[bd54vck]

  Can anyone give me some advice: found our 3 month old weaner dead in pen this morning with his rump well and truly knawed. We bought him to breed with our 7 month old sow when he was old enough and we have kept them together. Did we do wrong?
Initially we were worried they may not get on with a 4 month age gap but they have been fine for a month, feeding together, sharing their pen and bedding. Yesturday he was a bit off colour and appetite was down but no abnormal temperature or external signs of illness. Thought it just might be the cold weather and decided to wait 24hrs before talking to a vetl. This morning he is dead and savaged! Could the sow have eaten his rump? Not sure whether he has died and she has eaten him or whether a badger has been at him or what?  Anyone got any advice?

[Fleecewife]

Sounds like he died and the sow has eaten him once dead     They are not sentimental

[Lesley Silvester]

Sorry to hear that.   

[oaklandspigs]

You did nothing wrong in mixing them - would very stronghly suggest - as fw does - that it would only be eaten after death, so suspect it died and was then consumed. 
 
 

[Fowgill Farm]

IMO the sow didn't do that to him it was some other critter, is there a way for other animals to get in the pen either by slinking under a gate or thro a small gap somewhere. Watch your gilt carefully although at 7mth she should be a reasonable size she will still be tempting to a passing hungry eg fox to have a bite so beef up your security. Had the sow been a lot older i would have supected her as older sows can get aggressive with youngsters especially if they're trying it on! but these ages as you have said they were fine together. You now need to look at getting a companion for her as its no good her being on her own.
its very sad you've lost your young boar especially if he was promising.
HTH
Mandy