Getting Started in Free Range Pigs

Transcription

1 Getting Started in Free Range Pigs Some quick answers to some common questions asked about raising pastured pigs. By Lee McCosker

2 Getting Started in Free Range Pigs By Lee McCosker Answers to some very common questions about starting a free range pig farm Copyright L A McCosker 2013 Author: Lee McCosker Title: Getting Started in Free Range Pigs Includes photographs and drawing All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

3 It All Began With Just a Couple of Pigs I should warn you, I started out with just a couple of pigs for the freezer. Pigs are such amazing animals that it is so easy to get hooked and before you know it you have a small herd; or a very large one in our case! If the pig bug does bites, do take the time to do the research before launching into a full blown free range operation. Get yourself a copy of Free Range Pig Farming Starting Out to guide you through the maze of pitfalls we all want to avoid. For now, I am assuming 50% of readers will have already taken the leap and are peering over the top of these pages at a couple of porcine friends and needing quick answers to some typical piggy problems, and the other 50% are 2

4 carefully weighing up the pro s and con s of becoming pig owners. How Did I Get Started In Free Range Pigs? Like I said, it all started with two weaners purchased to stock the freezer. I had no experience at all with pigs at that stage, but I did know that they were generally kept confined in pens; the full extent of that confinement was a gradual realization as I learnt more about raising my animals. Against everyone's advice, I named my little pigs. I named them both Earl. The Earls of Yarravel, the town where we then lived. I was quite taken with the notion of putting my pigs to work ploughing up the paddocks. During the day, the Earls would spend their time in a pen made 3

5 up of 4 fourteen foot gates that was constantly moved so that they would have fresh earth to dig and grass to eat. They learned very quickly that the pen was where they spent their days and at night they were returned to the safety and warmth of their pig shed. They would travel to and from with no trouble and never tried to run off. The afternoon stroll back to their shed eventually became a long walk when they began accompanying me to check the electric fences on our boundary and of course, a stop off at the dam for a quick dip. The Earls were a delight. How was I ever going to put them in the freezer? Luckily for me, and not them, they were both males and I had to be realistic, they could never be kept as pets and they were certainly not breeding material. 4

6 The day did finally arrive when my husband, not me, loaded them into the trailer and took them off to the local abattoir. The next time I saw them they were neatly packaged in freezer bags and I didn't feel as bad about the whole exercise as I thought I would. Once I tasted that first pork chop, my path in life changed! That may sound a little melodramatic but it s true. Not only had I been introduced to one of the most intelligent animals I ve ever met, I had produced the best tasting pork I had ever eaten. I have spent the past few years learning from my pigs and promoting free range as an alternative to factory farming. Is it worthwhile growing your own pigs? Does it work out cheaper? Yes to the first part of the question and probably not to the latter. Puzzled? In 5

7 this age of hormones, growth promoters, antibiotics, feedlots and processed food, growing your own or buying genuine pasture raised pigs is the only way to be assured of tasty, quality pork. The best way to get the most benefit from keeping pigs is to take a holistic approach to how you grow them. See your inputs (feed, straw etc) not just as what you have to provide to raise your pigs, but also as an input into your farm or small holding. Manure and spent bedding will replace very expensive artificial fertilizers and build humus in the soil. Grazing pigs will eat weeds that a general knock-down herbicide won t touch and the pigs also eat any bugs and grubs that are in the soil or on the pasture. 6

8 Which Breed is Best For Beginners? I am always asked this question and usually, the person already has an idea of the kind of pig they picture running around on their farm. Honestly, when it comes to piggy personality there is no one breed that is better than another. Pigs are unique individuals and they will all have their own identity. Lopped eared pigs are generally more docile than pigs with prick (or upright) ears but this is only because of their obstructed vision and hearing. It all depends on what your plans are. If the pigs are destined for the freezer then I wouldn t spend a lot of money on a rare breed. On the other hand, if you intend to breed a few pigs, select whatever breed takes your fancy but do spend some time with the animal before you purchase it and check out its temperament. Ideally, buy young 7

9 females and raise them yourself but if you are not prepared to wait, try and get an idea of how the pigs has been treated by watching the current owner handle her and her herd mates. How Many Pigs Should I Raise? If you are raising pigs for the home freezer please remember that pigs are very social animals and do not do well when kept on their own. If two pigs is too much, as family and friends if they would like to fund the raising of a companion pig. What climate is Best For Pigs? In Australia, the ideal climate is in a temperate zone although pigs are capable of performing under varying climatic conditions. Pigs will tolerate cold weather much better than hot. They do not cope well with high humidity as 8

