For those who preserve a pig or ‘micropig’ as a pet, you’re thought-about a pig keeper. It’s essential to observe the identical welfare and traceability rules as pig farmers.
‘Micropigs’ are pigs bred to be small to allow them to be stored extra simply as pets.
You might be legally answerable for the welfare of your pig. It’s essential to take care of it by:
- offering it with an acceptable place to reside
- giving it an acceptable weight loss program
- ensuring it may behave naturally and usually
- defending it from ache, struggling, harm and illness
It’s essential to observe good hygiene and biosecurity requirements to assist stop the introduction and unfold of illness.
Earlier than you get a pig
It’s essential to apply for a county parish holding (CPH) quantity from the Rural Funds Company (RPA)
It’s essential to additionally let RPA know if there are any modifications to your CPH particulars, inside 30 days of the change.
Register as pig keeper
By regulation it’s essential to register your pet pig with the Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA) inside 30 days of your first pet pig arriving in your land or at your private home.
Inform APHA in case your circumstances change
It’s essential to inform APHA for those who:
- transfer home
- get extra pigs or a brand new species of pig
- cease protecting pigs
That is so APHA can monitor the placement and motion of animals to stop and management illness.
Report any change in circumstances to APHA.
Get a licence to stroll a pet pig
It’s good to apply for a licence from APHA to stroll your pig exterior your private home or premises. You may get an utility kind from APHA.
You’ll want to offer a map of your proposed route as a part of your utility. APHA could not approve your strolling route if it poses a well being threat, for instance if it passes near a:
- livestock market
- pig farm
- quick meals restaurant
It’s essential to have your licence with you everytime you’re strolling your pig, and also you’ll have to renew it yearly.
When to file actions
It’s essential to report and file any motion of your pig.
You don’t want to report and file the motion for those who’re solely taking it for a stroll below the phrases of your licence.
Add identification particulars to your pig
It’s essential to tag, tattoo or mark your pig with identification particulars for those who plan to maneuver it away from your private home or premises. This consists of:
- taking it for a stroll (below licence)
- taking it to a market, pig farm or abbatoir
Feeding your pigs
You can’t feed pigs catering waste from any home or business kitchen together with kitchens that solely cater for vegetarians. Catering waste consists of used cooking oil.
You typically can’t feed pigs materials of animal origin or merchandise containing materials of animal origin.
You’ll be able to feed pigs:
You may get pig meals from a premises that handles materials that can not be fed to pigs, however provided that each of the next apply:
- the premises has a process to maintain materials that may be fed to pigs separate from materials that can not be fed to pigs
- the process has been agreed with an area authority
Contact APHA for those who’re nonetheless not sure whether or not you may feed one thing to your pig.
Autor HM Authorities
