The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: mowhaugh on November 03, 2013, 09:08:32 am
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Our first pig!
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee282/xantia135/DSCF4371.jpg) (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/xantia135/media/DSCF4371.jpg.html)
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee282/xantia135/DSCF4359.jpg) (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/xantia135/media/DSCF4359.jpg.html)
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee282/xantia135/DSCF4356.jpg) (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/xantia135/media/DSCF4356.jpg.html)
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee282/xantia135/DSCF4336.jpg) (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/xantia135/media/DSCF4336.jpg.html)
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee282/xantia135/DSCF4322.jpg) (http://s232.photobucket.com/user/xantia135/media/DSCF4322.jpg.html)
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Oh Louise, I'm all choked up !
I've been thinking about her constantly and really missed our breakfast chat this morning. BUT she looks so happy, that is piggy heaven!
She is one lucky girl to have found you. Hope you have many happy times ahead. X
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Super :excited:
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Lovely :thumbsup:
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Lovely, is that her name? Doreen? love it, hope there is not some one somewhere that is similar to your lovely piggy!!
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That looks like a great environment for a pig to live in. You need to get her some company now!
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Oh Louise, I'm all choked up !
I've been thinking about her constantly and really missed our breakfast chat this morning. BUT she looks so happy, that is piggy heaven!
She is one lucky girl to have found you. Hope you have many happy times ahead. X
You didn't tell us how loud Doreen snored! ;D Chris just went to see her for a chat, and he could hear her from about 10 metres away, she was flat out in her house having a nap. She is lovely!
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Ha ha she doesn't normally snore loudly she must be very content, full of windfalls maybe?
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Oh, she's gorgeous :thumbsup:
Looks to be registered too ;) it's well worth checking out her bloodline, Large Blacks are so rare that it's really worth trying to do a bit of pedigree breeding if you can to keep numbers up too :innocent:
If you can read the numbers & letters on her tag you can check it on the BPA herd book.
Definitely agree about company, even if it's just a couple of fatteners - she'll need something/someone to snuggle into when the weather gets really cold :hug:
Oh and watch out for windfalls that begin to ferment - you could end up with a drunk pig :D
Good luck and keep us posted :excited:
Karen :wave:
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We do want to get her company, but weren't sure, as she has been accustomed to being by herself and she is 6 now, whether is would be better to wait and keep one of her own piglets? She seems very contented just now, anyway.
My ponies are not so impressed though!
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She looks beautiful - glad you're helping to protect this wonderful and very rare breed.
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Oh Louise, I'm all choked up !
I've been thinking about her constantly and really missed our breakfast chat this morning. BUT she looks so happy, that is piggy heaven!
She is one lucky girl to have found you. Hope you have many happy times ahead. X
You didn't tell us how loud Doreen snored! ;D Chris just went to see her for a chat, and he could hear her from about 10 metres away, she was flat out in her house having a nap. She is lovely!
That's nothing, I bet I beat that. :excited:
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I had not realised how rare they were until I read all the leaflets Lynne kindly sent with her; before we got her I wasn't too concerned with finding a LB boar, I just wanted to get some piglets and didn't mind if they were crosses, but now I know how rare they are we are definitely looking for a LB husband for her - anyone who can point me in the right direction, that would be most appreciated! I think she might be a Sock Doreen, but need to check her number to find out exactly who she is. I also don't understand the ear notching - is there a guide to this anywhere?
Also unsure whether I should join the BPA, the Large Black club, or both?
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happyhippy has Large Blacks so should be able to help. Maybe you could share a boar :thumbsup:
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I emailed you the BPA transfer Louise. She is Sock Doreen 167 R000736LB
It took us ages to find a LB boar and AI didn't work for us. When she had her litter with us all the piglets were birth notified and notched as pedigree LB but no one wanted them. They all went for meat sadly. I think we were in the wrong part of the country.
Did you get the email re herd mark? X
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:thumbsup: Good on you for thinking about the conservation of the breed :)
Rusty Taylor at Garlieston Lodge in Wigton has 2 different pedigree Large Black boars, he has a Lincombe Majestic Eagle boar (Bonking Bob) and a Sock super (who also looks to be unrelated to your sow) and he might be able to bring a boar to you or take your sow for service. Give him a ring (mention Karen @ Yonderton) and see what he says his number is 01988 600641.
Alternatively there's a new boar standing for AI at Deerpark in Ireland (they'd had some fertility issues with the last ones I think) he's Donagheragh Malcolm and if she's farrowed this year and you can spot the season there's no reason not to try. If you phone Deerpark on 028 7938 6558 they'll post you the instructions to have a read of first.
As to who you need to join...
The BPA are the ones who oversee the herd book, so if you want to breed registered piglets to add to the herd book you'll need to join them.
The Large Black breeders club are a great source of advice and send out quarterly newsletters to members.
Ear notching looks helluva complicated, but it's not really (it's not that bad actually doing it either - I'd been dreading it, but it was fine) you'll get info sent through when you join the BPA but depending on where you are I could come to help you through it the first time you do it (I'm in South Lanarkshire, Lesmahagow)
Hope this helps a bit ? Just shout if there's anything else I can help with.
Karen :wave:
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If I didn't have GOS, the LB would be my next choice, I don't know anything about the breed, I just like the look of them
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Thanks, Lynne, you are a superstar! She is still fine, so friendly, and making friends with the ponies through the fence now they have stopped running away!
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If she's a Sock, you've got a sow from an excellent breeder - Martin Snell in Yeovil. He's a really lovely man and I'm sure he'd be happy to have a chat to you and advise you on the breed. If you want his details, I can forward them to you.
Enjoy being a pig keeper! All the best, Liz
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Thank you for all the helpful advice, Doreen is just fantastic, so friendly and so much fun.
Liz - I would really like Martin's details, that would be great.
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I have registered LB boar on the Cornwall Devon border. Judy
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I've messaged you a number for Martin.