Sustainability and Quality of Life for my Pigs

When I started farming last year, my whole aim was to create a sustainable environment. I am committed to providing a 100% top quality life for the animals. For the pigs that I have taken to be processed today, this means that I know they have had a free range and happy life of sustainable pig farming.

Owning pigs has been a fantastic experience and one I will be continuing throughout my farming life. Of all my farm animals they are the easiest to maintain, clean and full of character. My dog training clients have loved meeting the pigs, except those that have nearly been pushed over.

So today is the day. My farm gives me the opportunity to produce free range, sustainable meat for me and my customers. My Saddleback pigs have lived six months roaming around a huge area digging and uprooting plants. They have been fed top quality pellets and fresh healthy scraps. In fact they’ve eaten more greens in six months than I’ve probably eaten in my whole life.

Choosing a butcher

I had to decide if I was to butcher them myself or have a butcher process them. Having no experience and limited time to learn at present, I decided to source a good quality butcher that has strong ethics and an understanding for quality above quantity. Ian at Saswick House Farm is excellent. From the moment I spoke with him, I knew he was talking the same language as me. Consequently, after my animals have been dispatched today, they will be sent to Ian. Before any decision is made on how to process my pigs, I will be calling down to discuss with Ian how I want to finish off the cuts. It’s important to me that I follow the whole journey. I feel I’ve got a duty to my pigs that have over the last six months given me enjoyment.

As with everything in farming, today didn’t go completely to plan. I misplaced the trailer key and then when I’d located it, it took time to get the pigs loaded in. The trick is not to allow them to see to the left or right, then they will go straight ahead. After a few attempts and over an hour late, we set off.

Friends have asked if it’s hard sending the pig off for processing. The truth is, while I have enjoyed having them and am already looking forward to my next herd, this is farming. I give the animals a good life and in return, they produce a product that I can sell. This gives me the sustainable farming I am committed to achieving.

Posted: February 23, 2022