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Tamworth and Berkshire (Kurobuta) Pigs

Hmmm, not many to the pound — Hmmm, not many to the pound
Hmmm, not many to the pound

Not our idea...! We are looking for a good home for the piglets and their two Gloucester Old Spot mothers. See our posting on the Gloucester Old Spotforum. — Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
Not our idea...! We are looking for a good home for the piglets and their two Gloucester Old Spot mothers. See our posting on the Gloucester Old Spotforum.

The one on the left has the characteristic Tamworth "ginger" colour. Both have the GOS spots! — Two Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
The one on the left has the characteristic Tamworth "ginger" colour. Both have the GOS spots!

Gloucester Old Spot Sow and Piglet — Gloucester Old Spot Sow and Piglet
Gloucester Old Spot Sow and Piglet

How does she see where she's going with those floppy ears? — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
How does she see where she's going with those floppy ears?

A few Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot cross piglets sharing the pig arc with a Black Rock chicken. — The Pig Arc
A few Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot cross piglets sharing the pig arc with a Black Rock chicken.

The piglets are Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot crosses. — Three Piglets
The piglets are Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot crosses.

From two litters, born a couple of weeks apart. It's cute how some look like GOS pigs, and some look more like their father. Crossing a GOS sow with a Tamworth boar wasn't our idea, and the two sows and their piglets have been abandoned with us. We are looking for a good home (or homes) for them. — Gloucester Old Spot - Tamworth Piglets
From two litters, born a couple of weeks apart. It's cute how some look like GOS pigs, and some look more like their father. Crossing a GOS sow with a Tamworth boar wasn't our idea, and the two sows and their piglets have been abandoned with us. We are looking for a good home (or homes) for them.

Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglet — Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglet
Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglet

We are looking for a good home for these two GOS sows, and their two litters of GOS/Tamworth piglets. — Two Gloucester Old Spot Sows
We are looking for a good home for these two GOS sows, and their two litters of GOS/Tamworth piglets.

Two Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets — Two Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
Two Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets

A farmer brought this sow, and another, to become impregnated by our Tamworth boar. He's just never come to pick them up --- or their piglets. We are looking for a good home for the sows and Tamworth/GOS cross piglets. — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
A farmer brought this sow, and another, to become impregnated by our Tamworth boar. He's just never come to pick them up --- or their piglets. We are looking for a good home for the sows and Tamworth/GOS cross piglets.

Mom had been in the stable yard for an hour or so --- a bit of a break, and so she could have a nice warm bath. But babies (from her litter, and another litter) were happy to see her back again. And she obliged by lying down right there in the dirt! Only some of these piglets are hers, but she's not bothered. — Feedin' Time...!
Mom had been in the stable yard for an hour or so --- a bit of a break, and so she could have a nice warm bath. But babies (from her litter, and another litter) were happy to see her back again. And she obliged by lying down right there in the dirt! Only some of these piglets are hers, but she's not bothered.

About six or seven months ago a farmer asked if he could bring his two Gloucester Old Spot sows to Lucies Farm so they'd have a litter of Tamworth - GOS piglets. The farmer visited us several times and then vanished, leaving us with the babies (and their mothers). These are part of the two combined litters. — Gloucester Old Spot - Tamworth Cross Piglets
About six or seven months ago a farmer asked if he could bring his two Gloucester Old Spot sows to Lucies Farm so they'd have a litter of Tamworth - GOS piglets. The farmer visited us several times and then vanished, leaving us with the babies (and their mothers). These are part of the two combined litters.

Gloucester Old Spot Sow — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
Gloucester Old Spot Sow

We are looking for a good home for this lady: quite a tall GOS sow. And, of course, her Tamworth-GOS cross piglets. — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
We are looking for a good home for this lady: quite a tall GOS sow. And, of course, her Tamworth-GOS cross piglets.

Gloucester Old Spot Sow — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
Gloucester Old Spot Sow

With GOS markings and the floppy ears. — A Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglet
With GOS markings and the floppy ears.

Gloucester Old Spot sow and GOS/Tamworth piglets, from two litters. — Feeding
Gloucester Old Spot sow and GOS/Tamworth piglets, from two litters.

What's she doing here? She was brought here to become impregnated by one of our Tamworth boars --- but then the owner never came to pick her up. We are now looking for a good home for this GOS sow, and her piglets. When this sow arrived she had the large, healed gash in her right ear. (It actually lets herseea little bit!) — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
What's she doing here? She was brought here to become impregnated by one of our Tamworth boars --- but then the owner never came to pick her up. We are now looking for a good home for this GOS sow, and her piglets. When this sow arrived she had the large, healed gash in her right ear. (It actually lets herseea little bit!)

Gregorz brought her into the stable yard on this sunny (and warm) winter day to give her a good bath --- and a one-hour break from her piglets. She enjoyed the break, but was then happy to go back. — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
Gregorz brought her into the stable yard on this sunny (and warm) winter day to give her a good bath --- and a one-hour break from her piglets. She enjoyed the break, but was then happy to go back.

Gloucester Old Spot Sow — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
Gloucester Old Spot Sow

Gloucester Old Spot - Tamworth Piglets — Gloucester Old Spot - Tamworth Piglets
Gloucester Old Spot - Tamworth Piglets

Gloucester Old Spot Sow — Gloucester Old Spot Sow
Gloucester Old Spot Sow

We were sent some nice photos of the piglets at their new home in the Cotswolds. That's snow in the foreground. — Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
We were sent some nice photos of the piglets at their new home in the Cotswolds. That's snow in the foreground.

Here are the pigs in their warm new home in the Cotswolds. — The Pigs' New Home
Here are the pigs in their warm new home in the Cotswolds.

The two Gloucester Old Spot sows, and their piglets, in their new, warm home in the Cotswolds. — Gloucester Old Spot Pigs
The two Gloucester Old Spot sows, and their piglets, in their new, warm home in the Cotswolds.

A bit of a tight squeeze. — Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
A bit of a tight squeeze.

The Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot piglets ready to go to their new home in the Cotswolds. We brought them into the stable to give them a bath, and put them on some fresh straw, before their trip to their new home. — Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
The Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot piglets ready to go to their new home in the Cotswolds. We brought them into the stable to give them a bath, and put them on some fresh straw, before their trip to their new home.

A tight squeeze for the piglets --- but they enjoy it. — Tamworth - Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
A tight squeeze for the piglets --- but they enjoy it.

A stock photograph of GOS piglets. — Gloucester Old Spot Piglets
A stock photograph of GOS piglets.

12 Norwegian agricultural students visited us March 2007 and wanted to go swimming with pigs. These girls are really brave because although the pool is heated it is early March and the water isn't that warm. — They'll never believe this back home
12 Norwegian agricultural students visited us March 2007 and wanted to go swimming with pigs. These girls are really brave because although the pool is heated it is early March and the water isn't that warm.

Come to mummy — Come to mummy
Come to mummy

Quick, smile for the group photo and then let's go for lunch! — Quick, smile for the group photo and then let's go for lunch!
Quick, smile for the group photo and then let's go for lunch!

We're from Norway so this is like summer to us!! — We're from Norway so this is like summer to us!!
We're from Norway so this is like summer to us!!

Stop that escapee! — Stop that escapee!
Stop that escapee!

Heading him off at the pass! — Heading him off at the pass!
Heading him off at the pass!

And what was on the menu? From swimming with cute pigs to pulled pork rolls! — A lunch well earned
And what was on the menu? From swimming with cute pigs to pulled pork rolls!

The obligatory group photo — The obligatory group photo
The obligatory group photo

No, I don't think we'll have another dip, thank you. — No, I don't think we'll have another dip, thank you.
No, I don't think we'll have another dip, thank you.

Siesta time — Siesta time
Siesta time

Oooh, mud, lovely mud — Oooh, mud, lovely mud
Oooh, mud, lovely mud

Hog's heaven — Hog's heaven
Hog's heaven

My favourite position — My favourite position
My favourite position

A pig arc at the back of Maggot's Croft at sunset. — Pig Arc at Sunset
A pig arc at the back of Maggot's Croft at sunset.

A Berkshire sow having a rest. Pigs are good at "rest." — Berkshire Sow
A Berkshire sow having a rest. Pigs are good at "rest."

