The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: pauljay on March 19, 2013, 07:29:34 pm

Title: Re-breeding?
Post by: pauljay on March 19, 2013, 07:29:34 pm

We have been very fortunate with our British Lops.  Two lovely litters (12 and 8).  We are planning to wean them in a fortnight.  It may seem a naive question, but how soon after weaning should we take them back to the boar.  Any advice would be welcome.  Many thanks.

Title: Re: Re-breeding?
Post by: hughesy on March 19, 2013, 08:06:51 pm

The sow will come into season 3 or 4 days after weaning so technically she could be got in pig straight away. I think it's best to let her have a rest and get back into proper condition personally. How long depends on her condition at weaning time.

Title: Re: Re-breeding?
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 19, 2013, 08:12:50 pm

Traditionally the sow is mated straight away - the longer you leave her the less likely she is to remain fertile, leading to (expensive) hormone treatment to bring her back to breeding condition.

Title: Re: Re-breeding?
Post by: Fowgill Farm on March 20, 2013, 09:08:24 am

A lot depends on when you next want and can cope with piglets!
If you breed her now you will get piglets in July which  :fc:  will fatten in time for Xmas pork, leave it later and you will have piglets to take thro winter, i work on it being a six month cycle i.r nearly 4 months pregnant and 2 months raising litter and work out from their. I try not to have piglets in early autumn as they can be a bugger to shift as no-one wants them thro the winter and aim my litters at jan mar & july, so long as you don't let your sows get fat it can be done.
hth
mandy :pig:

Title: Re: Re-breeding?
Post by: Mrs Snoodles on March 20, 2013, 10:05:02 am

...just a reminder.... check with your abbatoir and butcher what their cut off date for Xmas kills is.  At ours it is late Nov. 

Title: Re: Re-breeding?
Post by: Berkshire Boy on March 21, 2013, 08:37:20 am

Mostly mine go straight back to the boar after weaning. I like to keep the weight on them when they are with the piglets and at weaning they are in good condition to go straight to the boar.

Title: Re: Re-breeding?
Post by: pauljay on March 21, 2013, 07:02:20 pm

Thanks everybody for the good steer on this. Your advice and experience is much appreciated.  Mme Jay and I can start to make plans for the next litters.   :pig: :pig: :pig: :pig: :pig: