Weaners for Sale.
We have Weaners for sale, so if you fancy keeping a couple in the garden to fatten for your freezer give us a call.
"Cornish Blacks" are extremely docile, very hardy and are ideally suited to simple outdoor systems. They are more expensive to buy than run-of-the-mill pigs...but they don't need to see the Vet in my experience, which is often not the case with others. And of course you will be able to ask a premium when you sell them on too.
Available NOW:
Sunday 16May10
Hi,Strawberry Bon Bon (she’s the sow with the red ear tag) gave birth to 8 piglets. She did give Chris a fright on Friday afternoon as she disappeared! She was found a little while later in the woods, building a nest, ‘al fresco’. Because our pigs are so friendly and at ease with us humans, she followed Chris back to an area where it is impossible to escape from and within a couple of hours she had begun to farrow.
Mavis and her piglets are doing well, 5 girls and 3 boys, all healthy and munching at the sow rolls. I sat and watched them last night and it is such an endearing sight to see them ‘gum’ their mother’s food. They suck and chomp for so long, and then the roll just falls out from the side of their mouths. We don’t give our weaners creep, we have done in the past, but because all the pigs have access to fresh grass and other roots, it seemed an unnecessary stage. If you are anywhere near Fowey Primary school next Saturday (May 22nd), pop in to the May Fair where we will be selling our hog roast. It looks to be a fun day, with lots of activities for all the family.
Have a good week.
Suzanne
Mavis gave birth to 9 piglets
Monday 10th MayHi, 2 weeks ago Mavis gave birth to 9 piglets. She was our first pig and we had her a few days before she farrowed 3 years ago at the end of this month. I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. Anyway, she gave birth on her own and John found them when he went to feed. She surprised us by farrowing a little sooner than expected, so she was still with the boar, Major, and her companion females all in various stages of pregnancy. John and Chris moved her and her piglets straight away to the area down at the bottom of the valley, where we seeded with grass a while ago, so is now covered in lush green blades. Mavis was noticeably happy with her new home because John said she went straight to the new glass and had a long munch, while the piglets were put safely in the sty. She is a lovely pig, to us humans, never once showing any aggression, even when picking up her squealing offspring. This is more than can be said for the other sows and gilts, who know that she is boss!
Unfortunately, Josh and I fed Mavis on the Friday evening and found that one of her piglets was dead, he had been squashed. A price we have to pay for the natural way our pigs are kept and reared. Sad, but inevitable, as sows are considerably bigger and heavier than 5 day old babies. We carried the piglet up the hill, Josh reckoned he was smiling..I think he was just squashed.
Tonight, John and Chris moved 2 more sows out of the area with Major, to new homes where they can farrow. One sometime towards the end of the week and one a little after that.
You may have noticed that our boar now has a name. It came to John one day when he was feeding them. The gilts and sows where all near the fence, perhaps waiting for supper time, but the boar was busy rooting a long way away. Well, when he realised that the females were getting fed before him, he galloped towards John, his big black ears flapping up and down so fast that they were almost invisible. Instantly it came John; the phrase ‘here comes the galloping major’ and it had to be.
I made a lovely quiche today with our smoked ham, our free range eggs, Riverford leeks and tomatoes, it was delicious.
Till the next time, bye for now,
Suzanne
Sow In-Pig for Sale
"Cornish Blacks" are extremely docile, very hardy and are ideally suited to simple outdoor systems. They are more expensive to buy than run-of-the-mill pigs...but they don't need to see the Vet in my experience, which is often not the case with others. And of course you will be able to ask a premium when you sell them on too. .Available Sorry Sold:
- Sow In-Pig, 2 years old
- Sire: PuddleFarmPigs Malcom 1
- Dam: Rosevinnick Doreen
- has had 2 litters (8 and 10)
- mated to our Boar:Marzine Super 83
- and due in May. .
- Being sold so we can bring in some fresh bloodline.
Tuesday 2Mar10
On Sunday evening one of the sows "Morning Glory" had 11 piglets. All are well and just starting to show an interest in the outside world (the Weaners will be for sale around the 25Apr10)
John is very excited because a whole batch of new ear tags was delivered today. Anyway, there are six different colours, all with very well adhered painted numbers which hopefully, won't wear off and will remain readable, unlike the last lot!
So we now have a way of instantly knowing what piglets belong to which sow. I know that it will make Chris and John's lives much easier.
I was a little concerned with John's excitement when he showed me the contents of the box, I only hope he is as pleased with his birthday presents next week!
Take care, SuzanneWhat's happening on the farm today 27Feb10
Hi, John has asked me if I could write a few words when I can, explaining what's happening at Lankelly Farm.
I am Suzanne, John's long suffering (and I mean 'long suffering') porcine widow and I am the one who is often left at the most inappropriate moments because pigs have been seen munching their way up the lane, or Mavis is about to farrow. (Mavis was our first sow and she holds a place in our hearts, even if she is a grumpy old sow to her younger, more nubile, companions.) But what a small price to pay to have the most delicious pork at our disposal and have the privilege of knowing the most friendly of creatures.
I know that the pigs we rear have been born and brought up in an idyllic valley, with fresh water from a running stream, people walking past all the time on the Saints Way footpath stopping to give them a tickle behind the ears and they have us; Chris, John, Val, myself, Josh, our 10 year old son and the dogs Zak and Daisy to look after them.
Having said all of that, what did happen on the farm today? Nothing that exciting to be truthful. We are awaiting the birth of 2 litters over the next 10 days, so eyes are peeled for signs of a sow building a nest and other more technical pointers which I won't bore you with. And we are just about to have supper; Foye Pork and garlic sausages, saute potatoes, curly kale, carrots and peas....delicious.