Hey, leave some for me — Hey, leave some for me
Hey, leave some for me

This pig is a cross between an Iron Age pig (itself a cross between a Tamworth and a wild boar) and a Gloucester Old Spot. She must be nearing 16 or 17 years old, but she's still the fastest pig we have. — Our Oldest Pig
This pig is a cross between an Iron Age pig (itself a cross between a Tamworth and a wild boar) and a Gloucester Old Spot. She must be nearing 16 or 17 years old, but she's still the fastest pig we have.

Got any food? — Got any food?
Got any food?

Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets — Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets
Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets

Enjoying the May sunshine. — Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets
Enjoying the May sunshine.

We bought this inexpensive kiddie pool from Argos, and hoped that the smaller pigs would enjoy a swim. This Berkshire pig thought it was a drinking trough. — Berskshire Pig Having a Drink
We bought this inexpensive kiddie pool from Argos, and hoped that the smaller pigs would enjoy a swim. This Berkshire pig thought it was a drinking trough.

We bought an inexpensive kiddie's pool at Argos to see if the piglets would like a swim. They didn't. — Berkshire Piglet in the Kiddie's Pool
We bought an inexpensive kiddie's pool at Argos to see if the piglets would like a swim. They didn't.

Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets — Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets
Tamworth and Berkshire Piglets

A rather short swim . . . — Berkshire Piglet Having A Swim
A rather short swim . . .

Berkshire Piglet and a Tamworth - Berkshire Cross — Berkshire Piglet and a Tamworth - Berkshire Cross
Berkshire Piglet and a Tamworth - Berkshire Cross

The piglet was eager to get out of the small pool as a larger Berkshire pig stands guard. — Berkshire Pigs
The piglet was eager to get out of the small pool as a larger Berkshire pig stands guard.

Whoops. How did that happen? — A Tamworth - Berkshire Cross Pig
Whoops. How did that happen?

The latest batch of Berkshire piglets had trouble feeding; either their mother wasn't bothered or her previous litter were pushing the little ones out of the way. Fortunately, we have two veterinary students working here for the summer so they have been hand rearing the littlies. Sadly, we lost 3 but the other 3 are doing well. — Aw, cute
The latest batch of Berkshire piglets had trouble feeding; either their mother wasn't bothered or her previous litter were pushing the little ones out of the way. Fortunately, we have two veterinary students working here for the summer so they have been hand rearing the littlies. Sadly, we lost 3 but the other 3 are doing well.

Double cute — Double cute
Double cute

With Grzegorznotwatching. At theWhite House Veterinary Surgery. — Richard Chamings Taking the Piglet's Temperature
With Grzegorznotwatching. At theWhite House Veterinary Surgery.

At the White House Veterinary Surgery in Malvern. — Grzegorz With Berkshire Piglet
At the White House Veterinary Surgery in Malvern.

Richard Chamingsgiving the little Berkshire piglet an antibiotic injection. — Big Needle, Little Berkshire Pig
Richard Chamingsgiving the little Berkshire piglet an antibiotic injection.

The piglets were abandoned by their mother, so Grzegorz and Julita are hand-rearing them. One needed some antibiotics fromRichard Chamings at Chamings & Carman. — Grzegorz and Richard With the Little Berkshire Piglets
The piglets were abandoned by their mother, so Grzegorz and Julita are hand-rearing them. One needed some antibiotics fromRichard Chamings at Chamings & Carman.

Grzegorz Bednarski andRichard Chamingstreating one of the little Berkshire piglets rejected by its mother. — Giving the Piglet Flea/Tick Treatment
Grzegorz Bednarski andRichard Chamingstreating one of the little Berkshire piglets rejected by its mother.

I'm too busy to look — I'm too busy to look
I'm too busy to look

Where's the food — Where's the food
Where's the food

OK, where's the action — OK, where's the action
OK, where's the action

Who ate all the food?! — Who ate all the food?!
Who ate all the food?!

Gotta search for some more food — Gotta search for some more food
Gotta search for some more food

Any pickins in here — Any pickins in here
Any pickins in here

Let's see what's over here — Let's see what's over here
Let's see what's over here

Off exploring — Off exploring
Off exploring

I've hit the bullseye — I've hit the bullseye
I've hit the bullseye

It's a bit wet in here — It's a bit wet in here
It's a bit wet in here

Oh, no, bath time
Oh, no, bath time

I didn't do it
I didn't do it

Oooh, yes, rub just there
Oooh, yes, rub just there

Dontcha think I'm a bit big for this?
Dontcha think I'm a bit big for this?

Is this a facial?
Is this a facial?

Don't forget behind the ears
Don't forget behind the ears

Ooooh, that tickles
Ooooh, that tickles

Hey, you won't get any muscles using me as a weight
Hey, you won't get any muscles using me as a weight

Uh, oh, you're not gonna dunk me in there are you?!
Uh, oh, you're not gonna dunk me in there are you?!

Hey, look at us, all nice and clean
Hey, look at us, all nice and clean

Hmmm, something smells good in here
Hmmm, something smells good in here

Hey, you smell good. Had a bath recently?
Hey, you smell good. Had a bath recently?

Kuba and Wild Boar Piglet Enjoying Some Left-Overs
Kuba, a Berkshire boar, was hand-reared at Lucies Farm when his mother rejected him. We are also hand-raising the small wild boar.

Four Little Piggies
The three Berkshire (Kurobuta) pigs were hand-reared at Lucies Farm. The young wild boar was losing weight, so we separated him from the others and we are raising him by hand as well.

Belinda The Guernsey With Her Adopted Piglet
Belinda and Joseph, the Berkshire piglet, have become fast friends. Belinda has become his surrogage mother and goes everywhere with him.

Belinda With Her Piglet/Calf Going In For A Drink
Joseph, the Berkshire pig, does try to suckle Belinda. But she's heavily pregnant, and we stopped hand milking her several weeks ago. So there isn't really any milk there. Once her calf is born will she reject Joseph?

Belinda the Cow and Joseph the Pig
They go everywhere together, and when Joseph goes for a nap in his pig arc (one shown in the background) Belinda stands guard.

Belinda and Joseph On A Walk
Belinda, the Guernsey cow, and Joseph, the Berkshire piglet, off on a walk together. They act like mother-and-son.

'sfunny int it!!
'sfunny int it!!

'Ere, wot's this??
'Ere, wot's this??

It's still there!!
It's still there!!

I'm still trying to work it out
I'm still trying to work it out

I jus' can't work this out
I jus' can't work this out

This is really peculiar
This is really peculiar

Aren't we doing well
Aren't we doing well

Let's go this way
Let's go this way

Isn't this fun
Isn't this fun

Playing submarines, huh
Playing submarines, huh

Which way do I go now?
Which way do I go now?

Hey, synchronised swimming
Hey, synchronised swimming

This is sooooooo much fun
This is sooooooo much fun

Bathing belles
Bathing belles

Yeah, I'm having fun too
Yeah, I'm having fun too

C'mon, let's keep up
C'mon, let's keep up

Goin' for another dive?
Goin' for another dive?

I'm out to play
I'm out to play

Yeah, he's so big cos he's always scoffing
Yeah, he's so big cos he's always scoffing

Our Newest Addition - Wild Boar
Having obtained our License to Keep Dangerous Wild Animals from the Malvern Hills District Council, we have just purchased a wild boar, sow, and four wild piglets from Cleeve House Farm. Here's the boar as he took his first prowl around his field.

Sunflower
This sunflower -- and only this one -- is growing along the fence in the wild boar field. The pigs haven't even touched it.

Wild Boar At Rest
The wild boar love the straw (etc.) from benath the Guernsey cow and Guernsey bull. I guess it's warm and smells, well, "piggie." They root around in it, sleep in it, and gradually convert it into soil.

C'mon, this way.
It was time to go home for this piggy wiggy from the Cotswold Game Park who had been on a visit to play with our male wild boar and this was the best way to get her into the trailer.

Why won't they move away from the food?
Like all pigs, wild boar are food focused. They are so used to us that they are quite relaxed about us being in the same field.

Wild Boar Piglet on the Run
Wild Boar Piglet on the Run

Wild Boar Piglets and their Mom
On a sunny, and warm, winter day - February 3 2007

Wild Boar Piglet on the Run
With the characteristic stripes.

