7questions

…with a rare-breed pig enthusiast

Mandy Garbutt is secretary of the Gloucestershire Old Spots (GOS) Pig Breeders’ Club, which supports keepers and breeders

1 Have you always been passionate about pigs? I used to say that if we ever got a house with land, I wanted a red tractor and some pigs. In 2003, we bought our smallholding and a year later I got my wish.

2 Why Gloucestershire Old Spots? I didn’t want to keep just any old pigs. I liked the GOS because they belong to our heritage and, happily, seemed most suited to our climate up here in North Yorkshire. They’re very hardy and can cope with our winters.

3 Who’s in your pigsty now? We’ve got some real characters. There’s Mr Darcy Senior, an absolute gentleman; Chloe, who’s cantankerous and a bit of a drama queen; Lottie, a ten-month-old who likes a scratch; and the youngest, Poppy, who’s the noisiest girl I know, especially around mealtimes.

4 Most common pig-keeping mistake? Assuming that you can just chuck pigs in a field, fling food in and let them get on with it. In reality, they’re the most demanding of livestock and small-scale keepers should be aware that they need feeding, watering and checking twice a day.

5 High points? Farrowing my first piglets, watching a mum and litter gallop around the paddock, and winning a rosette.

6 …and lows? Sending your first pigs to the abattoir is tough but it helps knowing they had the best life you could give them. I’ve sent more than 200 pigs, but I’m still sad when they go.

7 Tips for beginners? Pig keeping isn’t for everyone, which is why we advise starting with a couple of piglets. Once you send them off for meat, you can decide if you enjoyed the experience and want to go further.