Sussex Saddlebacks (pig group)

***Sussex Saddlebacks closed down in Sept 2024***

Sussex Saddlebacks is a community group which breeds rare breed pigs in West Sussex. We have a small herd of pedigree British Saddleback pigs that are kept free range to produce meat for group members, but we also sell pork and weaners. The group was set up in 2007 to enable people with an interest in livestock to keep pigs in a supportive environ

ment. By choosing to breed our own pigs we are also promoting the continuance of a rare breed. We have a shared responsibility for the welfare of our pigs – maintaining their housing and environment. Each member has a slot on the weekly feed rota and we have a monthly work morning. We might be building arks, wiring up an electric fence or repairing gates but there is of course some mucking out to be done. It’s also a good time to get to know the pigs, so we could be condition scoring, moving them around or learning to handle piglets. Our members are a diverse group – young and old, working, retired, singletons and families. To join , no experience with pigs is necessary but a willingness to pitch in and learn and no objection to getting muddy is essential. The scheme is not-for-profit and there is a small monthly membership fee. Our pigs live at the Aldingbourne Country Centre, near Chichester. If you don’t want to join but want to support us, we sell a small amount of pork each year, either as whole or half pigs, butchered & packed for the freezer. As part of our aims to protect the British Saddleback breed we also sell weaners, either for breeding or for fattening up.