Wild Boar Piglet -- On Alert
One of our own wild boar piglets, on a sunny winter day - February 3 2007.

A Stampede of Wild Boar Piglets
Coming over to get some food.

Wild Sow With Her Piglets
With the snow falling, February 9 2007

Mother and Child
A couple of wild pigs at Whitecroft.

Wild Piglet
Wild Piglet

Wild Boar and Swimming Pool
We bought this kiddie's swimming pool at Argos to see if the piglets (Berkshire and wild) would like a swim. But this large wild boar decided the water was better for drinking than for swimming.

Wild Piglet
Posing for the camera.

Young Wild Pigs on the Run
Young Wild Pigs on the Run

Wild Boar Piglet
This little fella wasn't gaining weight as the other wild boar kept pushing him from the feed trough. We have separated him, and have put him with the small Berkshire piglets in a stable.

Wild Boar in the Mud From Recent Heavy Rains
Despite the presence of elaborate land drains (installed by us when we purchased this property) it still gets very muddy when we have heavy rains. We are installing hard core on the upper portion of the field so the wild pigs will have a dry area.

Wild Boar in the Mud at Maggot's Croft
This field, originally an orchard, came with the prosaic name of Maggot's Croft. Despite our planting pig-resistant grass from Hurrells (a specialist seed company) the wild boar manage to remove all traces of grass in a matter of weeks.

Stones From An Ancient Civilisation?
We tried concrete blocks as a foundation for the wild boar pig arcs (or huts). This is what the wild boar thought of that plan.

Using the Tractor to Move a Pig Arc
The wild boar move the pig arcs everywhere. We're moving this one (with the help of the tractor) from a wet part of the field to a drier part, with fresh straw.

Fresh Straw for the Pig Arcs
Laying a bed of fresh straw on drier ground, and then getting ready to move a pig arc on top of it.

Wild Boar Interested in the Straw
Newly-moved pig arc with bed of fresh straw.

Wild Boar Piglet Hiding His Nose
Wild Boar Piglet Hiding His Nose

Wild Boar Piglet Hiding
But I can see him....

Wild Boar Piglet
Wild Boar Piglet

The path into the pig arcs
The pig arcs are located on the upper part of the field, so the water should drain away. The hard core will be compacted on Monday.

The hard standing beneath the pig arcs
Not yet compacted with the roller --- a task for Monday.

Straw ready for the wild boars' bedding
The wild boar are temporarily in the third paddock. When the hard core has been compacted, we will move the remaining two pig arcs and then give them all a fresh bed of straw.

Pig arcs on the new hard core
The hard core has not yet been compacted. The clay (on the right of the photograph) has been "repaired" by the construction team, but it won't take long for the wild boar to add their own special touch.

Three pig arcs
A project not quite finished. The hard core needs to be compacted on Monday to keep the wild boar from just messing it up. The hard core is quite thick, and very porous. The rain water should drain away --- which it doesn't do with clay.

Four Little Piggies
Four Little Piggies

Wild Boar and their Pig Arcs
The pig arcs sit on compacted hard core at the top of the field. There's about three feet of compacted hard core, and it drains well --- giving the wild boar dry bedding and a way to be on dry land (i.e. not clay).

Alpha Male Waking Up From His Sleep
This wild boar was having a nap in a pig arc and I stumbled across him while he was having a big yawn. He looks quite fierce - particularly in view of the length of his tusk.

Having A Meeting At One Of The Pig Arcs
Wild boar at Lucies Farm

It's a pig thing
It's a pig thing

Kalvin Spreading the Straw
Preparing the base for the pig arc.

Spreading the Straw Under Pig Supervision
Kalvin spreading fresh straw.

Wrong Side Up
It's called a Pig Arc, but it's supposed to go the other way around. Cathy supervising, as Kalvin is running.

Moving the Pig Arc to the Fresh Straw Bed
Once over the bed of straw, the arc will be lowered by the tractor, and then turned right-side up.

Turning the Pig Arc Over
We had to tell Kalvin to move: if he didn't, when the arc flipped right-side-up he'd be inside it.

Pig Arc Moved And With a Bed of Fresh Straw
Kalvin surveying the wild boar. The image of one of our former colleagues has been removed at his specific request -- hence the mysterious brown rectangle.

The Guardian- August 5 2006 - Kurobuta Pork
Nikki Duffy ofThe Guardianordered some of our Kurobuta pork chops, and wrote a review in the paper on August 5 2006. We were pleased with her story, and quite like the pigs with rising sun and Japanese waves illustration.

Worcestershire Life- October 2006 - Page 1 and 2
Worcestershire Lifedid a four page spread on Lucies Farm in the October 2006 issue. This is page 1 and 2. Four years of university, and thirty years of working in senior positions -- and I get my photo standing by a bunch of Bershire pigs. (With me in silly yellow shorts.) With my back problems I don't get to do this very often these days.

Pick Me UpMagazine -- March 30 2006
When the journalist called fromPick Me Upmagazine, I thought she was joking. But it's a women's magazine with quite a large circulation. They did a "cute" story about Marjorie swimming with the Tamworth pigs.

Carole - Our Guernsey Cow
Carole, a pedigree Guernsey Cow, is our "house" cow --- providing us with all of our milk. So much milk that we feed the excess to our Tamworth pigs. We have just started to make butter and (soon) cheese from Carole's "output." And she treats us to the best milk shakes in Worcestershire, if not all of the West Midlands.

Highland Cattle and Kurobuta Pig Eating Together
Highland Cattle and Kurobuta Pig Eating Together

Dinner Time
We usually feed the cattle and the pigs separately, in troughs on opposite sides of the field. But today was "photo" day, so we fed them together. And they happily shared their feed.

Tamworth Pig
Looks like the pigs have converted our lush, green English field into the Serengetti. Time to move them to another field --- for them to convert.

Tamworth "in the zone"
She's just covered her nose with a liberal coating of mud, and that's made her thirsty.

Tamworth Enjoying Mud Bath
She's about to be moved to her "new" field --- covered with grass --- to give us time to renew this pig field with special pig-resistant grass fromHurrell's. But, in the meantime, time for a nice mud bath.

Tamworth Pig - Muddy Nose
Tamworth Pig - Muddy Nose

Tamworth Pig
I just woke her up from her mud bath. She's giving me the, "Well, did you bring me food?" look.

Tamworth at the Feed Trough
Having a bit of a snack.

Marjorie and the Tamworth Lady
Marjorie has shown great wisdom and has worn white trousers out to visit the piggy wiggy. Naturally, the pig's reaction was to coat her nose with mud and then want to show Marjorie how much she is loved. Kissy, kissy . . .

A Berkshire Pig Joint
When we picked up our new Berkshire Boar, Westbrook, we also bought a nice Berkshire roast. This is a "before" photo. Note how all the crackling is scored.

Westbrook Settles In
We picked up Westbrook Peter Lad 1st on May 18, 2005. It was his birthday --- he's 11 weeks old. We had an uneventful ride down from his original home in Little Hereford, and he's settled in nicely. We have him in a large stable until he grows a bit larger and can be put out with the bigger pigs.

Berkshire Pork Roast Dinner
Marjorie cooked a delicious roast dinner with our first Berkshire pork leg roast. It was delicious. Much darker pork than conventional "supermarket" pork.

Westbrook
Since his arrival at Lucies Farm a few days ago, Worthington has become a "stable pig." He lives in one of our stables, and runs around the stable yard keeping us all company.

Berkshire Piglets
We bought Fairoaks Mermaid 4 as a pedigree Berkshire sow in gilt. The sellers, the Bignells, told us her possible farrowing date was May 26. On the appointed date, along came the piglets. This photograph was taken just after they were born.

Fairoaks Mermaid and Marjorie
Fairoaks Mermaid has just given birth to ten piglets. I took this photograph from the door of her pig ark. Marjorie is looking in the little hatch, and from Marjorie's viewpoint you can see the piglets. Mother was calm and considerate throughout. For those who think pigs are dirty, look at how she gleams, and look at how clean she keeps her home.

Kevin, Marjorie & Andy as Midwives
Our Berkshire sow is giving birth to her litter of piglets. It's a glorious early summer afternoon, and Marjorie, Kevin and Andy are acting as the midwives.

