The logistical problems of owning only two gilts who farrowed 3 weeks apart are upon us. Normally our pigs live in woodland, about 300 metres from our house, rested since last November, and ideally placed for separating mums from piglets for weaning. For the farrowings they were moved to a small grass paddock, divided in two with an ark in each, next to the house where we can observe what is going on. After nearly two months continuous use these small paddocks urgently need to be rested, especially the Tamworth family one with 10 piglets nearly 7 weeks old. We pick the poo daily but cannot remove the urine and the stench is strong. Mrs. T (Tamworth) seems to be having an increasingly unpleasant time accommodating 10 large, squabbling piglets for feeding, and all of them are eating nuts and veg very happily and seem ready to be weaned anytime. We basically have three choices for weaning - does anyone have any views as to which would be best?
1. Move Mrs. T on her own down to the woods and leave all 10 Tamworth weaners behind in the paddock. The 6 we are selling will be going between 8 and 9 weeks old, and these dates cannot be changed. This would leave just 4 weaners in the paddock, thus less pressure on it. I am not keen on this option as our Tamworth sow is a lovely friendly sociable soul, and I think she would be incredibly lonely down there in the woods all on her own for over 3 weeks.
2. Move Mrs. T plus the 4 weaners we are keeping down to the woods, leaving the 6 who will be sold in the paddock for 5 - 8 days to get used to not having any milk, or their mum around. This would reduced the fighting for milk if there were only 4 piglets feeding from her, and would eliminate the social problem. These 4 piglets would be returned to the paddock for proper weaning when Mrs. SB (Saddleback) is ready to take their place as woodland companion and wean her piglets, three weeks later. The 4 Tamworth piglet/weaners would by now be 10 weeks old. This is my preferred option, but I am wondering whether doing a partial weaning like this would cause Mrs. T any problems?
3. Leave Mrs. T plus all 10 piglets in the paddock for another 3 weeks waiting for Mrs. SB to catch up. The 6 Tamworth weaners going for sale would disappear from under her nose (will she mind this?) and have no time off milk before they left. Then when the Saddleback piglets are 7 - 8 weeks old, move both sows down to the woods leaving all the weaners behind in the paddock until both their mums' milk has properly dried up after 2 weeks on their own.
Or - any other ideas? Any advice would be much appreciated - Tamsaddle
Topic: Weaning choices (Read 4139 times)
