The common of mast
- Jen Blaxall.
- Sep 13
- 3 min read
On Monday, the pigs will be released for the pannage season. The common of mast is one of the traditional rights associated with specific land or properties, permitting the owner to let their pigs roam the forest for 60 nights starting in September, though the exact dates can vary each year. The pigs are released at this time because acorns and beech nuts (masts) fall from the trees. These masts are toxic to ponies and cattle, so the pigs play a crucial role in clearing the forest floor. Beech nuts and especially acorns contain hydrolysable tannins that decompose in the stomach, forming a group of acids called gallotoxins, which can harm the liver and kidneys. Consuming too many green acorns when the tannins are at their highest may lead to ulcers in the stomach and intestines, impairing nutrient absorption and causing weight loss or permanent kidney damage due to the effort of filtering the toxin from the blood.
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