Piglets go to Ferring, not to market

Two litters of piglets were born at Ferring Country Centre, in Rife Way, on September 23 and 29, and have since been entertaining the public.

Emma Burns, unit manager at Ferring Country Centre, said: “It’s been brilliant.

“We’ve had so many people coming up to see them, and even visiting during the pregnancy.

“Pigs are usually pregnant for three months, three weeks and three days, but ours were late, which is quite unusual.

“So we had people saying they should be due.”

Because of the popularity of the piglets, which were the first animals bred at the centre, there are now plans to breed lamb in time for spring.

Emma said she had been against the idea of breeding pigs at first, but had since been won over by the new arrivals.

She added: “It’s been an amazing experience.

“We were with one of the pigs during her labour, and she started at four in the afternoon and ended at midnight. Not a lot of people have had that experience.”

Emma said the piglets had proved educational to service users at the charity because it showed them where meat comes from.