Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: HappyHippy on February 12, 2013, 11:44:31 am
Title: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: HappyHippy on February 12, 2013, 11:44:31 am
We have a barren Kunekune gilt here, Rora, she was from our first ever litter of Kunes and Rebecca's 'pet', she showed her a couple of years ago (winning champion Kunekune too :trophy:) Beautiful pig, fantastic temper, great confirmation and just about the 'perfect' Kunekune in my very biased opinion ;) :D
But when we first put her to the boar she broke out the field (must not have liked the look of him ;)) into the neighbouring one that contained a pig-hating stallion :o (we didn't know at the time he didn't like pigs or would have used another field :-\) She got stomped on, but quickly made it out the field and showed no external signs of injury or pain, however we've never been able to get her from service to farrowing most probably as a result of this ???
She cycles, has a season, gets mated, misses the next season (sometimes 2) then, all of a sudden she's back in season. We even had (what appeared to be) colostrum from her at one point and wondered about a phantom pregnancy ? Anyway, we resigned ourselves to this and gave Rebecca (9) the choice of keeping her or choosing another piglet as a replacement show/breeding pig, she decided that she'd like to eat Rora ::) and get another piglet.
So that was all decided and fine (very grown up attitude for a nine year old my daughter has ;)) but now I'm having a wobble about it :-[ Rora is in the shed, in the pen right next door to Adelaide (her mum) with her piglets. Yesterday one of Adelaide's piglets had managed to squeeze under the rail into Rora's pen :o and she was lying cuddled up to it and appeared to be trying to nurse it. She saw me and looked up at me and I swear the look in her eyes was just one of "please don't take it away" :'( :'( :'( Obviously I had too, the piglet was only 2 days old and Rora didn't have milk for it, but it really made me very sad :'(
Now I don't know what to do :-\ Should I just get a grip and send her off as Rebecca wants ? Should I keep her as a surrogate to look after newly weaned litters and amuse the boar when he's not got company ? Or should I look for a 'pet' home for her ? Aaaarrgh ! Don't know what to do for the best ! Pigs eh ? Never a dull moment :innocent: Karen x
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Blinkers on February 12, 2013, 11:48:16 am
Pet, pet, pet, pet
:hug:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: sabrina on February 12, 2013, 11:51:54 am
If she was mine, I would keep her. But I am soft. If she can keep the boar happy and help with little pigglets but only you can decided.
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Bionic on February 12, 2013, 12:08:29 pm
I would talk to Rebecca again, explaining the situation and see what she says. If she still decided to let her go then I think thats what you should do. If she is undecided then definitely keep as a pet. We are mostly all softies here. :pig:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Hassle on February 12, 2013, 12:11:20 pm
its a great story but you have to decide if you want a pet or if a nicer pig with piglets and everything is around the corner :farmer:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Fowgill Farm on February 12, 2013, 12:29:58 pm
I can only say one name.........Delia.........completely useless barren gilt, lived to be 7. but was a great pal, useful for putting with boar when no females to be served and i loved her loads :love: :love: miss her now even though Clover is fast morphing into her ::) ;D I think i'm with Bionic Sally on this one. mandy :pig:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: kja on February 12, 2013, 12:43:54 pm
here if she had started off as a pet that would be fine but had she started off as a breeding / show pig she would be sausages sorry that just me practical where breeding stock comes into play but a big softie when the name pet gets put into play.
we had a gilt that went to the boar showed signs of being in pig but did not farrow or come back in season nice as she was she had to go to the big freezer.
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Berkshire Boy on February 12, 2013, 12:48:55 pm
Now from a mans point of view as you are all softy women. Keep,keep if she looked at me like that I couldn't do the dirty deed. :'( :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: P6te on February 12, 2013, 01:11:43 pm
I'm with BB ... keep her .... as you said she can be company for a boar when you don't have any ladies in need of his services! A little KK isn't going to cost much after all. :innocent:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: colliewoman on February 12, 2013, 01:38:13 pm
You can't eat anything that can 'talk' to you. You never know when you might need a surrogate mum for orphan piggers, to teach em how to be pigs. Always handy to have a friend for the boar too.......
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: HappyHippy on February 12, 2013, 02:07:56 pm
A little KK isn't going to cost much after all. :innocent:
That's what I was kinda thinking :innocent:
Thanks folks :-* I'm normally good at keeping pet and pork apart (in an emotional sense ;)) and we've sent off gilts who'd been destined for breeding before, just struggling with this one :love: :pig: Will try for a decent sleep tonight and discuss with the family again tomorrow :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: ZaktheLad on February 12, 2013, 02:53:43 pm
Another vote for the "keep" from me! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: P6te on February 12, 2013, 03:05:13 pm
Hi Karen .... we need a photograph of Rora! :excited:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Daisys Mum on February 12, 2013, 03:44:24 pm
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: HappyHippy on February 12, 2013, 04:54:59 pm
Here's Rora ;D
One of her being shown as a youngster and one from last summer out in the field - she grabs mouthfulls of food and runs of to hide and eat it ::) ;D
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Anke on February 12, 2013, 05:03:34 pm
I am probably coming from the other side on this - if I asked my daughter and gave her the choice I would do as she decided. Otherwise I would just set a pecedent and ALL future failures would probably end up in the same discussion. BUT I don't have adult pigs, so maybe I am not the right person to advise on this.
