Pannage

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Men knocking down acorns to feed swine, from the 14th century English Queen Mary Psalter, MS. Royal 2 B VII f.81v
Modern-day pannage, or common of mast, in the New Forest

Pannage is the practice of releasing

chestnuts or other nuts. Historically, it was a right or privilege granted to local people on common land or in royal forests across much of Europe.[1] The practice was historically referred to as Eichelmast or Eckerich in German-speaking Europe
while the fee to feed one's livestock in such a way was historically referred to as žirovina in Croatia and Slovenia.

Pannage had two useful purposes in the

rooting
around looking for nuts, they 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 in Domesday Book (1086), as a measurement. Customarily, a pig was given to the lord of the manor for every certain number of pigs loosed de herbagio, as the right of pannage was entered.[1] Edward Hasted quotes the Domesday Survey details for Norton in Kent. "Wood for the pannage of forty hogs".[2]

Pannage is no longer carried out in most areas, but is still observed in the New Forest of Southern England, where it is also known as common of mast. It is still an important part of the forest ecology, and helps the husbandry of the other New Forest livestock – pigs can safely eat acorns as a large part of their diet, whereas excessive amounts may be poisonous to ponies and cattle.

The minimum duration of the New Forest pannage season is 60 days,

rooting
too much and causing damage to grassland.

References

  1. ^ a b H. R. Loyn, Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 2nd ed. 1991:369.
  2. ^ Hasted, Edward (1798). "Parishes". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. 6. Institute of Historical Research: 401–413. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  3. ^ Cooper, Graham. "The New Forest today: Common Rights". The New Forest. www.newforest.hampshire.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2010.

Further reading

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