10 this impacts on their natural cooling ability. The Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before You Buy Pigs Am I allowed to keep pigs on my land? Do I have suitable fencing to keep the pigs in? Can I provide appropriate shelter to protect them? Do I have access to appropriate feed for the pigs? Do I have the time available to look after pigs? Why do I want to keep pigs? Are they to be pets? 9

11 Are they for the freezer? Do I want to breed pigs? Is my climate suitable for Pigs? Can I manage them if it isn t? Do I have access to an abattoir to process the pigs? Do I know what regulations are in place for keeping pigs? Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals? Local Government Regulations? 10

12 Legal Responsibilities Can I Keep Pigs on My Farm? In Australia you cannot keep pigs in residential areas, this includes acreage that is zoned rural residential. Your zoning will differ from state to state but however your property is classified, your zoning must allow farming to enable you to keep pigs. Check if your local council has any special requirements for keeping pigs. Most stick to the state Local Government Regulations but may also enforce their own conditions in some areas. Often you can find this information on your Council s website by searching piggeries. 11

13 What Is The Code of Practice For Animal Welfare and What Does It Mean For Me? The minimum requirements for animal welfare are set out in the current Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs. You should familiarize yourself with the Code as the standards within this code are now law throughout all states. Stockpersons must be competent and will need to be able to demonstrate such competency. You must be able to judge the body condition of your pigs as to have animals with a condition score below 2 will require immediate remedial action No matter what production system you use, the pigs must be 12

14 protected from adverse weather, injury and other harm. Sows must not be confined in a stall for more than 6 weeks of any gestation period. This standard will come into play 10 years from the endorsement of the code. There are new minimum size requirements for stalls. Sows confined to farrowing crates must not be confined for more than six weeks in any one production cycle. Where boars are kept constantly in stalls, they must be released for use or mating or exercise at least twice a week. Action must be taken to detect and cool heat stressed pigs. 13

15 All buildings must have fire prevention in place. Approved fire fighting equipment must be available. Preventative measures must be implemented for protection of pigs from predators. Faeces and urine must not be permitted to accumulate to the stage where there is no clean area for pigs to lie down. For Outdoor pigs, access to shelter and shade must be provided. Outdoor pigs must not be raised on land that is contaminated with toxins, chemical residues, toxic plants or disease causing organisms at levels that are known to cause harm. 14

16 All pigs must be inspected daily by a competent stockperson. Pig producers must have a herd health program in place to manage the risk of disease. Vaccinations and other treatments must be administered by persons competent in such procedures. Electric prodders and hitting with solid objects must not be used to move pigs. Stockpersons must not carry out elective husbandry procedures unless they are competent or under the supervision of an experienced person. Castration of male pigs older than 21 days must be performed under anaesthesia and by a vet. 15

17 These are just a few of the main points of the Standards within the Code. It is your responsibility to become informed and to know what is expected of you. Pig Farming Courses & Training Visit our website for information on introductory or two day workshops that will teach you how to get started in pig farming. We have books for beginners or those wishing to started a free range pork business as well. Are There Any Legal Requirements for Selling Pigs? Again there are differing requirements between states but as a general rule, pigs sold must be branded before they leave your property with your registered tattoo number (or ear tagged 16

18 if allowed in your state) and accompanied by a PigPass National Vendor Declaration, waybill or equivalent document. Pigs under 25 kg, or 30 kg in some states, do not have to be branded. You can register for the PigPass National Vendor Declaration (NVD) at It is not a requirement that you sign up for any other membership or Quality Assurance system to be able to purchase NVD s from the site or to use the emergency NVD. What is Swill Feeding? Swill feeding is the feeding of food or food scraps containing, or contaminated by, animal matter to any livestock including pigs and poultry. Swill feeding is banned because of the serious risk of introducing exotic diseases such 17

19 as foot and mouth disease into Australia. This means that you cannot feed table scraps, restaurant waste or anything that may contain meat or imported dairy products to your pigs. In some states it is even illegal to feed eggs. Do I have to have dark haired pigs because I am free range? No. The white breeds will do fine outdoors as long as appropriate shelter and wallows are provided for them. Let s not forget that pigs have been around for a long long time, well before the advent of intensive indoor housing systems. What has happened is that these white breeds have now been bred for traits suited to those indoor systems like leanness, strong legs that can withstand standing in one spot on 18

20 concrete etc. These commercial white breed will not do well outside but it is not because of their colour, it is because of their genetic makeup. If you are just raising pigs for the freezer it does not matter what colour they are unless you think you may find black hairs on your pork roast a little offensive. These pigs will be slaughtered at a very young age so there is virtually no risk of them getting any sun cancers before they go. Wallows are important to all pigs but a must for white ones. The mud will act as a sunscreen for these animals and protect their skin. Wallows and lots of shade will ensure your animals stay safe from the sun and cool during hot summer days. If you intend to breed some pigs, coloured sows are a good idea but not a 19

