Author Topic: Which Breed for newbie pig keepers? (Read 6876 times)

Wood · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2011, 08:40:43 am »

Hatty,

Where abouts in South Yorkshire are you?? We are Jnc 31 of M1 and just starting out with Pigs and take our delivery of weaners a week Saturday.

We have found a few breeders / pig suppliers in the area and can perhaps point you in the right direction (not saying our direction is right!!)

Maybe we could help eachother out somewhere along the way??

Tudful Tamworths · « **Reply #16 on:** March 02, 2011, 10:17:02 pm »

I always tell prospective pig-keepers to try as many breeds (as long as they are suitable for requirements) as they can when they are just starting out.
Try two of one breed, then two of another, etc. You learn a lot about your own likes and dislikes (both whilst rearing and when you get the meat back from the abattoir).
Nice thing about rearing for pork is that it's not a long-term committment (max four months), so you CAN change your mind next time round. Experiment and enjoy.

Blonde · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2011, 02:24:20 pm »

Large white is probably a good one to try or start out with. It is relatively quiet and a good milker.

Hilarysmum · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2011, 02:42:06 pm »

Large white are great pigs, however I found them not to be so hardy but that may just have been the strain from here. I still think GOS are unbeatable.

Hatty · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:54:34 pm »

Quote from: Blonde on March 03, 2011, 02:24:20 pm

Large white is probably a good one to try or start out with. It is relatively quiet and a good milker.

Now your confusing me didn't plan on milking the pigs lol

if I can get some locally I think we are going to go for OSB after reading as much as I could get my hands on this week they seem a good all-rounder and they are cute too

ambriel · « **Reply #20 on:** March 04, 2011, 06:25:34 pm »

I suppose it depends if you're wanting to slaughter them for meat.

We've got three Kune Kunes which we've had since early January and they're lovely.

We've never had any intention of slaughtering these but thought they'd be a good starter breed for us to learn how to look after them, before expanding into meat production with more suitable breeds later.

Thoroughly recommended.