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pigs

Pigs downhill from a septic tank?

Matt McSpadden

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posted 3 years ago

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How far away would you feel comfortable putting pigs downhill from a septic tank? Or would you be worried at all, as long as they were not on top to cause damage?

My goal is to try to raise a couple feeder pigs this coming year. I have an overgrown wooded area that I think would be good for pigs. The catch is that it is directly downhill from our septic tank. I have always been taught to be extra careful not to eat anything grown on top of or just downhill from a septic tank / overflow. I don't want to the pigs to get sick, or us to get sick from eating the pigs, or the pigs to dig up anything. How far away would you feel comfortable putting the pigs?

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Jay Angler

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posted 3 years ago

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From what I've been told, the issue is not the tank it's the septic field. You're not supposed to run animals on top of your field. That said, they were very vague about why. 1. you're adding nitrogen and pathogen load to an area you want cleaning that up from the septic system
2. they think over-crowded typical barn-yard management where the ground tends to get compacted
3. the reason you already gave - pigs can get sick from the same things that make humans sick

If there's enough of a gap between the end of the field and the area you want to run the pigs, I'd try to plant a hungry sort of plant species as a "buffer" to soak up anything coming off the field +/- a wood-chip trench with mushroom spawn, and keep an eye on the soil condition in the pig area.

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Matt McSpadden

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posted 3 years ago

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Ok. I'm not sure the exact end of the septic field, but the end of the mound would be about where I want to start a fence. Maybe 10 feet from the top of the mound.

I also forgot that the sump pump from our basement drains over in that area as well, and it can stay wet into the summer. I like the idea of planting a hungry species in between. Maybe I can move where I want the fence over about 10 feet and plant some willows or something. Do you think those would be hungry enough? I know they are fairly fast growing and do well in a wet environment.

Lorinne Anderson

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Keeping animals off the field is to prevent compaction of the soil.

Keeping the 🐖 🐷 🐽 🐖 pigs sufficiently contained and OUT of the drain field is of FAR greater concern to me. Just one hour and just a few pigs could easily and completely uproot and destroy the pipes in a septic field. That is THOUSANDS of 💸 💵 dollars that must immediately be used to correct the problem.

Keep in mind, water generally runs downhill, pigs like and NEED mud to wallow in to keep cool, and bugs off...to me this may not prove an ideal location.

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Jt Glickman

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posted 3 years ago

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I think as long as you have a good septic drain system (no water puddling up to the surface) you will be fine as long as you keep the pigs off the drain field.

John Weiland

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Lorinne Anderson wrote:
Just one hour and just a few pigs could easily and completely uproot and destroy the pipes in a septic field. That is THOUSANDS of 💸 💵 dollars that must immediately be used to correct the problem.

As Lorrine noted, MOST pastured animals would cause compaction of soil that you wish to keep porous and draining (drainfield). Also as she noted, pigs are the special consideration with their ability.....and indeed insidious desire.....to root up every and all item(s) that you wish to keep underground! :-/ We've had to re-install buried internet and TV antenna cabling and who knows how much fencing that they simply wanted to uproot and inspect! (sigh).......

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Anne Miller

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posted 3 years ago

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It seems that having pigs downhill from a septic could be asking for trouble.

Though there are plenty of good suggestions here.

My concern would be that during a heavy rainstorm that there might be a possibility of an overflow. Though maybe someone has addressed this.

If you decide to do this I would like to offer some food for thought.

Dr. Bryant Redhawk has offered some suggestions for adding mushrooms to a system here.

Best wishes for your success with pigs.

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