21 necessity. It is up to you to provide an environment that protects your pigs from all the elements. When selecting your animals just remember that black haired pigs will have black hairs on the meat and some people find this distasteful. 20

22 21

23 22

24 Which Breed Will Produce the Best Flavoured Pork? Supermarket pork has become dry, tasteless and has very little fat. The pigs it came from lived indoors on concrete and had virtually no exercise. It is little wonder then that when someone tastes a rare breed pig for the first time that they are going to be amazed by the flavour and automatically attribute that taste sensation to that particular breed. But, it is not the breed of pig that will produce outstanding flavour, it is the environment in which the pig kept. How Big Does A Pig Get? When we have visitors to the farm they always want to have a look at all the pigs. I am constantly amazed at the stunned faces when they see a fully grown sow. Depending on the breed, sows can weigh between 200 and 250 kg 23

25 or even more. Boars can easily reach 300 kg. What Breeds Are Available in Australia? I am often asked were to source exotic breeds of pigs or those that have been featured on international television shows like the Gloucester Old Spot pig. We are unable to import pigs or semen into this country so we have very few breeds available. They are; Large White, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire, Berkshire, English Large Black, Tamworth and Wessex Saddleback. How Much Does a Pig Eat? Averaged over the life of a pig, it will eat about 2kg of prepared feed per day. This will vary during different stages of growth and reproduction. 24

26 Your bought in weaners will start off with about 1 kg per day and quite quickly work their way up to around 2.5kg by the time they are ready to go to slaughter. I Like The Idea of Keeping Rare Breeds. Which Ones are Best? When it comes to the rare breeds they all have similar characteristics. They are slower growing, usually dark haired and much fatter than more commercial white pigs. So, if you have taken this on board the choice is then just a personal one. Which breed do you like the look of? You will have to have an idea of what you plan to do with your progeny before you purchase your sows. Are they simply for the home freezers of yourself, friends and family? Do you plan to try and sell excess pigs, or are 25

27 you planning on selling purebred animals? The slow growth of these breeds means an added cost in feeding them until they reach porker size. You may also get an unpleasant surprise at just how much fat these pigs will lay down. These breeds are rare for a reason, they are not commercially viable and that is why they have fallen out of favour in the mainstream pork industry. Feeding Pigs If you are going to raise pigs for profit you will need to pay special attention to the nutritional requirements of your pigs to grow them to meet your market s requirements. Even if your pigs are going to be for home consumption there is a few things that you need to know about feeding pigs. 26

28 In both cases, you need to have your animals growing as fast as possible with good, nourishing food that will take advantage of the pigs ability to lay down a lot of muscle and bone in the first few months of life. Missing this growth stage will mean that your pigs may not develop well and lay down a lot of fat instead of meat. There is no one food that can meet all the requirements of a pigs diet. They need a balance of protein and energy that is generally supplied through crushed grains (wheat, corn, barley), soybean meal and meat meal. A pelleted feed is the best way for beginners to ensure that they get a good supply of quality pork for all their effort. There is a misconception that all we need to do is feed a pig anything, get it fat and then off to market. Wrong. 27

29 What you could end up with is a pig so fat that it is practically inedible. If you are planning on a commercial free range operation then you will need to talk to a feed supplier about your pigs dietary needs. Our books on pig farming go into these issues in much more depth. Fruit, vegetables and greens are an excellent feed for pigs but will not satisfy all their feed requirements. You will need to supplement with pellets or a source of protein such as lupins or soybean meal. Pasture alone will not sustain your pigs. Grazing may account for 20% of the pigs needs if it is lush, green grass of high quality. 28

30 What are the Common Pig Diseases I Need to Look Out For? Pigs are intelligent animals that will respond to the type of treatment they are given by their keepers. Happy pigs are much healthier pigs. Good diet, good shelter and a stress free environment will do wonders for the health of your pigs. Disease in pigs is an area that I have little experience with. This is because our pigs rarely get sick. Free range pigs just do not have the same disease burden as those kept in unnatural intensive conditions. That doesn t mean they won t get sick. There will be the odd breakout of some of the more common pig diseases from time to time. The disease status of your pigs is dependent on you. At least daily 29

31 monitoring, vaccinations and cleanliness are vital in controlling disease. Parasites, both internal and external, will likely present the biggest problems and can be detrimental to pig performance if left untreated. Parasites are easily remedied with treatment and good pasture rotation practices. Getting Your Porkers Ready I Want Pork and Bacon From This Pig. Is That Possible? It is possible but porkers and baconer pigs are usually very different in size. Porkers are slaughtered at around kg live weight were baconers are around 100kg. So, you will have to decide if you are happy with nice size chops and small rashers of bacon, or, excessively large chops and good sized bacon rashers. 30

