Smallhold Farming and Rural Living > Livestock and Growing on a larger scale

Pig keeping.

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Eat your greens:
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:
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?

Eat your greens:
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:
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:
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.

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