[lisanic]

We have 2 SB sows who have each had 2 litters really succesfully...both great mums with lovely piglets. Also have a GOS gilt who we would like to breed from. We were told that once weaned the sow should go straight back to the boar which we have done up to now. However we have a lot of litters to keep over winter and our land is very muddy. Is there a problem with each sow only having one litter a year and that way we can avoid having quite so many babies over winter. We have been told that it is not good for the sow to not be put staright back in pig.
Any ideas would be very welcome.

[shep53]

Our 3 tamworth sows have one litter each in the spring doesn't seem to bother them, also we don't wean them the sows do , just like their wild boar ancestors

[lisanic]

Thanks for your reply. We take mum away from her litter between 7 and 9 weeks and then she goes straight back in with the boar. How does self weaning work? Also do you use a boar or AI?

[shep53]

The sows get fed up with the piglets biting any where from 14-20 wks and chase them,but space is not a problem ,then sows tend to be one group and piglets another. We have a boar

[Fowgill Farm]

You can stagger your litters if you plan well. We aim to have a litter January, mid March & end May. this way we don't keep too many pigs thro the worst of the winter and we nearly always have an in pig girly to live with our boar when he's not occupied with vistors. It aslo means our girls get chance to have a breather between litters and put a bit of condition back on. You have to decide what works for you, get a wall planner and some coloured pens, if you know when your pigs are in season start and work out when you want piglets and work back to see when you eed a boar or AI.
if you e-mail me [email protected] i can send you a helpful date sheet which might help with your plans.
HTH
mandy 

[lisanic]

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions. Think we will go to one litter a year from now on to keep things easier over winter.