The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: HappyHippy on September 12, 2012, 03:11:48 pm
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Kunekune gilts :love: :pig: :love:
Karen :wave:
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Is this the Adelaide/Tommy litter Karen? :love: :pig: :love:
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They are lovely :thumbsup:
Sally
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Is this the Adelaide/Tommy litter Karen? :love: :pig: :love:
Yup, sure is ;D
The boys have been getting castrated at the vet today, so I took the chance to go in and have a good look at all the gilts while there were less piglets to try and keep track of ;)
That first gilt (the spotty one) is a stunning li'l thing - very pretty :love: great confirmation :love: sooooo friendly (on her back for a belly rub almost as soon as you touch her ;)) Unfortunately she's got an overshot bottom jaw - so no breeding future :'( It's very slight, but it's enough that I noticed it and you know what I'm like ::) :D None of the others are showing any abnormality in the jaw though, so it looks like a one off :fc:
Karen :-*
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That's a shame Karen :( - she does look stunning too - I'm sure she'll make tasty sausages though ;)
Need to make arrangements for Portia to pay a visit to Big Red soon too :eyelashes:
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i like the top one too!
full quota here though, would be shot if i smuggled any more in! :innocent:
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i like the top one too!
full quota here though, would be shot if i smuggled any more in! :innocent:
They're only wee Allison - sure another 1 or 2 won't be noticed ;)
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they're just sooo cute......
I really like the looks of them but am i right in thinking they are more of a grazing pig that you keep much longer? I don't often remember what i've read correctly.....or even where i read it.....hence repetitive questions :-[ If that were the case we'd never have anywhere for them......if not perhaps OH could be persuaded :eyelashes:
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they're just sooo cute......
I really like the looks of them but am i right in thinking they are more of a grazing pig that you keep much longer? I don't often remember what i've read correctly.....or even where i read it.....hence repetitive questions :-[ If that were the case we'd never have anywhere for them......if not perhaps OH could be persuaded :eyelashes:
we had some kk's a while back tried one for pork lovely taste (a bit too fat though) then 3 went for sausages have to say some of the best sausages we have had they went away at 12 months.
we then had a litter a friend had 2 of them because they read they were grazers lets just say they need a rotorvator no more :innocent: they were sending thiers off for sausages but they have had a change of plan and they are now 100% pets we no longer have kk's since we decided to keep the british lops for breeding and showing & eating.
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they're just sooo cute......
I really like the looks of them but am i right in thinking they are more of a grazing pig that you keep much longer? I don't often remember what i've read correctly.....or even where i read it.....hence repetitive questions :-[ If that were the case we'd never have anywhere for them......if not perhaps OH could be persuaded :eyelashes:
There's been lots of "debates" :innocent: regarding KKs.
Like other breeds, KKs both graze & forage. The smaller the area they have, the more mess they will make - just less because they are smaller, though generally the younger KKs tend to root more than the adults, they can do "ground clearance" as well as the "big pigs". If keeping an adult herd, the recommendation is 6 KKs per acre, less for meat pigs. But, again as with other breeds - the more room you can give them the better for their long-term health.
Feeding - if you have plenty of grazing/foraging, the adults will not need hard feed during the spring/summer (whatever that is ::) ), during the winter they will need a maximum of 2lbs per day. Though lactating gilts/sows will need 2lbs plus up to 1/4lb per piglet per day over 3 feeds.
Weaners will need approx 1/4lb per month per day, up to 6 months, then feed as the adults.
"Extras" of fruit & veg are always welcomed ;D
Yes, they do take longer to reach a decent slaughter weight - 50-60kgs at 9-10 months (though we have sent away a 6-month boar which gave a kill weight of 34kgs). If you want bigger cuts, then aim for 100-110kgs at 14 months of age (just make sure your abbattoir will take over 100kgs - as some won't handle this). KKs cannot be hurried - they will just lay down fat (lots of it :o ). As with most of the other breeds, the more room you can give them, the more muscle they will build, muscle = meat. The pork is very much the same as "traditional" breeds.
The trick is "treat them mean to keep them lean" so to speak (just with the feeding - lots of tummy tickles are appreciated with this breed ;) ). My guide is that if they can't run, then they're overweight (& KKs can get OBESE very easily).
Showing is great fun - I love to get the opportunity to meet-up with other like-minded folks & you only need a small trailor to transport your pigs too :thumbsup:
I :love: my KKs - they are they best breed for our situation. But everyone has their favourite :eyelashes:
:love: :pig: :love:
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I agree with most of what Lynne's said - except I keep all my piglets/young stock on 1lb of hard feed per day each (too complicated the other way ;))
We prefer the Kunekune pork to most of the other breeds we've tried. Even the first lot of bacon from our Large Blacks hasn't come close to that from the KK's :-\ (but, I might just need to 'tweek' the cure :fc:)
Bruce will only eat KK sausages now ::)
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Thank you ladies that was very helpful......knew you wouldn't let me down :wave:
I think we would have enough space we rear 2 weaners at a time and yes they do have room to run.........now just a little chat with OH.........get him whilst he's recovering from op...hehehe :eyelashes:
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:thumbsup:
Thanks Karen
I have pmed you re. the gilts :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited:
They are so cute with their wrinkly wee snouts ;D
Pauline
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Thank you ladies that was very helpful......knew you wouldn't let me down :wave:
I think we would have enough space we rear 2 weaners at a time and yes they do have room to run.........now just a little chat with OH.........get him whilst he's recovering from op...hehehe :eyelashes:
Go there girl! - get him at his weakest :excited:
Please try & purchase your KKs from a registered breeder - you'll find them on the BKKPS website (we are just a wee bit too far north of the Boarder for you) - & make sure that you ask them specifically for meat weaners, as there is a vast difference in the price of a show/breeding registered piglet.
Please post some piccys when you get them - hurry before the OH is better ;)
:love: :pig: :love:
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How could I possibly resist them :love: :eyelashes: :love: and all 3 cuties are coming to the highlands to stay with me :excited: :excited: :excited:
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How could I possibly resist them :love: :eyelashes: :love: and all 3 cuties are coming to the highlands to stay with me :excited: :excited: :excited:
:thumbsup: