General
Pigs are group animals that are very fond of contact with other pigs. A group usually consists of female animals that are related to each other and their offspring. The boars often live alone. Pigs are very intelligent and learn quickly, partly due to their curiosity. They also have a very good memory. They can smell and hear well and communicate with each other with a lot of sound. It is therefore important to ensure that a pig has enough distraction in the form of other pigs and enough space to root and dig. This search for food, also called foraging, is very important for pigs. Although they do not actually have to find food, as that can lead to obesity. Pigs also like to play with each other. If this is not completely in order, a pig can show undesirable behavior, which manifests itself in destroying material, breaking out and screaming.
An adult sow is in heat approximately every three weeks. After a successful mating, up to 115 piglets will be born after an average of 3 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 18 days). It is important to pay attention to how many teats the sow has. If there are more piglets than teats, it is wise to let the piglets drink in different groups. About 10 days before farrowing, the sow will start nesting behavior, so provide a quiet, dry and warm place with sufficient nesting material such as straw. If you plan to make pets of the piglets, it is better to leave them with the sow for at least 2 months instead of the legal minimum time of 28 days. This way, the piglets learn better from their littermates what socially acceptable behavior is. The age at which the piglets are sexually mature varies greatly per breed; in smaller breeds it is often earlier than in larger breeds and it can even be the case after a few months.
Care, housing and nutrition
Keeping pigs is subject to certain laws and regulations, such as having ear tags and a so-called Unique Company Number (UBN). Find this out first before you start keeping pigs.
Care:
Pigs are very sensitive to stress and can become ill and develop behavioral problems due to long periods of stress. It is advisable to train pigs at a young age to get used to different situations and people/animals (socialization). For example, you can use a clicker for this, when using food as a reward, begging can be developed. It is also useful to get pigs used to claw care, because they can easily become too long and if they do not tolerate this well, it will have to be done under anesthesia to limit stress.
The skin of a pig also requires the necessary care, pigs love to be brushed and this is a good time for you to look for wounds, parasites (scabies), irritations and in the ears to see if they are clean.
Housing:
There are a number of things to consider when housing pigs. For example, pigs cannot be kept alone, some will waste away and others will become aggressive. It is best to keep pigs in pairs or small groups. Uncastrated boars are not suitable as pets as they can be very aggressive. If you do not want to breed, choose castrated boars, 'borgs' or sows. The sows can be somewhat unpredictable during the heat. Furthermore, borgs and sows are easy to keep and generally friendly. However, do not simply put strange pigs together, but let them get used to each other with a strong fence in between.
They can easily be kept outside all year round, but there are a few requirements. The pig pasture should preferably be at least 75m2 per pig, the pen should be at least 1 to 6m2 per pig. These dimensions are of course dependent on the size. In the pasture it is important that they have shelter (willow or poplar branches are very popular) and a place for a mud pool. This mud pool provides cooling on hot days and the mud serves as a kind of sunscreen since pigs are often quite bald and therefore burn quickly. This mother pool should also be regularly refilled with clean water. The fencing should consist of a fence made of, for example, sheep wire or wood with electric wire at the bottom to prevent them from rooting up the fence, another option is to dig the fence deep enough. The pasture will quickly be rooted up, so it can be useful to fence off some parts so that they can be reseeded and recover.
The pen must be surrounded by a hard base such as concrete to wear down the nails naturally and to prevent the pigs from bringing mud inside. The base of the pen must be hard and insulated so that the pigs cannot dig in it, and a layer of straw as high as the pig itself is very comfortable as a bed. The pen must be dry and draught-free and also long enough for the pig to lie down. However, do not make it too big, because that way it will warm up too slowly and the pigs could also do their business there. Pigs use so-called functional areas, they have a place where they sleep, where they eat and drink and a place where they defecate. The place where they defecate must be cleaned regularly, otherwise they will look for another place.
Nutrition:
Pigs are omnivores (eat everywhere) and their diet should consist of a combination of roughage and concentrates. Approximately 60-70% may consist of concentrates and the rest of roughage such as grass and/or hay. Special concentrates for hobby pigs are recommended because other concentrates often contain too little fiber. This concentrates also provide for the vitamin and mineral requirements. It is wise to divide this concentrates into two portions per day, because pigs quickly become too fat. In a pig that is in good condition, the ribs can be felt but not seen. For example, fruit can be used as a snack or as a reward. Furthermore, clean water must be available at all times!
Please note that food and garden waste do not contain poisonous plants. In addition, it is forbidden to give swill (kitchen waste/waste) to pigs!
illnesses
Pigs can have many different problems, such as lameness due to claws that are too long or due to being overweight and the associated arthrosis. Furthermore, skin problems such as mange, burns or inflammations are common. It is important to wash pigs with many skin folds regularly. Ear problems and dental abnormalities are also often seen. Pneumonia can occur and can be fatal. A pig that does not want to eat is sick and it is therefore wise to consult your veterinarian.
Pigs can also suffer from worms, in which case the manure can be examined to determine whether treatment is necessary.
It is wise to have your pigs vaccinated against spotted fever. Spotted fever is caused by the bacteria Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and is a soil bacterium that pigs can easily contract. It causes spots on the skin and in severe cases can lead to inflammation of the heart valves, which can result in death. Spot disease is a zoonosis, which means that it can be transmitted to humans. By vaccinating the animals, you not only protect them, but also yourself!
In the event of an outbreak of notifiable diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease or swine fever, pigs are subject to measures taken against these diseases. You must therefore participate in these measures in such a case.
For further questions or advice, please contact the veterinary practice.