- Pannage
Pannage is an English legal term for the practice of turning out
domestic pig s in a wood orforest , in order that they may feed on fallenacorn s orbeechmast . Pannage is no longer carried out in most areas, but is still observed in theNew Forest of Southern England, where it is also known as "Common of Mast". It is still an important part of the Forestecology , and helps the husbandry of the other New Forestlivestock – pigs can safely eat acorns as a large part of their diet, whereas excessive amounts may bepoison ous to ponies andcattle .The minimum duration of the New Forest pannage season is 60 days, but the start date varies according to the weather – and when the acorns fall. The
Court of Verderers decides when Pannage will start each year. At other times the pigs must be taken in and kept on the owner's land, with the exception that breeding sows (known as "privileged sows") are by custom allowed out, providing that they return to the owner's holding at night and are not a nuisance.External links
* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/newforest/today/common.html Local government website detailing the Common rights in the New Forest]
* [http://www.verderers.org.uk New Forest Verderers' Court]
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