The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: otto on October 26, 2010, 07:14:44 pm

Title: When do I send my GOS girls to meet their maker?
Post by: otto on October 26, 2010, 07:14:44 pm

Hello all......it's been a while since I have been on the forum........it was a traumatic day last September when I took my Tamworth and GOS boys to the slaughterhouse. They really didn't make it easy for me and I did consider becoming a vegetarian....for a bit. Fresh home reared pork was fantastic and the vegetarian bit has been shelved!

This year I have three GOS girls and they are getting quite large....DOB around March I think. Anyway, the question is, any guidance on when to send them off? I understand that there is no chance of boar taint with girls, so would like them to get larger than we did last time so we can make some nice hams and bacon..........

Any advice much appreciated........Otto...

Title: Re: When do I send my GOS girls to meet their maker?
Post by: darkbrowneggs on October 26, 2010, 07:26:36 pm

I always look at their backsides / hams an envisage it "as a ham" and when it looks about big enough, or they are just so much trouble I can't take it any longer then off they go. 

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

Title: Re: When do I send my GOS girls to meet their maker?
Post by: Sudanpan on October 26, 2010, 08:34:28 pm

Our biggest boars were 7 months 2 weeks old when they went  - hit the scales at 77kg and 82kg (girth measurement approx 46 inches) Presumably gilts would be slower growing so taking them to 8 or 9 months would get them to an equivalent weight?
Tish

Title: Re: When do I send my GOS girls to meet their maker?
Post by: Eve on October 27, 2010, 10:06:28 pm

I'd keep them to about 10 months - though it's better to take them to the abattoir in January rather than Dece :wave:mber!


Eve