Question - butchering pigs & holding feed

[hatchaholic]

How long do we withhold feed before butchering? I've tried to look it up, and seems like everything I read said 12-24 hours. But I wanted to see what ya'll did.

My first pigs will be going to the big "B" tomorrow, and I want to make sure I do this right.

Thanks ya'll!

 

[Poler]

Ive tried to do 24 hours before, and when my assistant accidentally sliced the intestine... oh god.

After that, Its been 48 hours no feed, and 24 hours no water, they wont be happy about it, but you can get them to come over to you really easy if you bring some food along on slaughter day.

 

[greyfields]

They can have water up until the point of being dispatched. Feed, though, is generally witheld for 24 hours.

 

[hatchaholic]

Thanks.

We asked the lady at the slaughterhouse and she said, "wouldn't you want to eat if you knew it was your last meal?" so I was confused as to whether to feed them tonight or not.

 

[greyfields]

I've never stopped feeding them, either. If they're gonna bust a gut, they're gonna do it wether it's a fully belly or not.

 

[hatchaholic]

I feel guilty sending them off with nothing to eat...