The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: chester copperpot on January 18, 2010, 07:39:23 pm

Title: men before the ladies
Post by: chester copperpot on January 18, 2010, 07:39:23 pm

Can any one tell me how old the boars should be when slaughtered, mine are not castrated and i have heard that can spoil the meat? i have 2 boar GOS with 4 sows, they are currently 15 weeks old. cheers

Title: Re: men before the ladies
Post by: Rosemary on January 18, 2010, 09:09:36 pm

We slaughter our uncastrated boars at about 32 weeks and have never had any problem with boar taint. I think in previous threads on this, boar taint wasn't experienced even when the boar was mature and had been used for breeding so long as he wasn't being used prior to slaughter.

Title: Re: men before the ladies
Post by: chester copperpot on January 18, 2010, 09:29:44 pm

Thanks, i just got 6 pigs on saturaday, its very exciting, thay have a big paddock to roam and have nearly dug it all up already! im gonna try to rent the woods that back onto my yard so i can move them when the paddock is ready to plant with my veg, i have named them all bruce before the girls name them and get to attached....

Title: Re: men before the ladies
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 19, 2010, 07:24:33 am

If you can separate the males from the females three to four weeks before they go to slaughter.  Ideally they should not be able to see hear or smell the ladies. 

Title: Re: men before the ladies
Post by: Lucky on January 19, 2010, 09:55:51 am

Hi...Ive sent boars to slaughter, uncastrated at a year old, and have had no problems at all, in fact there are some bonuses.  The size, makes wonderful bacon, lots of it.