Pannage

Men knocking down acorns to feed swine, from the 14th century EnglishQueen Mary Psalter,MS. Royal 2 B VII f.81v

Modern-day pannage, or common of mast, in theNew Forest

Pannageis the practice of releasinglivestock-pigsin aforest,so that they can feed on fallenacorns,beechmast,chestnutsor othernuts.Historically, it was a right or privilege granted to local people oncommon landor inroyal forestsacross much ofEurope.The practice was historically referred to asEichelmastorEckerichinGerman-speaking Europewhile the fee to feed one's livestock in such a way was historically referred to asžirovinain Croatia and Slovenia.

Pannage had two useful purposes in theMiddle Ages.Whilerootingaround looking for nuts, pigs also turned the soil and broke it. Pig-rooting prevented soil compaction and released nutrients for plant growth. It also fattened pigs for slaughter.

Especially in the eastern shires of England, pannage was so prominent a value in the economic importance of woodland that it was often employed, as inDomesday Book(1086), as a measurement. Customarily, a pig was given to thelord of the manorfor every certain number of pigs loosedde herbagio,as the right of pannage was entered.Edward Hastedquotes the Domesday Survey details forNortonin Kent. "Wood for the pannage of forty hogs".

Pannage is no longer carried out in most areas, but is still observed in theNew ForestofSouthern England,where it is also known ascommon 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 bepoisonoustoponiesandcattle.

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. TheCourt of Verderersdecides when pannage will start each year. During other times, pigs are not allowed to roam the forest, 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. The pigs each have severalnose ringsclipped into their noses to prevent themrootingtoo much and causing damage to grassland.

Further reading

• Kreiner, Jamie (2020).Legions of Pigs in the Early Medieval West.New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. pp. 108–119.doi:10.2307/j.ctv177tk45.ISBN9780300246292.JSTORj.ctv177tk45.

External links

• "Pannage".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 20 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 680.
• Local government website detailing the Common rights in the New Forest
• New Forest Verderers' Court
• Pigging out in the forest: the Common of Mast in Britain