A FARMER is being forced to consider the future of his business after one of his rare pigs was mutilated and killed.

Police say the five-month-old Gloucestershire Old Spot was left with four horrific wounds from either a machete or an axe.

The animal’s death comes a year after 15 pigs were found with pellets in them when snipers with air rifles shot at them in the same field in Allithwaite.

Brian Jackson, who owns around 30 of the breed at Templands Farm, sells sausages, pork, beef, and lamb reared at his farm.

But he is now considering whether to continue with the pig side of his business.

“Trade has really dropped off since the incident last year, so we really need the general public to come and support us,” said Mr Jackson.

“What’s happened is just sickening and I can’t think why anybody would do this.”

Jo Knox, a vet at Archway Vetinary Practice, Grange-over-Sands, was contacted by Mr Jackson after he found the dead pig.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said. “You don’t see it very often and we’ve not had reports of anything like that happening in the area.”

She also said the wounds to the pig had gone through muscle and bone and that there were two to its abdomen, one on its right shoulder and one on the top of the sow’s head.

The field where the pigs live runs right next to Locker Lane.

Although he could put the Gloucestershire Old Spots elsewhere on the farm, that particular field is only suitable for pigs to live in.

He also said the field was ‘like a tourist attraction’, which was another reason why he wants to keep the pigs there.

He said people came from miles around to get a glimpse of the rare breed.

* Police said three males have been arrested in connection with the pig’s death.

Two 19-year-olds and a 17-year-old, all from Grange-over-Sands, have been granted bail until July 1.