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Mrs Snoodles on February 12, 2013, 06:56:00 pm
If you can find a good use for her and costs are kept to a minimum then I would say keep too. If she had no use and was a big pig in need of the usual amount of feed then maybe otherwise....
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Susannah on February 13, 2013, 12:11:07 am
Oh dear, this has set me off again! Still bubbling with emotion having had my first visit to Shotts this morning :'( all be it with four very troublesome sheep. What a dilemma, I agree with everyone! Having asked Rebecca though I think you should go with her wish, BUT Rora does seem to have potential useful roles and she does look sooo sweet. (My Tottie used to do that with her food too!) Good luck
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Mammyshaz on February 13, 2013, 06:52:08 am
I think you are level headed about what would normally go or stay but,on rare occasion, there s going to be that 'special one' that has a place in your heart for good reason. Perhaps your daughter is just trying to do what she would normally expect you to do and live up to that. Deep down she may really want to keep Rora.Like Bionic I'd speak to her again letting her know how you feel about Rora and see what she says. If she doesn't feel so deeply attached and still wants her to go then sorry but you did ask her :'( And be proud that you have brought your daughter up with such a good understanding of the way farm life is. :fc: for Rora
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: kaz on February 13, 2013, 01:11:00 pm
Keep.
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Hassle on February 13, 2013, 03:12:15 pm
You lot are such a load of softies :innocent: :farmer:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: ppd on February 13, 2013, 03:51:34 pm
I would go with keeping too, but I suppose at the end of the day it's maybe what your daughter will decide and if she decides to go with getting a new pig then you should be very proud of her too.
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: feldar on February 13, 2013, 03:59:27 pm
I've seen a picture now, so it's personal please keep she's lovely! another softy :innocent:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Bumblebear on February 13, 2013, 04:54:29 pm
Well, as I see it you only gave Rebecca two choices, and she chose. How about if you gave her an extra choice I.e. I'll have your pet pig as my pet pig and you get another for showing? :thinking: ;)
A sneaky "keep".
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Tiva Diva on February 13, 2013, 07:26:07 pm
Karen, with as many pigs as you have, surely you won't notice an extra mouth to feed ;) Besides, as others point out, if she's truly barren she can earn her keep as a companion pig for lonely boars. We use a castrated male for that (OK, we send them for bacon at 9 month-1 year and change to a new one) but sounds like Rora would be even better company for them: like having a girlfriend on the pill ;D If you love her that much, I'd say keep her :hug:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: thestephens on February 13, 2013, 07:27:57 pm
Keep her! We have my first pig Poppy who has never been pregnant, she keeps the boar happy, and companian to whoever needs one! The thing with us is if its a pig destined for sausages, it doesnt get a name (or a silly one) but Rora has a pretty name, been shown, shes got a history with the family. KEEP HER :fc:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: ppd on February 13, 2013, 07:32:42 pm
............and she is a beautiful pig :love: :pig: :love:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: P6te on February 13, 2013, 08:21:10 pm
It sound to me that the overwhelming consensus here is in favour of KEEPING Rora!!
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: jellybean on February 16, 2013, 02:50:33 am
Have you tried AI or talked to a vet about your troubles. short of that cull her
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Berkshire Boy on February 16, 2013, 10:09:09 am
So come on Karen spill the beans is she a keeper or a goner. :excited:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: HappyHippy on February 16, 2013, 10:35:50 am
She's still here ;)
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Bionic on February 16, 2013, 11:27:23 am
coward ;D
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Berkshire Boy on February 16, 2013, 01:17:34 pm
Sometimes you have to let your heart rule your head. Good to hear she is still there. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: ppd on February 16, 2013, 05:30:28 pm
:thumbsup: yay
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: ZaktheLad on February 16, 2013, 05:43:19 pm
Excellent news! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: Eastling on February 16, 2013, 07:36:33 pm
Glad to hear she is still with you :fc: it stays that way
Title: Re: Here's a story to tug at the heart strings.......
Post by: sabrina on February 18, 2013, 06:25:31 am
Not a pig but I had a friend who had a stunning Shetland mare. She had one foal as a 4year old then could not get in foal again. Her job became running with the stallion in the winter and she did this for years. then one morning when checking the ponies she had beside her a stunning little black filly, 10 years after having her first foal. That filly went on to win loads of championships and produce some beautiful foals of her own. nature is a funny thing.