Kune Kune - Gloucester Cross
Don't ask me how, but somehow Chase's kune kune pigs mated with our Gloucester Old Spot boar, and this piggy is the result. When I tried to take her photo she kept trying to hide behind the water trough. I guess I can't blame her for not wanting to have her photo snapped.

Kune Kune - Gloucester Old Spot Cross
Looks like something fromStar Wars.

Betty (Gloucester) and Friend
Betty, our Gloucester cow, is hopefully a week or two away from having her first calf. Here she is with one of our Aberdeen Angus heiffers. Note the roof thatching in the background. Rural England on an early summer afternoon.

Tamworth Curiosity
We were in one field watching the Berkshire pig give birth. Naturally, the Tamworth pigs in the next field were nosy --- particularly if any of our activities involved food. Convenient how the snout can go through stock fencing.

Nosy Pig
Tamworth pig showing me that his nose can go right through the fence, thank you.

Watching the Berkshire Sow
The pig ark has a small window at the end so you can see what's happening at the other end of the ark. Our Berkshire sow was giving birth to a litter of ten piglets.

Westbrook at the Powick Parish Fete
We cooked Scottish | Kobe burgers at the Powick Parish Fete, May 28 2005. We also brought Westbrook Peter Lad (born 1 March 2005) --- our Berkshire boar. He was fine --- as though going to a fete was something he did every week.

Berkshire Piglet on a Summer Afternoon
Berkshire Piglet on a Summer Afternoon

The New Pig Lawn
Still growing, with our seeds fromHurrells.They promise that the resulting turf will be pig resistant -- but for how long?

The Thundering Herd
I had to keep running in front of them, and they'd just chase me faster and faster.

Tamworth Having A Good Scratch
When mom started to scratch herself on the fence post, a cloud of clay dust appeared.

Tamworth in the Mud Bath
Tamworth in the Mud Bath

Here They Come . . .
The Tamworths (mother and piglets) chasing me as I keep trying to run ahead of them.

Baby Tamworth
This piglet is chewing a twig or something in the mud bath. Perfect for a hot summer afternoon, June 26 2005

Three Little Piggies
Three Tamworth piglets, wanting to bite my shoes.

Tamworth Piglet in the Mud Bath
Tamworth Piglet in the Mud Bath

The Old and the New
The Tamworth pigs are about to be moved to a nice grassy field in the four acre field. This will give us a chance to renew and replant their field. This photo shows the contrast: the green field in the back has recently been re-planted with a pig resistant turf fromHurrells.

Piglet, Mother, and Mud
Piglet, Mother, and Mud

Westbrook
Westbrook is a Berkshire pig boar. He currently lives in the tall grass of the chicken field. I sat down to take his photograph and he wanted to take large bites out of my legs, arm, and (especially) shoes. He's getting big and strong, so I suspect my sitting on the ground with him will be a thing of the past.

Westbrook's Profile
Westbrook is a Berkshire boar.

Tamworth Piglet in the Mud Bath
Tamworth Piglet in the Mud Bath

Westbrook the Berkshire Boar
Westbrook the Berkshire Boar

Tamworth Boars in the Grass
These two little fellas have just been weaned from their mother. She's soon forgotten as they play in the tall grass.

Sorting out the Tamworth Boars
The pigs have been gathered in their grassless field. Time to seed it over so the grass will grow by the early autumn. The little boars have been released in this field, full of tall grass and the Black Rock chickens.

Piggie Greeting
The Tamworth sow has just said good-bye to her first litter. She was a wonderful mother: lost none of her babies. But she seemed a bit relieved to see them go. And the Tamworth boar was happy to see her, although I don't know that he has it quite right.

Berkshire Piglets
Berkshire Piglets

In the Four Acre Field
Three different types of pigs: in the foreground, the large black pig is a fairly elderly (but hugely fast) Iron Age - Gloucester Old Spot cross. The red pig is a pure Tamworth, and the piglet coming out of the ark is a Berkshire.

Small Tamworth Boar, in the tall grass
Small Tamworth Boar, in the tall grass

Tamworth Mud Bath
Mom is taking a bath while a couple of her kids look on.

Iron Age - Gloucester Old Spot
This round piggie is a cross between an Iron Age pig (itself a cross between a Tamworth and a wild boar) and a Gloucester Old Spot. She looks fat, and she's not young any more, but she can move faster than any of the pigs.

Wrong Way, Dear
As the sow we'd just moved from the other field (and had also just weaned her first litter of piglets) came out of the truck, her two sisters were curious and were heading inside.

Berkshire Piglet and Kune Kune Old Lady
The cute little Berkshire piglet having a bit of a sniff in the mud with my daughter Chase'suglyKune Kune - Gloucester Old Spot pig.

Berkshire Piglets Playing With the Tamworth
These Berkshire piglets are supposed to be in the next field, with their mother. They can, of course, escape in multiple places, and they prefer to pay with the slightly older Tamworth pigs.

Tamworth Pigs -- And Berkshire Piglet
Tamworth Pigs -- And Berkshire Piglet

Berkshire and Tamworth Pigs Playing
The little black Berkshire (kurobuta) thinks he's a bit older -- and larger -- than he is.

The Berkshire - Tamworth Meeting
The little (younger) Berkshire piglet greeting the larger (and slightly older) Tamworth piglet.

Tamworth Piglet
About eight weeks old.

Berkshire and Tamworth Piglets Playing
Summer morning, 4 Acre Field

Pigs Lined Up At The Fence
The young Tamworth boars (red) and young Berkshire boar, Westbrook (black) line up at the fence --- with the alpacas in the background.

Westbrook
The Berkshire Boar

Young Tamworth Boars
Enjoying a warm summer afternoon in the tall grass.

Tamworth Boar
Tamworth Boar

Westbrook
The Berkshire Boar

Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005
Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005

Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005
Smiling pig, resting after the show.

Two Cuddly Tamworth Pigs -- Royal Show 2005
Two Cuddly Tamworth Pigs -- Royal Show 2005

Cuddly Tamworth Pigs, in Jail -- Royal Show 2005
After the show, these two Tamworth pigs were having a nice cuddle in their pen.

Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005
Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005

Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005
Tamworth Pig -- Royal Show 2005

Westbrook Sharing His Trough
Westbrook, our Berkshire pig, is sharing his food with the three alpacas. Certainly a strange combination, but they seem to get along just fine.

Resting Tamworths, Clucking Chickens
The Tamworth pigs (little boars) having a rest together, while the Black Rock chickens cluck in the background. It's cute to watch the chickens come up and peck at small insects, etc., in the pigs' ears.

Tamworth Boar in the Tall Grass
Heading -- with his curly tail -- in the direction of the water.

The Rooster Guarding the Tamworth Pigs
The Rooster Guarding the Tamworth Pigs

Westbook and the Chickens
Westbrook is our Berkshire boar.

Tamworth (top) and Berkshire (bottom) Boars
Westbrook, our Berkshire boar, will only put up with this "pig cuddling" for about two seconds!

Tamworth Pigs Picking on Westbrook
These two young Tamworth boars are picking on Westbrook, our Berkshire boar, while Papeete the alpaca looks on --- with curiosity?

Berkshire Piglets and their Mother
Not so small any more . .

Tamworth Boar, Waiting for the Vet
The best way we could think of isolating the Tamwroth boar so the vet could check his back leg was to lure him into the stock trailer with food. In the end, he managed to push open the metal gate and escape.

Berkshire Piglets and their Worried Looking Mother
Berkshire Piglets and their Worried Looking Mother

The Vet Giving our Tamworth Boar an Injection
Ann Carman, fromThe White House Vetsin Malvern, comes out on a Saturday and Sunday to see our Tamworth boar. He's a bit lame, but Ann found nothing in his paw (trotter?) and no apparent broken bones. An injection of a pain killer and some antibiotic is needed, but the first bends Ann's needle. Big tries to keep the boar in place while Ann tries again with a stronger needle.

Westbrook, Tamworth Boar & Alpaca
Westbrook (our Berkshire boar), a Tamworth boar, and an alpaca enjoying a summer afternoon --- and coming for food.

Westbook, Tamworth Boar & Alpaca
Westbrook (the black Berkshire boar), a Tamworth boar, and an alpaca --- looking for food.

