The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: white-blazes on April 07, 2011, 01:28:41 pm

Title: Breeds of pigs
Post by: white-blazes on April 07, 2011, 01:28:41 pm

What we have are Gloucester Old Spot x Leicester White - is this a common cross, or do people cross all sorts?

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: Hilarysmum on April 07, 2011, 06:38:42 pm

Forgive my ignorance never heard of a Leicester White.  People cross all sorts.  Bit like dogs. 

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: HappyHippy on April 07, 2011, 06:44:06 pm

Here's the BPA breeds page http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breedlist.htm (http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breedlist.htm)
I suspect the Leicester white will be a large or middle white (or something like that) but it will be a tasty cross with a fairly quick finishing time and should be quite lean if you give them plenty of room to roam. ALL outdoor reared pigs, no matter what breed will give you pork a million times better than you've ever tasted before - so don't worry too much about the genetic make up this time round, just have fun trying out all the different breeds and breed combinations  ;D

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: white-blazes on April 07, 2011, 09:17:06 pm

Quote from: HappyHippy on April 07, 2011, 06:44:06 pm

ALL outdoor reared pigs, no matter what breed will give you pork a million times better than you've ever tasted before - so don't worry too much about the genetic make up this time round, just have fun trying out all the different breeds and breed combinations  ;D

Thank you, we will  ;D

taken this morning
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205535_10150143968780755_654925754_6900013_2380227_n.jpg)

this evening
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205535_10150143968790755_654925754_6900015_6719408_n.jpg)

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: Beewyched on April 07, 2011, 09:30:54 pm

Had to take another look at that 2nd photo - OMG, thought they lived in the caravan  ;D

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: Eve on April 07, 2011, 09:45:23 pm

Pigs in bunkbeds  :D

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: HappyHippy on April 07, 2011, 11:27:47 pm

Lovely  :pig: :pig:
Definately looks a bit like large white in the mix somewhere  ;)
Just watch their ears in the sun, they can get sunburn and sometimes need a bit of sunscreen if there's no shade in their field.
Looking good though  ;D

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 08, 2011, 02:37:33 am

Lovely piggies!   :pig: :pig:

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: white-blazes on April 08, 2011, 08:51:24 pm

lol no, the old caravan is actually one of my tack sheds, then we bought a metal shed, and then along came the wooden garden shed which the pigs use  ;D

I've got a suncream that I use on the horses pink noses, would this be ok for pigs too?

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: HappyHippy on April 08, 2011, 08:59:56 pm

Yip  ;D That'll be fine.
It's great fun applying it  ;) ;D
As Oaklands said on another post though, there's no substitute for a wallow for them when the weather gets hot - that's another great source of ammusement  ;D

Title: Re: Breeds of pigs
Post by: white-blazes on April 08, 2011, 09:03:38 pm

oh yes, the hosepipe is close by  ;D