Pigs Pigs Pigs

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:50 pm

I believe you Simo, but not mine. I think she had a rough life before I got her out of the dog shelter. Reasonably timid, seems to bark maybe 5 or 6 times a year tops, and starting to go a little deaf.

BatonRouge Bill · **Joined:** Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:59 pm **Posts:** 60

The potbellies are very easy to raise, unfortunitly they are such friendly things no one has the heart to kill them. My brother who has a real strong constitution couldn't do it. Had to give it away. He was however able to kill someones elses earlier and found them to have a lot of soft white fat but very little meat. They are real couch potatos. But he said the fat very fine flavored and used it with venision to make sausage. And the meat was fantastic what little there was. But like I said when he raised his he couldn't do it. His would carry off his tools when he was working on his truck to get attention. Kindof what happens when you use livestock for pets. Named it Harley and it slept on the porch with the dogs.

Simo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:11 pm

Just found out that apparently pot bellies are illegal in Australia, but there are miniaturised versions of other farmed pigs which probably produce more meat.

Simo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:21 pm

This from the RSPCA

http://kb.rspca.org.au/Can-I-get-a-mini ... a_112.html

"There are no true miniature pigs available in Australia. The breed of pig that is popular as a pet in the United States — the Vietnamese potbellied pig — is a prohibited import into Australia. Some Australian breeders have tried to breed small pigs, but these are still substantially larger than true miniature pigs; so-called ‘miniature’ pigs can grow as large as 90 kg, although most are between 40 and 60 kg. This is smaller than a commercial pig, which can grow to 250–300 kg. If you are looking for a small pig to keep as a pet, you should look for a reputable breeder of pet pigs and ask to view the parents, as this will give a good indication of the size the pig will grow (although some pigs will outgrow their parents)."

earthbound · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:56 pm

I quite like the look of Wessex Saddleback Pigs. Very rare breed, friendly, highly productive, do well outside, etc... Need a little more space than I have in the backyard..

Here's an article on free range pigs that was in small farms magazine : http://www.smallfarms.net/free/Free%20range%20pigs.pdf

These people have 40 saddleback breeding sows which is 40% of the total world breeding population.. :shock:

These are some breeders in W.A. http://www.benarafarm.com.au/Wessex-Saddleback-Pigs.php

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:37 pm

Nice to see you read Small Farms magazine, EB :wink:

chillidude · **Posted:** Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:56 am

earthbound wrote:

I quite like the look of Wessex Saddleback Pigs.
These are some breeders in W.A. http://www.benarafarm.com.au/Wessex-Saddleback-Pigs.php

They look they're having fun down there. Shame it's such a hike from my place - would liek to get my hands on some of the meat and try it out. Have heard a lot about it, but never been able to get any.

Thanks Joel

earthbound · **Posted:** Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:29 pm

I know that every Saturday at City Farm in Perth they have an organic farmers market, one of the stalls there is an organic pig farmer selling lots of pork products, not too sure what pig breed they have though.

This mob are up your way CD, though once again, dunno what type of animals their meat is from, they reckon ethical and organic. www.thenakedbutcher.com.au

chillidude · **Posted:** Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:51 pm

Thanks Joel, I'll check them out.

I'm fairly lucky in that the butcher in the dinky little Swan View shopping centre ( Steaks 'n' Stuff ) stocks very good meat, including Plantaganet Free Range Pork.

Pleasantly surpising, like your turmeric at South Lake Coles

But I'll check out the naked butcher for lamb and see what else is around.

chillidude · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:03 am

My post in the Television thread in the Shooting The Breeze section;

Quote:

Did anybody watch the Jamie Oliver show called Saving Your Bacon - was about pigs, pork and the European industry behind it all. Basically he was raising awareness of how a significant number of pig farms keep there pigs in much the same way as battery hens, and just how wrong that is. And, of course, some of the very cool things you can do with pork.

Don't usually like Jamie, even a little bit, but I'll give him credit for this - it was a good show. I even managed to get the kids to sit down and watch it with me as I'd just come in from working on the AP setup 15mins after the show started.

Yes it was a little sensationalised for TV and yes, some of his motivation is he can make a buck out of it, but everything he said was basically correct and it was very well done over all.

Recommend it to everyone on this forum: http://www.jamieoliver.com/bacon/

Simo · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:21 am

Check this out

http://www.news.com.au/national/killer- ... 5827486568

and more info here

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/feral-p ... 5827407012

Makes me glad I am on tank water.

pistolknight · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:38 am

Granny Smith wrote:

Nice to see you read Small Farms magazine, EB :wink:

Free Plug, I will be in the next Small Farm Mag (March 1) doing a AP story :learn:

Mate here CD hunts wild pigs when he has time, the bacon is an unbelievable flavor, we will pay him a visit when you are here

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:50 am

Confession time, folks. I write for Small Farms mag. Two stories each month.

pistolknight · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:49 pm

Small Farm big book by the sounds, David Mason-Jones did my bit GS, I will look out for you

earthbound · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:49 pm

While your confessing you should also mention that you wrote an article in Small Farms magazine last year about aquaponics..

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