Pig, Pig, Pig, Alpaca, Alpaca
Two Tamworth boars (the red pigs), Westbrook the Berkshire boar, and our two elderly alpacas --- enjoying a summer afternoon.

Westbrook Having A Rest
Westbrook is a Berkshire pig, or kurobuta. We brought him in to the stable yard to clean him up for a few photos. He loved the fact that this came with some celery, but after a while he decided to lie down on the cool concrete for a bit of a rest.

Westbrook Enjoying A Beer
Westbrook is a Berkshire pig --- what the Japanese call kurobuta ("black pig"). Kurobuta pork is highly prized in Japan, and we've decided to take it one step further and feed our Berkshire pigs the same diet we feed our Kobe cattle. This, of course, includes beer. Here Vic is giving Westbrook some nice cool beer on a hot summer afternoon.

Westbrook Enjoying A Cool Beer
Heineken, of course.

Westbrook Enjoying A Cool Heineken
Westbrook Enjoying A Cool Heineken

Westbrook Enjoying A Beer
Westbrook Enjoying A Beer

Westbrook Having A Laugh
Westbrook is a Berkshire boar, or kurobuta ("black pig") in Japanese. I think happy animals produce the best meat --- and happy animals make us all happy. Westbrook is a happy pig, with a good sense of humour. And one of our alpacas is in love with him, and follows him everywhere.

Westbrook
A Berkshire pig, or kurobuta ("black pig") in Japan.

Westbrook Enjoying a Beer
It's a hot summer afternoon, and our Berkshire pigs (kurobuta in Japanese) are fed the same diet as our Kobe steers --- beer, grain, and massages!

Westbrook Enjoying A Beer
Westbrook Enjoying A Beer

Westbrook
What a large nose you have...!

Westbrook Having a Laugh
Westbrook Having a Laugh

Westbrook the Berkshire Boar
Westbrook the Berkshire Boar

Westbrook Enjoying A Heineken
I feel a bit like a farmer in the Ozark Mountains, givin' ma hogs bir! But we're feeding our pigs the same diet (essentially) that we feed our Kobe beef. Instead of giving the pigs cattle grain, we give them a special, luxurious pig mix from BOCM. And beer to stimulate their appetite and relax them. Oink.

Westbrook Having A Beer
Westbrook Having A Beer

Westbrook
A Berkshire boar, or kurobuta ("black pig") in Japanese.

Westbrook and Vic
On the other photos of Westbrook drinking his beer, we've cut poor Vic out. I thought Vic's facial expression in this photograph said it all.

Westbrook Enjoying A Beer
Westbrook Enjoying A Beer

Westbrook Enjoying A Beer
A hot late summer afternoon in sunny Worcestershire.

Westbrook
Being a bit of a slob -- letting his beer drip down his face. What a pig!

Westbrook and Vic Enjoying A Laugh Together
... and a beer.

Two Tamworth Pigs
The two Tamworth boars are enjoying what's left of the otherwise unwanted Greyhound birthday cake --- under the watchful eye of the Black Rock chicken.

Tamworth Pigs Enjoying the Birthday Cake
With their ever-present "groupies," the Black Rock chickens.

The Alpaca Standing Guard over The Pigs
A cool early September day. The alpaca is standing guard over the sleeping pigs. This alpaca is in love with Westbrook, the Berkshire boar, and the alpaca rarely goes anywhere without Westbrook. The red pigs are Tamworth boars.

Tamworth Pig Eating Cake
There's a bit of a story about theRetired Greyhound Trust, their PR firm, and the 30th Anniversary cake. We've had this bone-shaped cake sitting in the kitchen for weeks and weeks so finally thought --- pigs! Here one of our Tamworth pigs takes the first bite out of the cake, going for the logo bit.

Let Sleeping Pigs Lie
The Tamworth boars having a nice nap, with Westbrook (the black Berkshire pig, or kurobuta) the odd man out.

Happy Tamworth Pigs
These healthy, happy Tamworth pigs seem -- at least to me -- to be smiling. They're having a nice, cool rest in the dry dirt.

Tamworth Pig & Black Rock Chicken -- Having Cake
The Tamworth pig is joined by the Black Rock chicken to eat some of the unwanted Greyhound birthday cake.

Tamworth Pig Having a Bit of Cake
Tamworth Pig Having a Bit of Cake

Tamworth Chicken, Black Rock Chicken, Greyhound Birthday Cake
A productive use for an unwanted birthday cake.

A Berkshire Pig
We once raised Gloucester Old Spot pigs -- until everyone started doing it. I could never understand why the GOS pig had been bred so that its ears covered its eyes. With the Berkshire pig, the ears stand up and the pig is quite majestic.

Tamworth Bristle
Tamworth Bristle

Chase's Pig
This magnificent pig is a cross between akune kune pig(the small pigs from New Zeland, who have wattles) and a Gloucester Old Spot pig. We never understood how that mating took place. This pig is about 12 or 13 years old, but she can still move as fast as a piglet.

A Young Tamworth Sow
Morning sunlight, early autumn day at Lucies Farm

Tamworth Sow and Her Piglet
Tamworth Sow and Her Piglet

An Iron Age Pig
This 11 or 12 year old pig is a cross between an Iron Age pig (which itself is a cross between a Tamworth pig and a wild boar) and a Gloucester Old Spot pig. While she looks fat, she is incredibly fast.

Berkshire Pig
Having a bit of a slow amble across the field.

Cuddles
The two piglets --- the entire litter --- cuddle for warmth under Mom's front leg.

Motherhood
This Tamworth sow had her first litter. Unfortunately, she's only had two piglets, but they're pretty cute. She chose to have them outdoors, on a bed of straw, rather than in the near-by pig ark. Here the piglet has a good look at Mom.

The Kune Kune - Gloucester Old Spot Cross Pig
The Kune Kune - Gloucester Old Spot Cross Pig

The Two Piglet Litter and Mom
This Tamworth sow had a litter of two cute piglets. Despite the fact that she was near a pig ark, she decided to have her litter in a pile of straw near the fence.

A Berkshire Pig
On his way over to see if I'm doing anything interesting, or, better yet, to see if I've brought any food.

Curly Tail
When I saw this photograph, it reminded me of those ribbon pins that seem to be all the rage at awards ceremonies. This curly tail belongs to one of our Berkshire pigs.

The Piglet Jumping Over Mom's Nose
The Tamworth piglet is less than a day old.

Tamworth Pig and Piglet
Tamworth Pig and Piglet

Tamworth Pig and Her Piglet
Tamworth Pig and Her Piglet

Tamworth Sow and Her Piglet
Tamworth Sow and Her Piglet

English Countryside With Tamworth Pig
Looking from our 4 acre field back to Whitecroft (the buildings on the left). A nice warm mid-September morning in sunny Worcestershire.

Tamworth Pig Fur
Or is it called bristle?

Tamworth Pigs Cuddle for Warmth
The two day-old piglets cuddling mother sow. Look how her trotter almost dwarfs her children.

Tamworth Boar Having A Nap
Nice early autumn morning sunshine.

Three Friends
The two black pigs (kurobuta = "black pig" or "black hog" in Japanese) are Berkshire pigs, and the red pig in the middle is a Tamworth pig.

Climbing on Mother's Nose
A Tamworth sow and a newly-born piglet.

Tamworth Piglets Nursing
These day-old piglets were the only pigs in the litter.

Tamworth Pig and "Sinister" Pig
The red Tamworth stands behind what we call a "sinister" pig. The "sinister" is a cross between an iron age pig (itself a cross between a wild boar and a Tamworth pig) and a Gloucester Old Spot pig.

A Happy Tamworth Pig
Enjoying the sunlight, with a big smile on her face.

Mother Tamworth and Her Two Piglets
Mother Tamworth and Her Two Piglets

The Sinister Pig
She's a cross between an Iron Age pig (itself a cross between a Tamworth pig and a wild boar) and a Gloucester Old Spot. She's quite elderly, but she can move faster than any other pig we have.

Muddy Tamworth Boar
He's been sleeping in the mud bath. He almost looks more like a hippo on the Maasai Mara than a Tamworth pig in sunny Worcestershire.

