Pigs are coming back to the farm!
Oxford City Farm is pleased to announce that we will be bringing pigs back to the farm in 2026! Last year’s inaugural volunteer-led programme was a great success, raising two rare breed Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs to full size and introducing many volunteers from here in Oxford to the joys of pig keeping. Despite the tragic break-in late last year that resulted in the theft of much of the meat from the pigs, the pigs and the opportunity for the community to raise them together were a great addition to Oxford City Farm and we look forward to continuing the programme in 2026.
We welcome anyone who would like to join the programme to register their interest via the link below. No experience keeping animals is required. Oxford City Farm has several different animal programmes that are all volunteer led, including a poultry programme caring for over 100 laying hens for eggs and a goats & sheep programme raising animals for milk, meat, hides, and wool.
While the farm does not have a certification, we do our best to follow the RSPCA standards for animal welfare and organic standards when we are able, including through the use of organic certified feeds. As part of this programme, you will learn many facets of animal husbandry, meet other members of the community, and have first choice of any meat that comes from the animals.
The pigs will be a breed developed over centuries in this part of England called the Oxford Sandy and Black. They are a certified rare breed, meaning they are a threatened part of the cultural and agricultural heritage of the UK. The breed is particularly suited to our region, but it does not grow as fast as the more commercial available breeds that make up the bulk of the world’s farmed pigs. This means that the meat has a very different (and better!) flavour than the pork you may be used to because it is not as commercially viable to raise. Without farms like ours raising these animals, we run the risk of the breed disappearing.
Programme description:
The cost to join is £45 if you would like meat once the animals have gone to the abattoir. The £45 is considered a credit to purchase meat at the end of the year (along with a 20% discount from retail price). You and other volunteers in the programme have first choice on the different cuts.
The programme is free if you would like to participate but don’t want any meat.
Training will be provided.
Shifts to look after the pigs are at 0800 and 1800 every day. While the pigs are smaller, these will be single person shifts but will switch to two person shifts as the pigs grow.
We ask that you commit to at least one shift per week, allowing that some people may be away for vacation or work from time to time.
We are looking for at least 30 households to join the programme.
You are welcome to have family join you on shifts but children are not allowed into the pig pen at any time.
Primary duties during shifts include weighing and providing feed, checking on the welfare of the animals, ensuring they have adequate water, adding water to their wallow if needed, checking the electric fence is operational, removing faeces from the enclosure.
If you have any questions about the programme, please email volunteering@oxfordcityfarm.org.uk.
To express interest in joining our 2026 Pig Programme, please fill out this form.
