Opportunities for tailored courses
Whilst our very popular one day course gives a good base from which to begin your pig keeping experience we are always happy to discuss and cater for more specialist days. Please contact us if there is a particular aspect of pig keeping you wish to cover.
We can organise days for corporate groups, small interest groups etc.
Private one day pig keeping courses
These are available for two people and cost £298.
VET STUDENTS PIG PLACEMENTS
Unfortunately we can no longer offer placements.
“I am a second year veterinary student at the University of Liverpool and part of the course requirements are work placements with various animals, including pigs. When I arrived at Bridgefield Farm on the first day of my 2 week placement with John and the pigs, I admit I was nervous. Friends had said ‘do this…’ and ‘don’t do this…’ so many times that I really had no idea what to expect. I also had next to no experience and knew very little about them so was a little apprehensive. However, I have been pleasantly surprised throughout the placement and have really enjoyed the whole experience. It has been a fantastic 2 weeks! It has been very practical with plenty of hands-on experience, whilst also being given lots of information about the different breeds of pigs that John keeps; the care required, housing, feed, vaccinations, etc. Whilst I was on placement, work on the farm was building towards the Westmorland Show 2012 which meant there was plenty to keep us busy which I think was another great thing – there are always plenty of things to do. When John dropped the bombshell that he was hoping to get me showing pigs at the show (when at this point I’d only properly been around pigs for 2 days in my life!) I never thought I would be able to do it but finished up winning a red rosette!. But John is a great teacher and explains everything really well, and so I ended up showing a few pigs across different classes at the show and lived to tell the tale! From the word go, I have been thrown in at the deep end but have relished the experience as it has given me the opportunity to test myself and work hard. Dealing with such individual characters as the pigs has not only meant learning to never treat all pigs and situations the same, but has also helped me become more confident in dealing with them. When I first started, I assumed every pig was out to try and eat me and was therefore hanging back and quite reserved when it came to handling them; but by the end I felt much more able to be authoritative with them – which in itself makes things happen a lot faster! This placement has helped me become a more confident person, and also a stronger person physically as it is hard work but well worth it. I’m so glad that I decided to try and get a placement with John, and I cannot believe how the time has flown. I have thoroughly enjoyed it; and the only thing that I would change would be to make the placement longer!
Jessica Dawson
Aged 19
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