A Tamworth Sow
Enjoying the sunshine in Worcestershire.

Tamworth Mother & Her Two Babies
Now two days old, and enjoying the early autumn sunshine. Mother pig dwarfs her small litter of two piglets.

Tamworth Piglets
Two days old.

Mother Tamworth Giving Her Piglet a Nudge
Mother Tamworth Giving Her Piglet a Nudge

Berkshire Pig
Incredibly, our Berkshire pigs have snow white eye lashes.

Muddy-nosed Tamworth
Enjoying the open fields, and the green grass of sunny Worcestershire.

Mother Tamworth and Her Piglet
Mother Tamworth and Her Piglet

Mother Tamworth Having A Rest
Mother Tamworth lay down to nurse her two piglets. Before doing so, she did this elaborate dance, and then had to make sure she had just the right amount of straw across her nose.

Mother Tamworth and Her Piglet
Eye to eye. Look at the size difference.

Tamworth Piglets
Two days old.

Tamworth Pig -- Two Days Old
Looks more like a small deer.

Mother Tamworth and Her Babies
Now two days old.

Mother Tamworth With Her Two-Day Old Piglets
Mother Tamworth With Her Two-Day Old Piglets

Tamworth and Berkshire Pigs
The alpaca is in love with Westbrook, our Berkshire boar (the black pig). The alpaca follows Westbrook everywhere, and stands guard when Westbrook sleeps. And he sleeps a lot.

Two Tamworth Pigs
Two Tamworth Pigs

Two Tamworth Pigs
Enjoying a late September afternoon.

"I Didn't Know Pigs Could Swim."
I was given a book calledThe Ubiquitous Pigby my father in 1993. In this book is an underwater photograph of a pig and a lady swimming by Garry Winogrand taken atAquarena Springsin San Marcos, Texas. Here's our own version, with Barbara and a Tamworth.

The Swimming Tamworth
Once we got him in the pool, there was no stopping him. He's a strong swimmer, and he raced around the edge of the pool like an Olympic athlete.

Swimming Tamworth Pig
Despite having three people in the pool (Marjorie in complete SCUBA gear) and three on the pool deck, the Tamworth seemed to enjoy his swim in the heated pool.

Barbara and the Swimming Tamworth Pig
Barbara and the Swimming Tamworth Pig

Tamworth Pig, Swimming
Having an early autumn afternoon swim in our heated pool.

How Do You Get a Pig in the Pool
We tried to walk him with a halter, but pigs don't like walking with a halter. We put him in the small trailer and when we opened the back gate --- well, he just sort of jumped into the water.

Greg and Emilia Try To Lure the Swimming Pig Back Home
After his romp in the pool, the swimming Tamworth pig wanted to mooch around the garden. He clearly wasn't going anywhere on a halter. So we took it off and lured him back (more or less successfully) to his pig friends with a bucket of feed and some apples.

Big and the Tamworth Pig
We didn't know how well the Tamworth would swim: we suspected, from theAquarena Springswebsite that he'd swim quite well. Here Big is trying to convince him that it's time to come out of the heated pool.

Our Own Ralph
By far the most popular attraction was Ralph, the Swimming Pig. Ralph swam around Aquarena Springs performing tricks and dives until the early 1990s when he retired. A picture of "Ralph the Diving Pig" and the woman he performed with was published inChicmagazine. The woman successfully sued Larry Flynt for presenting her in a 'false light' because the story appeared 'amid stories of bizarre sexual exploits.'Braun v. Flynt

Underwater Pig
To take the swimming Tamworth pig photo, the pig had to be gently pushed into the heated pool. Marjorie, in full SCUBA gear and with an underwater camera and strobe, waited for the pig to,er, fall. I was surprised at how quickly the pig sank. He then soared to the surface, like a submarine in a Sean Connery movie that's blown its ballast.

Underwater Pig
The Tamworth pig, viewed from underwater, swimming around the pool. Taken by Marjorie --- dressed in full SCUBA gear and with an underwater Nikonos V camera. The reflection is the surface of the water, viewed from below.

Resting Tamworth Pigs
With a chicken keeping watch over the sleeping pigs.

The Kune Kune Princess
Chase's pig -- a cross between a Kune Kune (hence the wattles) and a Gloucester Old Spot (hence the spots). Not the prettiest pig in the patch, but to the enthusiastic young Berkshire boar, seen part way up her back, she's the personification of pulchritude.

Ballet Cruz Standing Guard
Our Aberdeen Angus bull, Ballet Cruz, standing watch over the Tamworth (red) and Berkshire (black) pigs. A nice autumn afternoon in sunny Worcestershire.

Tamworth Piglets
Tamworth Piglets

Tamworth Piglet
Quite brave and cocky. What the photograph doesn't really show is that he was essentially underneath his mother.

Tamworth, Berkshire, Tamworth
They're free-range, but love running to the fence when they see us coming. "Did you bring food? Did you?"

A Young Berkshire Pig Boar
Or "kurobuta" in Japan.

Young Berkshire Boar
Or "kurobuta" (black hog) in Japan.

Tamworth Piglets With The Sinister Pig
The pigs live together in their own community. The Sinister Pig (she's about 16 tears old) seems to be a bit of an old aunt. The two frisky Tamworth piglets have no hesitancy in running all over her, and nudging her with their snouts. I wouldn't like to try that.

Two Tone Tamworth
What could be nicer than a muddy snout?

Mother Tamworth and Her Two Piglets
Okay, not really a litter to write home about. But what they lack in numbers they make up in cuteness.

Berkshire Boar Having A Laugh
Berkshire Boar Having A Laugh

The Sinister Pig
This old lady is a cross between a Tamworth (1/4), Gloucester Old Spot (1/2), and wild boar (1/4). But it's the wild boar that's dominant. She's about 16 years old, and still the fastest pig we've got.

Happy Halloween from the Pigs
We wanted a photo of a pig pumpkin for an e-mail newsletter. Couldn't find one with any of the stock agencies, so decided we had to try to create a pig pumpkin oursleves. Having never carved a pumpkin before, this was an interesting challenge. But here it is. Oink, oink! And now we get pumpkin soup and pumpkin seeds....

The Tamworth Pigs Showing Off
We moved the wild pigs into the next paddock -- to help us churn it up before planting grass in the spring. The Tamworth males ran up and down the fence, with the wild boar on the other side. The chickens and alpacas weren't impressed by this show of piggy macho.

Sleeping Tamworth Pigs
It's been very damp, so we brought some of the Tamworth pigs into the stable. We cleaned them off first --- look how they shine. And they don't foul in the stable, just in a corner of the stable yard. This is all one litter: they're brothers and sisters. Born in April 2005, about six months ago. Isn't it great how they sleep in a big gaggle?

Three Sleeping Tamworth Pigs
Clean, sweet-smelling Tamworth pigs --- not disturbed by my flash photography. Happy, contented pigs having pleasant dreams.

Sleeping Tamworth Pigs
These pigs (all brothers and sisters) were cleaned off this morning, and have spent the day and night in the stable and stable yard. They smell good, they don't foul in the stable itself, and they sleep in this big ball --- playing "spoons" with each other.

Kurobuta Baby Back Ribs
11 Baby Back Ribs.

Kurobuta Draft of Pork
The Kurobuta pork belly (or Draft of Pork) cooked with root vegetables.

Kurobuta Draft of Pork
Also called pork belly --- with some nice gravy and crackling.

Kurobuta Roast Rack of Pork Dinner
With crackling, roast potatoes, broccoli, and home-made apple sauce.

Kurobuta Rack Roast of Pork
Kurobuta Rack Roast of Pork

Kurobuta Roast Rack of Pork
With delicious, crispy scored crackling on the outside, and moist pork on the inside.

Kurobuta Baby Back Ribs
With a nice chili-scented dipping sauce, and a cold beer.

Pig Weather Vane
Our curly-tailed pig weather vane keeps us posted on the wind.

Kurobuta Pork Chops
Our Kurobuta pork chops can be ordered on oure-commerce website.

Kurobuta Pork Chops for Dinner
With some mashed potatoes and Chinese snow peas. Our Kurobuta pork chops can be ordered online atour e-commerce site.