32 For the home freezer I would suggest that you kill your pigs at porker weights to avoid having too much fat, boar taint or tough meat. What Age Should I Send My Pigs Off At? It s not a matter of age, but size. Generally a pig is about 5-6 months of age when it is dispatched if it has been grown well. What Size Pig is Good For Pork? A porker can weigh anything between 50 and 75 kg if you are processing for the home freezer. It all depends on how large you like your chops and roasts. It could also depend on whether your pigs tend to get too fat and you can avoid this problem by killing them at lighter weights. 31

33 Rare breeds generally need to be processed at lighter weights unless you are intending to grow them for ham and bacon. The average chop in the butcher shop comes from pigs that were around the 75kg live weight. Do Females Produce Better Pork than Males? Not really. The big problem with males is the risk of boar taint. If your pigs take too long to grow out they will start to mature sexually and this is when boar taint may present itself. A sexually active male thinks of nothing else. Sex even takes precedent over food and the pig will lose condition and become rather rangy looking, develop tusks and most likely stink! 32

34 Not everyone can smell boar taint so don t be fooled into thinking your pig doesn t have this problem. The worst of the smell comes out while the pork is cooking and if you are sensitive to it, it is an overwhelming smell and a taste you just cannot get out of your mouth. What Will It Cost To Grow My Own Pork? There is nothing like the flavour of home grown pork - when it is done well.. This guide is for those that just want to raise a pig for the home freezer and not intended for those that wish to make a business of pig production. Obviously the cost will be very different if you are trading in numbers or on a regular basis and are also able to purchase your feed in bulk. Make arrangements with your butcher before you send your pigs to the 33

35 abattoir. They will give you details of which abattoir they use and if there is a process that needs to be followed e.g. a particular day to deliver the pigs, if you need to book the pig in at the abattoir or special markings that need to be put on the animals. All pigs must be slaughtered at an abattoir if they are to be delivered to and processed by a licensed butcher. You cannot kill an animal yourself and then ask a butcher to cut it up. Do make sure you have also arranged for your pigs to be branded and that you have organized a National Vendor Declaration (PigPass) The cost of raising a pig to 75kg for the freezer: Expect the pig to eat around 250 kg of pellets or purchased feed (maybe a little 34

36 less if you have pasture or another source of food like bread for example) Piglets: $50 - $80 each Feed: 250 kg x 70 cents = $175 (based on commercial feed purchased per bag) Slaughter: $30 Butchering: $ $2.50 per kilo Many butchers provide a 'home kill' service and include the cost of slaughter and transport in the per kilo rate. They will charge on the dressed weight, not on the amount of pork you end up with. You can delete the slaughter charge if your butcher operates this way. Of course you can ignore the last two costs if you are prepared to slaughter and butcher the pig yourself. This is not recommended if you have no 35

37 experience. It is much more convenient to have it done professionally. Your live, 75kg pig will dress at about 50kg. The yield (amount of meat you will get) will be between 55-60%. So, you will end up with about 30 kg of pork, roasts, sausages ham and bacon for your efforts. This means you will pay around $12.50 per kilo for this meat when all is said and done Raising a pig for meat will not be much cheaper than buying it from a super market, but, it will be a very different product! How Long Is a Sow Pregnant For? Three months, three weeks and three days. Between days. 36

38 How Soon Should I Tail Dock and Teeth Clip The Piglets? Repeat after me Teething clipping and tail docking are absolutely unnecessary in free range pigs Only bored pigs living in a cramped environment without any stimulation will eat each other s tails. Free range pigs will be way too busy exploring their outdoor world to bother. 37

39 Who is PROOF? - Pasture Raised On Open Fields We believe free range meat and eggs should come from pigs, cattle and chickens that have been free to range outdoors on pasture and encouraged to do so with plenty of shade, shelter and protection from the elements and predators. We also believe in smaller flock and herd sizes and do not think that feedlots or industrial sized sheds with little 'popholes' to the outside world are sufficient to meet the animals needs. We also believe that the land on which the pigs and poultry range is managed sustainably too and will not put our environment at risk. PROOF certifies free range farms that meet these expectations. 38

40 Who are our farmers? PROOF farms are smaller scale, family farms that do things the old fashioned way - they raise their animals on pasture in open fields producing wholesome, ethical food for your family table. 39

41 Who Do I Contact For Help? Organizations Australian Pig Farmers Promoting pastured raised pig production and support for the smallholder. Humane Farm Management Consultancy service for free range pig producers. Training courses in free range pig production Farm & Environmental Management Plans PROOF - Pasture Raised On Open Fields Whole of farm accreditation system for true free range producers. 40

42 41

43 42