Pigs at Ballymaloe Cookery School

At the Ballymaloe Cookery School our pigs are reared organically and are allowed to range freely routing in the soil for minerals and
delicious grubs. We only feed our pigs organic grains and we dont use any growth promoters. Our pigs live and farrow outdoors.

We have three traditional breeds which enjoy living outside, these are Gloucester Old Spot, Saddle-back and Tamworth. Each sow has 1 litter a year of up to 10 piglets. Usually the piglets stay with their mother until about 6 months when they go off to the local butcher, then we have delicious Bacon, Sausages and Pork Chops!

Pigs are intelligent, social animals and enjoy being in groups to keep each other entertained.