The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: chris3000 on July 01, 2012, 02:31:16 pm
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Hi All,
Its our first time with pigs and we have 10 kune kune cross saddlebacks.
I wondered what sort of size they may get to and whether they need as long as pure kune kune before slaughter.
I just did a rough weight (they are 6 weeks old) and they came out at an average of 23kgs based on the (L x G x G) divided by 13781 (cm)
69 * 68 * 68 = 319056 / 13781 = 23kg
Thanks
Chris
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That's around what our pure Kunekunes are at that age, and probably what most piglets weigh around the same time so I don't think you can gauge it from that ;)
We had a litter of OSB x KK (OSB mum, KK dad) born last year and the offspring are tending more towards the OSB size so will slaughter earlier than pure KK's, but I couldn't/wouldn't be able to tell you how yours will go I'm afraid cos I've not had a saddleback cross litter. If I had to guess, I'd say they'll be ready at 6-8 months....maybe ? They might not weigh in at 85 Kilos liveweight, but they will be tasty :yum: Just watch their feeding and keep feeling their backbones to make sure they're not getting too fat :innocent:
Hopefully someone will be along soon who has done this cross :thumbsup: and will be able to give you a bit more info.
HTH
Karen :wave:
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I'll bump this one ...
Has NOBODY tried this cross?
:love: :pig: :love:
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are you sure it is kilos not pounds that is terrific growth for six weeks but
Lyn is that osb x kunnie or kunnie x saddelback you are bumping :farmer:
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are you sure it is kilos not pounds
Can't comment on coopers weights, but mine are definately in kilos (as weighed by the vet before castration @ 6weeks old) :thumbsup:
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but Lyn is that osb x kunnie, or kunnie x saddelback you are bumping ? :farmer:
I think Lynne's bumping for answers ;)
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are you having a giraffe Karen a kunnie at 6 weeks weighing the equivalent of a bag of feed just imagine the growth rate you would get if you crossed with a Hampshire copulation would be enlightening it would have to be kunnie over the Hampshire :innocent: :innocent: :farmer:
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Nope, not having a laugh Robert ;)
Granted some of the smaller ones can be 15/17Kg but generally they're all around 20Kg or above @ 6 weeks :thumbsup: Solid li'l things that they are ;D
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this just does not stack up small kunnies at 6 weeks are 15/17 kilos that is more than Hampshire's are at 8 weeks and all from minimalistic feeding and grass the mothers must be like seals and milking of the blubber theoretically they could be 180/200 kilos at 24 weeks if they could maintain that growth rate but that would be bigger than a fully grown adult :farmer:
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Och Robert, believe me or don't - it's up to you ::)
We'll have 3 litters born within the next fortnight, you're welcome to come and weigh them yourself at 6 weeks old just so you can see for yourself - or if that's too much hassle for you I'll post a regular update on here for you don't mind in the slightest. (where's the halo icon Dan ;) )
As a matter of interest, what weight were your Kunekune piglets at 6 weeks old ?
These mothers are NOT overfat, nor are they skinny, starved, poor hungry pigs :-\
So you can stop with the insults auld yin ;) :sofa: :D (just loving the dive for cover icon :thumbsup: )
What do I need to do to convince you that just cos they didn't work out for you, doesn't mean they can't work for others....... ::)
Or are you just looking for another arguement since you're last one got locked ? Hmmmm :innocent:
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our 8 week tamworth weaners were between 15kg and 22kg and were fed hard feed from 2 weeks. the heavier ones were good, long an sturdy.
do kunes get weaner pellets too, like other breeds?
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we never weighed the kunnies as i do now in the three to four years we had them and i am led to believe that descendants of ours are now with you or have been
with three litters of them in the offing they will need to work for you
the reference to seals was a simile seal pups are meant to be the fastest growing young just on mothers milk
not looking for any argument the post that was locked i would have let run but it was bringing the forum into disrepute and not by me
you posted before the weights of your pigs then sent me an e mail saying you had misread the scales and not to tell anybody which made a nonsense of the figures claimed :farmer:
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Ok ...
Should I get involved in this :innocent:
Alright ... here goes ...
Robert - I was bumping this as I was interested if anyone could get back to Coopers with any helpful info - surely he's not the first person to x KKs with Saddlebacks ???
I only have registered KKs & have not attempted a x (yet). I don't usually weigh the piglets myself until they are 8-weeks old ( for Ivomecting) & I get a range of 11kg-22kg. My vet does the castrations for me at 3-weeks & weighs them for anaesthetic & did mention that a couple were over 10kgs this time.
While sows/gilts are lactating, I for one & I know Karen too, increases mum's feed markedly - depending on size of litter this may mean 5kgs of feed per day at some stage. The piglets usually start nibbling at feed from about 10 days-old. They put on HUGE amounts of growth over the first 8 weeks, which slows down post-weaning.
I have just popped-out & tape measure weighed a litter sister/castrate who are now 13 weeks-old she is 29.46kgs & he is 18.11kgs. Badger, the boar piglet at Lesmahagow this year, "escaped" (from within a pen, inside a byre - closing all the gates behind him, so his litter-mates couldn't get out ::) ) when he was 10 weeks old & "found" in a neighbours field (thankfully empty of stock - no standstill issues :innocent: ) he definately weighed more than a sack of feed, no way could I carry him back, but I can lift a sack of feed ???