So bye for now, and I will endeavour to write when we have news of the happy events. Take care, SuzanneHog Roaster for hire
We now have our New Hog Roaster for hireBoar at Stud
"Cornish Black" (Large Black) Boar for hire.
"Super" bloodline
Keen to work, friendly, good looker with great conformation.
Marzine Super 81 (8 - 8) Registration # R001249LB
Sire: Tyldesley Super 86 (8-7)
Dam: Sock Constance 15 (12-11)
Boar for Sale
Young Boar for sale......Sorry Sold.
Born 26Mar09.
Keen to work, friendly, good looker with great conformation.
Marzine Super 83 (8 - 8) Registration # R001250LB
Sire: Tyldesley Super 86 (8-7)
Dam: Sock Constance 15 (12-11)
Reason for sale - surplus, we have his Brother at StudWeaners and Finishers for Sale.
We usually have live stock for sale, so if you fancy keeping a couple of weaners in the garden to fatten for your freezer give us a call.
"Cornish Blacks" are extremely docile, very hardy and are ideally suited to simple outdoor systems. They are more expensive to buy than run-of-the-mill pigs...but they don't need to see the Vet in my experience, which is often not the case with others. And of course you will be able to ask a premium when you sell them on too.
Available Soon:
- Weaners
- Finishers
Available NOW:
We hang all our Pork.
We hang all our Pork for at least a week (even after 16 days the meat was sweet!) to let the meat rest and the texture and flavour develop. We are able to do this because "Cornish Blacks" grow slower and their muscle conformation is firmer and their diet is natural grass and roots. Hanging improves the taste and is nearly unique for pork these days. It is what used to be "Best Practise" for "Cornish Blacks" in the top butchers a century ago. Have you tried the "Best of the Best" yet? Try our Cornish Sausages now!Jamie "Saves our Bacon"
Well done Jamie!
What a great informative program. We agree wholeheartedly with you. Our Pork meets the highest standard in the UK and being "Outdoor Reared" together with being old breed "Cornish Blacks" you can realy TASTE the difference!
If you would like to try a "Whole Shoulder on the Bone" we can supply it.Welcome
Welcome to the "Cornish Blacks" site. The meat from this Rare Breed, the Cornish Large Black, is much appreciated for its succulent taste and eating qualities. If you are interested in purchasing our free-ranging, well fed & lovingly cared for pork, call +44 (0) 1726 832 880 to get Real Flavourful Pork like your Grandparents ate.
We would like to offer you the opportunity to buy the best and tastiest pork with effortless crackling available. We are specialist "Cornish Blacks" Rare Breed Pig Breeders at Lankelly Farm, Fowey and are passionate, love and care for them. You may have walked down the Saint’s Way footpath alongside the Pigs Fields and seen how happy and well they look. We respect and give them as natural and good life as we can. The farm operates to the highest standards of animal welfare and has followed good natural care of the land, free from chemicals and artificial fertiliser. Our pigs are free ranging and live all their life totally outdoors, with plenty of space to root and forage for Acorns from our Oak trees and display their natural behaviour. They have access to the stream flowing through the farm and to mud wallows and shade from the Oak trees, wonderful in the summer to help them keep cool. We do NOT tail dock or clip their teeth. After an outdoor life of about 8/12 months (they are slow growing), we slaughter our Pigs as humanely as possible at an abattoir near to the farm to reduce stress.We "Hang" the meat for about 10 days to allow the flavour to develop!
The meat from our Pigs has a good covering of fat but only enough to give a wonderful flavour, we take great care to see they are not overly fatty.They are the "Best of the Best".
The Large Black
Rare Breeds Survival Trust 2009 Watchlist; Category 3, Vulnerable - 400 WorldWide
The Large Black is a docile lop-eared animal, and its skin pigmentation helps it to resist sunburn, making it ideal for outdoor living. It produces pork of high quality which finds a ready outlet in specialist markets. This admirable versatile breed is extremely docile and hardy. Their placid temperament enables them to be easily contained by a single strand electric fence. The sows are excellent mothers with exceptional milking ability.
The Large Black Pig could be found throughout the British Isles. They were mainly kept in small herds, a few of which date back to well before World War 2. The Large Black Pedigree breed originates from the Old English Hog established in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Large Black Pedigree breed was also very successful in the showring at this time: at Smithfield in 1919, the Supreme Championship was awarded to a Large Black sow that subsequently sold for 700 guineas. The same year the breed outnumbered all other breeds at the Royal Show when 121 Large Black pigs were exhibited.
The Large Black was founded mainly on the native stock of Devon and Cornwall, and is still known as the "Cornish Black" in many parts of the world. Sows have very good maternal qualities, and the breed is noted for its fecundity. The Guinness Book of Records lists a Large Black belonging to A M Harris of Lapworth, Warwickshire, as having produced the largest number of litters (26) between 1940 and 1952.
They are distinguished by their gigantic size, they are the largest of the kind I have ever seen, and as perfect a make as possible in pigs... their heads are large, with very long ears hanging down on each side of the face, so they can scarcely see their way.
Parkinson, 1810Help Conservation - by eating the produce of rare breeds it encourages more people to keep more of them and therefore you will be helping to save rare breeds.
Cornish Black Pig T-Shirts now in stock
Adult (£14) and Childrens (£9) sizes available. Sky blue (it is slightly brighter than shown) with black and white print. Wear it with pride!