one-day course

keeping pigs

location: nr Chard, Somerset

A one-day course covering all aspects of keeping pigs. This includes choosing the most appropriate breed for your needs, the necessary equipment, nutrition, breeding & farrowing, herd health, producing stock for sale, and meeting legal requirements. Suitable for all from the complete beginner to the more experienced pig keeper.

Tutor Nick Cox has extensive livestock experience including pigs, poultry, cattle, sheep and alpacas and as a result has a great knowledge of which livestock suits which environment.

The course includes:

Legislation (Paperwork)

  • Movement books or movement licenses
  • Holding numbers
  • Herds numbers & Trading Standards
  • Registering with a vet and Trading Standards
  • Public liability insurance

Introduction to Livestock

  • What breed
  • Pedigree stock
  • Charts of breeds with relevant information
  • Where to source your livestock – private, through breeders and markets
  • Intentions of keeping livestock – when will livestock be ready for slaughter
  • Associations and relevant contacts

Meeting the livestock

  • Equipment – adequate fencing, housing, feeding equipment, veterinary equipment
  • Types of feed
  • Housing
  • Signs of good and poor health
  • Breeding – signs of heat, service vs AI, number of times to service, signs of calving and what to do
  • Medicines and medicine books
  • Identification
  • Land issues pertaining to keeping livestock

dates: see 'book online' below

more on keeping pigs

how to book:
  

if you can't open the booking form, you need Acrobat Reader - it's free
arrive:
  
for a 10am prompt start
depart:
  
after the course finishes at 4pm
directions:
  
sent with booking confirmation
what to bring:
  
pen and notebook; work clothes
let us know:
  
if you have any special needs
price:
  
£69
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
lunch:
  
provided
car sharing:
  
visit our car sharing forum to offer or request a lift
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


the venue is a 132-acre organic farm near Chard