The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: waterboy on January 17, 2011, 05:05:43 pm
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Hi all,
This has probably been covered before but i was wondering if boar taint is an issue with castrated males?
Many thanks
Rob
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Here we go again. Search the forum. I'm not getting involved in this one again.
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If you read the when to castrate topic further down the page this should help.
mandy
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Castration removes the risk, see post below for explanation of how it occurs.
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=12168.0
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No risk with castrates Rob ;) ;D
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Got to say I haven't read the thread, but have kept lots of pigs of different sorts over about 20 years, and have never had any of mine castrated, and never had a prob. I think onece or twice I have even had boars and gilts together and still all fine.
The last couple of couples got pretty big - hams around 16/18 lb+ - both pairs were boars and I didnt have any problems.
I also kept all my ram lambs entire, and ran them with the complete flock, and as long as they were not killed in the "season" all seemed fine, perhaps a little stronger but nothing objectionable
All the best
Sue
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Thanks for the replies all :pig:
I'm planning to take my castrated OSB boar up to a bigger weight than the middle whites and Berkshires made, as I'm going to try and cure some hams and maybee do some bacon.
Rob
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what weight did you kill them at and what weight are you intending to take him to