The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: shankendfarming on July 04, 2017, 08:10:59 pm

Title: Sow retirement age??
Post by: shankendfarming on July 04, 2017, 08:10:59 pm
Hi

I have a couple of Tamworth sows and I wondered what age I should retire them from breeding.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance :-)
Title: Re: Sow retirement age??
Post by: harmony on July 04, 2017, 08:56:55 pm
Generally a sow would "retire" when her litter sizes are no longer viable but smallholders often "ignore" the viability of breeding animals. So, it is up to you really. Obviously, how long a sow recovers after farrowing and rearing a litter or whether she can still stand for a boar are also considerations.
Title: Re: Sow retirement age??
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 04, 2017, 09:40:41 pm
Perhaps not so much how long she can go on breeding but how long she can produce milk to raise the litter without turning into a coatrack.