chooks down there are living in the old pig sheds!!

[clairebeau]

I think it sounds fab!  I do seem to recall that pigs don't actually need as much space as you think, the idea being you are feeding them up for meat and the space they need is purely for their comfort not exercise.  Not being an expert, just someone who adores pigs (and bacon!) I know of some pigs who never come out of their sty, so yours will be very lucky and produce some lovely meat.  Brave if you do it but I think you should keep trying and not give up. 

[Arnfields]

I was told for our lotties that we were able to keep hooved animals however we would need to apply to DEFRA for the correct permits... and as this takes so long, and is such a pain in the bum its not worth the effort to try.... lol  there always used to be pigs on our lotties...in fact my chooks down there are living in the old pig sheds!!

Oh that sounds really positive!  I am definately going to start asking the necessary people in the next few weeks and will post the outcome.  Hopefully it will all fall into place ready for next year!?!

[Jinky_uk]

I was told for our lotties that we were able to keep hooved animals however we would need to apply to DEFRA for the correct permits... and as this takes so long, and is such a pain in the bum its not worth the effort to try.... lol  there always used to be pigs on our lotties...in fact my chooks down there are living in the old pig sheds!!

I know this is an old thread, but wanted to throw in my tuppen'orth for anyone that finds it on google like i did! I hope you got sorted with the pigs ?

I hear a lot about the 'red tape' but i kept goats a couple of years ago (slightly different to pigs, i realise!!) and it was very straightforward to obtain a CPH (County Parish Holding) number as a 'landless owner', and then its just a matter of keeping on top of movement forms etc,

Contrary to popular belief, DEFRA are there to help, and they will!

[CluckyChicken]

we are not allowed to keep them on our lottie, but they used to have one during th second world war!  Just hens and small animals, although a pig and maybe a cow to eat the spare grass would be nice...  :happy: