Pig Keeping Courses for all in the Lake District
Pig Keeping Courses in the Lake District
The aim of the course is quite simple; to give people confidence in handling pigs and to educate them in successful ways of keeping pigs. It is suitable for complete novices or those wishing to expand their knowledge.
Experienced pig keepers John Sutcliffe and Carole Barr have pooled their 35 years of pig keeping experience to offer comprehensive pig keeping courses. John is one of the country’s leading Saddleback pig breeders who also currently runs a small herd of Hampshire pigs.
Carole keeps British Lops, the rarest of traditional breed pigs, together with her Hampshire pigs. This is an ideal opportunity to learn from two pig keeping enthusiasts who have successfully bred pedigree pigs for the showfield and the butcher.
The main topics that will comprehensively be covered are:
1 Safety and Bio Security
2 Types and ages of pigs
3 Selecting pigs for your needs
4 Handling and transporting
5 Feeding and feed regimes
6 Health and sickness in pigs
7 Rules and Regulations
8 A market for your pigs
9 Indoor and out door pig keeping
10 Questions and answers
The course will be very practical with the majority of time spent on the farm. Outdoor clothing is a must, wellington boots essential and overalls a strong suggestion. Please bring a change of clothing as you may not wish to travel home smelling like a pig!
People of all ages are welcome and especially children who are really interested, if accompanied by their parents (minimum age for children is 6).
The cost of the full day course is £95. The dates for 2011 are:
- Saturday 22 January
- Saturday 26 February
- Saturday 19 March
- Weekend 26/27 March – Showing course
- Saturday 30 April
- Saturday 21 May
- Saturday 25 June
- Saturday 30 July
- Saturday 20 August
- Saturday 24 September
- Saturday 22 October
- Saturday 26 November
Meeting at 9.30am the course starts at 10am with a break for lunch and concluding about 4.30pm. (Packed lunch required).
Local accommodation is available if you want to make a weekend of it. Self catering is available at www.coalyeatcottages.co.uk. For bed and breakfast the Royal Oak at Spark Bridge or The Wilson Arms, Torver are
recommended. www.royaloaksparkbridge.co.uk or www.wilsonarms.co.uk.
Meat boxes of Rare Breed Pork can be pre-ordered to take away with you. Gift vouchers available from Carole.
Booking Form and Information Pack
Click to Download
If you have any queries whatsoever, please do not hesitate to get in touch:
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CONTACT JOHN – 07887731552
email: johnonthego7@yahoo.com
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CAROLE – 01539441088
email: carolebarr2@aol.com
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The Pig Keepers
John Sutcliffe’s Coal Yeat Herd of pedigree pigs is based at Bridgefield Farm, Lowick Bridge, in beautiful South Cumbria. John has been keeping rare breed pigs commercially for over 25 years and runs a finishing unit for the Traditional Breeds Meat Marketing Ltd (formerly run by the Rare Breed Survival Trust). John supplies three local butchers via Aireys Slaughter House, Dales Butchers, Kirkby Lonsdale, Plumgarth Farm Shop, Kendal and Aireys Farm Shop.
Only the best quality pedigree pigs are selected for future breeding. Of over 400 bred annually only approximately 10% pass the test for future pedigree breeding. These select few are kept for establishing new herds, or to supplement the Coal Yeat Herd of pedigree rare breed pigs.
The Coal Yeat Herd of Saddleback pigs is a Saddleback survival centre with 10 different female lines and 6 different boar lines. Therefore unrelated boars and females can be sold to easily establish new herds. We currently have approx 150 pigs on the farm. The best pedigree saddleback pigs are shown at county shows around the Midlands and North of England with great success.
John has previously been a lecturer in Fine Art, run painting and drawing courses and is a level two skiing and snowboard instructor.
See the Coal Yeat Herd at www.saddlebackpigs.co.uk.
Carole Barr’s herd of British Lop and Hampshire pigs is located in Torver, near Coniston, at her Crook Barn Stables. Carole has been running her Lakeland trekking rides from this Crook Barn base for 20 years. Here her pigs happily wander through horses, ponies and numerous varieties of ducks and hens. Carole’s British Lops are the rarest breed of British Traditional Breed Pigs and are regular prize winners at County Shows. The Hampshire pigs are classified as a modern breed but are often mistaken for Saddleback pigs but are easily distinguished from Saddlebacks by their prick ears. Carole is the the North Region Chairperson for Riding for the Disabled and a qualified Riding for the Disabled Instructor.
