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, Suzanne

What'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, Suzanne

Hog Roaster for hire

We now have our New Hog Roaster for hire

Boar 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 Stud

Weaners and Sows In-Pig 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 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

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 months (they are slow growing), we slaughter our Pigs as humanely as possible at an abattoir near to the farm to reduce stress. 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.

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.

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, 1810

Help 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

Cornish Black Pigs T-Shirts

Adult (£14) and Childrens (£9) sizes available. Sky blue (it is slightly brighter than shown) with black and white print. Wear it with pride!