[tollgate]

Hello,

New to this forum so please bear with me, i am guessing this might have been asked before.

I have been keeping weeners for the table for about a year and sent 10 to slaughter in this time. I know feel that we may want to breed our own stock, always bought at about 8 ish weeks old. I really like the large blacks and i think i want to go this route. I am going to buy some more weeners in the next week or so. If i then decided to use one of them to breed from i am worried that when i send the other to slaughter it will be on its own. By this time i will probably have a couple more younger weeners in a run nextdoor to the one left. Will the surviving pig be upset at the loss of its friends, or should it be alright with the youngsters nextdoor.

Also are some breeds better for a novice breeder than others?

Thanks

[Tullywood Farm]

The Gilt so long as she is near to other pigs should be fine, But remember that she will be on her own on cold winter nights.
Now on saying that she will be fine as long as she has got plenty of bedding.
Would you consider keeping two Gilts on for breeding?.
Then they would be company for each other .
Hope this helps 
Joe 

[Farmer]

If the gilt can see the other pigs it will help - but you could try putting one of the largest youngsters with her - keep an eye out for bullying, but they should settledown o.k. I breed Gloucesters and Tamworths and would always recommend the Gloucester for novice breeding - fantastic mothers!

Good luck, Farmer
 

[carole]

Just from an experience I had with a saddleback sow. Lovely temprement when she was on her own, sociable with the others over the fence, however would not accept any company at all, male or female. She seemed to develop 2 heads. It became very dangerous. She is now in the freezer!!!!!!

As for large blacks, they are as docile as GOS.

Good luck

Carole

[Farmer]

But not as pretty....