The first pigs arrive

Our first six pigs have arrived. They are Gloucester Old Spot weaners, aged 14 weeks, and came from a smallholder who’s reducing the size of his operation.

There are three boars, two large and one small, and three gilts, one large and two small. We’ll be taking them up to either porker weight (the boars) and possibly cutter weight (the gilts).

The boars will be going to slaughter earlier to avoid the risk of boar taint and will probably be done just before Christmas.

Ready for work

The Big Lad was really chuffed today - we bought him his own boilersuit and no sooner did he have it on then he was out the door and wanting to do some “farm work”.

Pot-roast rabbits

I keep shooting tough old bunnies, but fortunately I know a few ways of cooking them so they’re both tender and delicious.Tonight it was pot-roast rabbit, although strictly speaking it’s an all-day recipe.Joint the skinned and paunched rabbit, then rub the joints with lard or butter.

We’re getting Mermaids

Yes, you read that right - we’re buying three six-month old Mermaids and they’ll be arriving in about three weeks.

Okay, they’re not proper swimming in the sea-type mermaids, but registered Berkshire pigs from the Mermaid line.

We were finding it difficult to source the Large Blacks we wanted, while Berkshires are slightly easier to come across.