Tamworth Piglets
We have a visiting pig --- 1/2 Tamworth, 1/2 Wild Boar --- here visiting us on the farm. (Or, more accurately, visiting our wild boar.) The visitor has been here for about four weeks, and hasn't been interested in the boar. Surprise -- she was pregnant. Her six piglets are 3/4 Tamworth, 1/4 Wild Boar. Of the four shown here (photographed on January 21 2006) note the one with the wild boar stripes.

Marjorie with a Tamworth Pig
Marjorie with a Tamworth Pig

Marjorie With Two Tamworth Pigs
These little pigs are brother and sister -- all of a two-pig litter. Marjorie is taking them for a swim in the warm (90 degree) indoor swimming pool.

Swimming Tamworth Pig
Swimming Tamworth Pig

Tamwroth Pig
Having a swim in our indoor, heated pool.

Swimming Tamworth Pig
Swimming Tamworth Pig

Swimming Tamworth Pig
Swimming Tamworth Pig

Tamworth Pig in His SCUBA Mask
Tamworth Pig in His SCUBA Mask

Swimming Tamworth Pig
Swimming Tamworth Pig

Tamworth Pig in SCUBA Mask
Okay, it's a bit of a posed picture. Our Tamworth pigs can't really SCUBA dive.

Two Tamworth Pigs Swimming
These two Tamworth pigs are brother and sister, part of a litter of only two pigs.

Swimming Tamworth Pig
Swimming Tamworth Pig

Marjorie and a Swimming Tamworth Pig
Marjorie and a Swimming Tamworth Pig

Swimming Pig Photograph
My father gave me a book,The Ubiquitous Pig, in 1993. It was this page from the book, with this great photograph, that gave us the inspiration to take photos of swimming pigs.

Berkshire Pig With Her Babies
Mermaid with her litter of baby Berkshire (Kurobuta) pigs.

Tamworth - Wild Boar Piglets
These six piglets are 7/8 Tamworth and 1/8 Wild Boar. Most of the six look like they're pure Tamworth, but a couple have black snouts and black circles around their eyes. The six were raised alongside a wild sow and a wild boar, so they're quite feisty. They're off to participate in an "Iron Age" lifestyle experiment --- as I understand it, school children will be able to see how folks actually lived in the Iron Age.

Tamworth Piglets
April 9 2006

Sleeping Berkshire Pig with Interfering Tamworth Piglets
The Berkshire lady is trying to nap, but the three little Tamworth piglets are having none of that!

Tamworth Piglets Playing
Tamworth Piglets Playing

Berkshire Piglets
A couple of Berkshire (Kurobuta) piglets playing.

A Tamworth Piglet
A Tamworth Piglet

Kurobuta Pig With A Mouth Full of Grain
Apparently we failed to teach this Kurobuta pig good table manners. Here is laughing out loud with a mouth full of grain. How piggy!

Tamworth (Ginger) and Kurobuta (Black) Pigs Eating with Highland Cattle
Tamworth (Ginger) and Kurobuta (Black) Pigs Eating with Highland Cattle

Kurobuta Pig and Highland Cattle Enjoying a Meal Together
Kurobuta Pig and Highland Cattle Enjoying a Meal Together

Kurobuta Pig Having a Rest in the Mud
It was a hot spring day, and what could be nicer than a dip in the cool mud?

Kurobuta Pig and Highland Cow Enjoy a Meal Together
A bit of a strange date . . .

Two Kurobuta Pigs
Feeding time.

Kurobuta Pig Sniffing the Air
After having a nice soak in the mud puddle, this little piggy knew that there was food about.

Gregorgz Chasing a Tamworth Piglet
Although they're going off to a good home --- to be pets, rather than pork --- the little Tamworth piglets didn't want to go.

Zbig With A Tamworth Piglet
Born March 29, 2006, this little girl is almost two months old. She's off to a good home where she will be a pet.

Zbig and the Tamworth Pig
A little girl, born March 29, 2006 --- so she's almost two months old.

Swimming Pigs - Maxim Magazine, January 05
Our accountant sent us this photograph fromMaximmagazine showing one of our Tamworth pigs having a nice swim in the pool.

Very piggy
Very piggy

Yeah, I know, I'm nosy
Yeah, I know, I'm nosy

The only way to cool off on a hot day
The only way to cool off on a hot day

It's just too hot to do anything
It's just too hot to do anything

A bevy of bums
A bevy of bums

Look at my curly tail
Look at my curly tail

There's nothing like a paddle on a hot day
There's nothing like a paddle on a hot day

Bums away
Bums away

Mmmmm, these flowers smell good
Mmmmm, these flowers smell good

Communal shower
Communal shower

Snoozing
Snoozing

I'm sure there's a nugget of food in here
I'm sure there's a nugget of food in here

I think I'll find some food over there
I think I'll find some food over there

Sniffing for food
Sniffing for food

What you looking at?
What you looking at?

Nothing like sharing a meal
Nothing like sharing a meal

This is my humble abode
This is my humble abode

I'll just go see what's going on over there
I'll just go see what's going on over there

How do you do
Tamworth meets wild boar

Snout wrong with my nose
Snout wrong with my nose

Dreamin'
Dreamin'

Go on, gissus a kiss
Go on, gissus a kiss

I'll just trot over here
I'll just trot over here

Daisies are better than an apple in my mouth!
Daisies are better than an apple in my mouth!

Two's company
Two's company

Ooh, that's soooooooooo good
Ooh, that's soooooooooo good

Yes, I'm wearing my factor 31
Yes, I'm wearing my factor 31

I'm done rootin'
I'm done rootin'

All those Berkshires do is sleep
All those Berkshires do is sleep

Aren't I handsome
Aren't I handsome

Isn't this good camouflage!
Isn't this good camouflage!

Siesta time
Siesta time

This back makes the perfect pillow
This back makes the perfect pillow

Mud is my version of factor 31
Mud is my version of factor 31

Hog's heaven
Hog's heaven

I just love sunbathing
I just love sunbathing

Porcine delight
Porcine delight

Hey, mud packs aren't just for girls
Hey, mud packs aren't just for girls

Butter wouldn't melt...........
Butter wouldn't melt...........

Cosy bedfellows
Cosy bedfellows

This mummy will do
This mummy will do

This little piggy...........
This little piggy...........

Oblivious
Oblivious

These mid-day siestas are so civilised
These mid-day siestas are so civilised

Hey, this is better than pushing up the daisies
Hey, this is better than pushing up the daisies

Look at my eyelashes
Look at my eyelashes

It's bloomin' hot today; hope she rubs that sun cream in soon
It's bloomin' hot today; hope she rubs that sun cream in soon

That's more like it
That's more like it

Am I a lucky pig or what!
Am I a lucky pig or what!

I am soooooooooo spoiled
I am soooooooooo spoiled

Eat your heart out boys
Eat your heart out boys

Who could ask for more?
Who could ask for more?

I know, I'm such a ham
I know, I'm such a ham

It doesn't get any better than this
It doesn't get any better than this

And sun doggles, too
And sun doggles, too

Who's a star
Who's a star

Hey, that was too much water
Hey, that was too much water

Hmm, can I make my escape now?
Hmm, can I make my escape now?

I'll trotter out an autograph soon
I'll trotter out an autograph soon

I'm having such fun
I'm having such fun

What do you want me to do now?
What do you want me to do now?

I know how to pose for the camera
I know how to pose for the camera

Oooh, that's lovely and cooling
Oooh, that's lovely and cooling

Hey, guys, a mermaid
Hey, guys, a mermaid

Hey, wait for me
Hey, wait for me

The only way to go on a hot day
The only way to go on a hot day

Do you come here often?
Do you come here often?

Wait 'til the guys back in the field hear what we've been doing!
Wait 'til the guys back in the field hear what we've been doing!

Let's play
Let's play

Where's the mud?
Where's the mud?

This doesn't look like a mermaid
This doesn't look like a mermaid

I can beat you any time
I can beat you any time

This is the life
This is the life

Yes, please, I would love a drink
Yes, please, I would love a drink

This luxury resort has everything, even doggles to protect my eyes
This luxury resort has everything, even doggles to protect my eyes

This is soooooo cool
This is soooooo cool

Oh, goody, the pool side bar
Oh, goody, the pool side bar

Hey, I'm waiting
Hey, I'm waiting

Hey, bring that drink over here
Hey, bring that drink over here

That drink looks awfully good
That drink looks awfully good

Don't I look cool!
Don't I look cool!

