[jason.gos]

I have the opportunity to purchase "Paddy" a fabulous, friendly 1 year old Gloucester Old Spot boar who has been "residing" with my 2 girls, Daisy - a GOS x Kune Kune and Poppy a Saddleback x Hampshire since the beginning of May. His current owner want £200 for him which is what she paid for him at 8 weeks old.

He is just a bit too laid back - not sure he's done the business though I'm pretty certain neither sow has come back into season since he first arrived.

He is so happy in his new home in the sun and the mud having lived in a barn in a concrete stall for the last 12 months. I'd like to keep him but I don't want to be taken for a mug being a newcomer to pig keeping.

Is £200 a fair price? He come with the transfer of pedigree and seems to be everything a GOS should be from what I have read about the breed standard.

Thanks. J 

[JulieS]

If he is pedigree with all his papers then I would say that was a very good price. 

Reading between the lines of your post, do I understand right that you haven't seen him 'working'?  If not, how long has he been with you and are you sure your girls haven't come back into season?    Just double check your records etc before you commit to buying him.

But if he's working well and you like him then I would say go ahead.

[JulieS]

I forgot to say.

She paid £200 for him at 8 weeks??  Wow, that's a lot to pay for a weaner!!! 

What does everyone else think?

[Mr Pig]

On the basis that is costs a minimum of £5 a week to feed a pig, you're being offered him at less than the cost of the grub he's consumed. If he's working, he's a bargain. If he's not, he's a liability.

[Hilarysmum]

Has the breeder had litters by him, were you able to see any of his progeny?

[jason.gos]

Thanks for so many responses.

Hillarys mum - No babies yet, he had been with 2 sows for 6 weeks before he came to me. His current owner thinks one is in pig but isn't sure. She wants to sell him because she thinks he's too big to serve her new girl GOS!?

Mr Pig: On that basis we could always turn him into a LOT of salami!

JulieS: I'm 75% sure my girls haven't come back into season.

I think I will hold back as long as I can and if he is firing on all 4 cylinders, I'll have him come stay for good. Hope to hire him out!

J