Now I'm gonna post this before my broadband goes dodgy again, as I've written this twice already :o
:love: :pig: :love:
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Och Robert, believe me or don't - it's up to you ::)
We'll have 3 litters born within the next fortnight, you're welcome to come and weigh them yourself at 6 weeks old just so you can see for yourself
Oh I do hope he does! :)
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Och Robert, believe me or don't - it's up to you ::)
We'll have 3 litters born within the next fortnight, you're welcome to come and weigh them yourself at 6 weeks old just so you can see for yourself
Oh I do hope he does! :)
Me too ;D
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Lyn your weights and ages are more attainable by the majority than the others quoted perky is on 8 kilos per day with 11 piglets some are pushing on and even in there mothers feed dish getting the crumbs the last litter she was on 10 kilos a day and still losing condition
a solid weight is easier to carry than a live wriggling one
the weights that they are meant to achieve in the pre weaning it is a pity that they don't continue to grow to 120 kilos at six months but they are not called kunnie kunnies (small and round) for nothing :farmer:
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Hi Robert :wave:
Forgot to say - I change my girls over (gradually) to Sow & Weaner pellets about a fortnight before farrowing, but don't up the feed untill the piglets arrive.
OMG - 10kgs of feed - then I guess it's all proportionate to the breed - thinking of Rach's OSBs ::)
As for Badger - well what can I say, I get what you mean, but he was definately heavier that a 20kg sack of feed - makes no difference to me as I have such a poor grip/back :-\
& just to nit pick Kune Kune means fat & round ;)
Personally I wouldn't want them to grow any bigger/heavier - that's why I love them :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:
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a solid weight is easier to carry than a live wriggling one
ha, i compare them to a bag of feed too,, ;D ;D ,tho i have stood on the scales with them if needed.
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i was being polite and not wanting to say the f word but to get back to the original post it would be a cross that could prove difficult to keep the fat of unless you were wanting loads of fat for soap or roasting tatties in you will need to make the effort to go to hatfield and see the kunnies there you will get to like the osbs as well ;) :farmer:
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i was being polite and not wanting to say the f word ;) :farmer:
See that :pig: flying
;) ;D
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you posted before the weights of your pigs then sent me an e mail saying you had misread the scales and not to tell anybody which made a nonsense of the figures claimed :farmer:
I don't think I said not to tell anybody - but yes, I'd read pounds as kilos ::)
That was Kkx OSB's that I thought had weighed in at 45Kilos at around 12 weeks (I think - I don't have time to trawl back through threads now) and I did say in the thread I thought it was wrong.
What I can I say - I made a mistake, obviously we can't all be as expert as you.
I bow to your obvious superior knowledge :notworthy: and I'll just leave you to hold court here
:wave:
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:wave: karen :wave:
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I don't think I said not to tell anybody
grass, bad boy :innocent:
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I don't think I said not to tell anybody
grass, bad boy :innocent:
He aint that green ;)
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Thank you all for getting involved :)
I have double checked my calcs in both pounds and kg and they came out the same.
I will keep a check on them over the coming weeks and see how they get on.
FYI. we purchased them from a local smallholding downsizing that had a surprise when they found that there saddleback had had his wicked way with the Kune Kune mum :) - apparently was so desperate for the action he jumped the electric fence.
So, although not an intended cross we will see how they go ..... hoping they won't be to fatty (which is why I wondered if any one had done it before and had advice on slaughter times)
Thanks again
Chris
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So, although not an intended cross we will see how they go ..... hoping they won't be to fatty (which is why I wondered if any one had done it before and had advice on slaughter times)
Thanks again
Chris
both breeds can run to fat apparently so keep them as slim as poss during last 6 weeks. IMO :wave: :wave:
fotos wud be great as i havent seen that x before... :wave:
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Pictures attached :D
we have 7 with the kune kune beards and 3 without
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the pirie pires are dominant if the boar has them there faces look just like saddelbacks but they do look short legged and chunky like the kunnie and the surprising thing is no rain /mud :farmer:
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the pictures were from a week ago when we had sunshine ;D
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they r sweet :wave:
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Very much the Saddleback in colouring, but a bit of the both in conformation - what are their natures most like?
I'm still surprised that you're the first person on here to get this cross Coopers - maybe you should patent it - hows about Kunebacks? ;D
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I'd maybe try pm'ing Oaklands ;)
They have Kunekunes and a whole range of breeds - best guess for an estimate or indication of how they'll grow.
Even if they do end up a wee bit smaller, they'll still taste great :yum:
They're gorgeous though and look as chilled out as the Kunes ;D
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They are lovely, very very inquisitive and happy - always smiling - follow me or the children everywhere even without food as an incentive.
Can you really patent a cross breed?
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I was being a bit :-J ... but ... I know it's done with chickens (like Black Rocks) or dogs (like labradoodles). I think there's something about being able to reproduce the same type with each cross, getting the best bits of the 2 breeds - not sure if it's done with pigs though - you could start a new fashion ;D
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yes it is done with pigs that is how the commercial pigs are bred don't think this cross will be a winner unless it is for roast suckling pig but you never know a bit of sharp practise with the marketing and all sold :farmer:
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They are lovely, very very inquisitive and happy - always smiling - follow me or the children everywhere even without old as an incentive.
You could just as easily be describing my OSB x Saddlebacks - such lovely pigs I want to do it again! No children for them to follow, so they would work alongside the collies - at a certain age, looking very like them! :D
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unless it is for roast suckling pig
u cant steal my ideas... i was just a bout to make my first million....pmsl :D :D :D :D :D