The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Berkshire Boy on January 02, 2012, 02:54:38 pm

Title: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: Berkshire Boy on January 02, 2012, 02:54:38 pm
I have too many boars and am looking to get rid of 2, question is what to do with them. One is only young about  year, I kept him from a litter because I had a couple of young gilts and the other boars are too big. I think he will go for sausages. The other one is 2 1/2 and can't decide what to do with him. Do I send him for sausages if so what are the chances of him being tainted. I think it is unlikely I will find a buyer, always difficult with boars. I would consider giving him away to a good home.
What do you do with mature boars?
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: robert waddell on January 02, 2012, 03:17:24 pm
advertise them for sale if they are pedigree
sell them in a local auction      the probable buyer will do the third option below
sell them to cheale meats or another cull sow/boar processor :farmer:
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: oaklandspigs on January 02, 2012, 04:46:31 pm
We have occasionally managed to sell a boar to another smallholder, when one of ours has worked with us, but starts to get relate to too many sows to be useful, but more often we take the older ones to market.

You can make over £100 for a good cull boar in the SE.

Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: robert waddell on January 02, 2012, 04:57:57 pm
90 p a kilo from the processers you wont get that in a market :farmer:
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: princesspiggy on January 02, 2012, 07:16:34 pm
how do u sell a cull? do they go to the market like cows? if so would it just be a normal market ie not a rare breed one?
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: robert waddell on January 02, 2012, 07:42:18 pm
if you are selling a cull pm me i will give you a number you will get more than giving them away in a market :farmer:
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: spursman on January 02, 2012, 07:56:30 pm
If you have the welfare of the boars at heart I would suggest googling Cheale Meats. The pigs have to be slaughtered but there are limits.
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: robert waddell on January 02, 2012, 08:19:19 pm
that is what you get with foreign workies :farmer:
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: Eve on January 02, 2012, 11:27:31 pm
Rubbish, Robert, that's just a pathetic excuse.  :farmer:
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: Berkshire Boy on January 03, 2012, 07:55:32 am
Spursman, that is always my main priority, I would rather give him away to a good home than put him through that sort of treatment.
They are both registered pigs but the young one was only kept to serve a couple of young gilts I had and I forgot to notch him so he is just a pig which is a shame as he grew into a nice boy.
I think I will advertise the older one and see if I get any takers,otherwise he may end up in the freezer.
I don't really want to go through a market  because I would rather know where he is going.
I think this is going  to be an ongoing problem when the pigs are not just animals and you build up a relationship with them and it then becomes harder to move them on.
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: princesspiggy on January 03, 2012, 11:40:54 pm
what sort of meat do old boars get sold for? i know old cows go for mince and im presuming there will be boar taint with old boys.
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: HappyHippy on January 04, 2012, 12:06:29 am
I'm sure Robert told me they get shipped off to Europe and mixed with sow meat to form sausages, burgers & other 'pork products'  :yum: :o  :-\
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: Roxy on January 05, 2012, 12:09:21 am
I think I would have my animal put down than being shipped off to Europe - unless they were humanely dispatched before being shipped .......I have seen pens of bull calves at our local market, sold for almost nothing, and thats where they are destined for :'(
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: HappyHippy on January 05, 2012, 12:52:37 am
I think I'm with you on that one Roxy  ;)
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: Berkshire Boy on January 05, 2012, 07:58:11 am
Roxy and HH definitely not going down that road he deserves better than that.
Title: Re: Too many boars, what to do.
Post by: oaklandspigs on January 05, 2012, 09:02:05 am
I think I would have my animal put down than being shipped off to Europe - unless they were humanely dispatched before being shipped

Killed in the UK first at abattoir, the meat is then shipped out to make products like Belgium pate or Italian salami - as under EU law country of last food process is country of origin.  Hence why Danish pork can make British bacon if cured in the UK.