The pig industry is made up of a variety of systems, with herds ranging from a handful of sows to thousands. On this page, you will find information and guidance aimed specifically at small-scale pig production.

Keeping pigs is a satisfying experience but, before making the decision to become a keeper, you need to know the basics of:

• Pig husbandry
• Pig health and welfare
• Pig identification (ear tags, ear tattoos, etc.)
• Pig movement licensing
• Biosecurity
• Legislation

You also need to:

• Decide whether you want to keep pigs for meat production, breeding or as a pet
• Do your research to ensure you buy from a reputable source
• Register with a local farm vet and keep the number to hand
• Contact a local knackerman or the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) to remove dead stock, if necessary
• Ensure you have access to the following two documents: The Casualty Pig and The Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Pigs

Events

Our next round of pig clubs for small-scale producers will be taking place in March, details will be made available nearer the time.

The events are an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people as well as finding out more about our work.