This swimming is thirsty work
This swimming is thirsty work

15 minutes of fame .......
Gordon Ramsey's the F-Word wanted to come film the raising of kobe beef but were also intrigued with swimming pigs so our Berkshires put on a show for them

..... for pigs and Craig
Janet Street Porter of Gordon Ramsey's the F-Word watching the Berkshire pigs go through their paces.

I wish they would build higher bar stools in this pool
I wish they would build higher bar stools in this pool

Yep, it smells good - a Pimms I think
Yep, it smells good - a Pimms I think

I don't need your help; I can swim all by myself
I don't need your help; I can swim all by myself

I feel like a film star
I feel like a film star

And now for the piece to camera
Craig and Janet Street-Porter performing for the camera for Gordon Ramsey's F-word during the filming of an episode covering the raising of kobe beef - and swimming pigs

Getting close
Getting close

Hmm, I'll have to re-think this
Hmm, I'll have to re-think this

Mmmmm, that's good
Mmmmm, that's good

If I stretch a little further I can get that drink
If I stretch a little further I can get that drink

Just snoozing
Just snoozing

What a perfect day
What a perfect day

I've had my swim, now I need a rest
I've had my swim, now I need a rest

Tamworth Enjoying the Sunshine
One of our Tamworth pigs wearing his Hoggles to keep the sun out of his eyes. This shot was taken by Dan from Caters News --- news@catersnews.com

Tamworth In His Hoggles
Photographs of our pigs wearing Hoggles were printed in theTelegraph, Independent, Daily Record, Daily Star, Metroand on the front page of theWorcester Evening News. We had a visit from local BBC radio, and the pig was mentioned on the BBC Today Show and again on Chris Evans' BBC drive-time programme. This photo is from Caters News --- news@catersnews.com

Tamworth Pig In Hoggles
Enjoying the hottest July day in British history, July 19 2006. This photo taken by Dan at Caters News --- news@catersnews.com

Guess who will be watching the F-Word in May!!
Discussing the finer nuances of pig swimming for Gordon Ramsey's F-Word programme

Tamworth Pig In The Pool
This photo was taken by Caters News and distributed to the media on the hottest July day in U.K. history -- July 19 2006. Our Tamworth enjoying a dip in the pool and a cool cocktail. news@catersnews.com

A Tamworth Pig In His Hoggles
July 19 2006 was the hottest July day in U.K. history. We were contacted by Caters News several days ahead of time. They wanted a photograph that would illustrate "hot," and they suggested pigs in Doggles --- renamed by them to Hoggles. This is one of their photos, distributed by them to the press. news@catersnews.com

This is called the piggy crawl
This is called the piggy crawl

Lucky me, I'm the one that got picked today
Lucky me, I'm the one that got picked today

This is such a cool way to spend a hot day
This is such a cool way to spend a hot day

Round and round I go
Round and round I go

I can see you watching me
I can see you watching me

I'm a snout ahead
I'm a snout ahead

Here I come
Here I come

This is so much better than a mud bath
This is so much better than a mud bath

Yeah, that's a good joke
Yeah, that's a good joke

Wassup?
This pig is about 13 or 14 years old. She's 1/4 Wild Boar, 1/4 Tamworth, and 1/2 Gloucester Old Spot. More of the Wild Boar coming through than anything else. Despite her age and her girth, she's impossible to catch.

Filming the swimming pigs
Filming the swimming pigs

Just doin' our star turn
Just doin' our star turn

Got a good shot?
Got a good shot?

Boy, being swimming stars is exhausting
Boy, being swimming stars is exhausting

Don't forget to make me look good
Don't forget to make me look good

OK, time for our cute pose
OK, time for our cute pose

Let's play follow my leader
Let's play follow my leader

An overhead shot!
An overhead shot!

Just a regular afternoon by the swimming pool!
Just a regular afternoon by the swimming pool!

Goodie, food!
Goodie, food!

Who says pigs are food focused!
Who says pigs are food focused!

Hey butt out
Hey butt out

Can Pigs Swim?
An article by Richard Lutwyche from theTamworth Trumpet, the publication of theTamworth Pig Breeders' Club. Mr. Lutwyche's article features (of course) a photograph of one of our Tamworth pigs having a nice swim.

Swimming Berkshire Pig
Swimming Berkshire Pig

Swimming Berkshire Pig
A sunny autumn morning, October 20 2006. Swimming outdoors for theIndependentnewspaper.

Swimming Berkshire Pig
October 20 2006 --- a cold English day. Then Sam, the photographer, arrived and the sun came out and it looked like summer, for at least a short while. We took this Berkshire pig swimming in the outdoor pool. We hope she'll be in theIndependentnewspaper tomorrow.

Swimming Berkshire Pig
October 20 2006. My what big ears you have...!

Mr GQ
Can you believe this guy was featured in 'GQ Style'!! This photograph was taken by Simon who was taking photographs of swimming pigs for 'The Independent' for an article that appeared in the October 21 2006 edition, page 10.

If they could see me now............
If they could see me now............

The star of the show
The star of the show

OK, I'm ready for a rest
OK, I'm ready for a rest

The team
The team

Our swimming star
Hunkered down on a warm bed of straw and the heater on after her swimming stint for 'The Independent'

Feeding frenzy
These lucky pigs got extra rations this day as Simon wanted lots of photographs of pigs

Just a sea of bums
Just a sea of bums

C'mon drink!
The pigs love beer but if food is available that comes first. Trying to get a pig to drink from the bottle for the camera was an exercise in frustration

A star is born!
A star is born!

Cutie pie
This litter was born just on 20 October; the day Simon came to photograph swimming pigs for 'The Independent'. He is a lucky guy; he had great weather after days of cloud and rain AND newly born piglets.

Feeding time
Maggot's Croft used to be an orchard and we still have a couple of pear and apple trees which bear quite a lot of fruit each year. The pigs love the fruit.

Beer and grain
Craig trying to train the pigs to jump while Grzegorz holds the beer for Simon (only for the photo - the beer was for the piggies!)

A couple of posers
Simon wanted a shot of us watching the pigs

Everyone taking a breather
Everyone taking a breather

Gotta have a rest
Gotta have a rest

And off she goes
And off she goes

A birds eye view
Ruth Davies filming the swimming pigs for BBC Countryfile.

Filming from all angles
Ruth Davies filming the swimming pigs for BBC Countryfile.

Tamworth Piglets
This Tamworth sow had 11 piglets, all healthy. This photograph was taken when the piglets were two days old.

Tamworth Piglets
These Tamworth piglets are about one week old. We've moved them into the stable so they can reach a nice size before they move out to live in the pig arc in free-range field.

Tamworth and Berkshire Pig
The Berkshire pig mother had a strange litter. Mostly classic black Berkshire pigs, but a couple of Tamworth/Berkshire spotted pigs. Recessive Tamworth genes? These piglets are about five days old.

Tamworth Piglets and Mother
November 11, 2006

Tamworth Mom and Her Piglets
November 11 2006

Berkshire Pig and Her Piglet
November 11, 2006

Berkshire Pig and Some Tamworth - Berkshire Cross Pigs
Whoops, how did this happen?

A Tamworth - Berkshire Cross Piglet
Keeping warm in a stable, in the straw.

Berkshire Show and Tamworth - Berkshire Cross Piglets
November 11 2006. Keeping warm in the stable.

Berkshire Sow and Her New Litter
Plus a Tamworth - Berkshire cross pig. We had several litters all at the same time, and the piglets and their mothers seem to be interchangable when it comes to meal time.

Tamworth Sow and Her New Litter
November 11, 2006

Tamworth Sow Having a Rest
With one of her piglets off to investigate.

Tamworth Sow and Her Litter of Pigs
November 11 2006

Tamworth Sow and Her Piglets
With one adventuresome piglet off to investigate.

Gloucester Old Spot Sow
And two litters of GOS/Tamworth piglets.

Gloucester Old Spot Sow
Lunch time. Some of the GOS/Tamworth piglets are hers, and some aren't. She doesn't mind, nor does the other GOS sow.

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