[princesspiggy]

we took the plunge and brought home our first boar today.
iv found it difficult to spot dorothys seasons since her litter, and seem to have spent £200 on ai this year with only one litter so it makes sense to have our own boar.
he came with his sow so we now have 3 tammie sows/gilts so im sure hel earn his keep. (im still justifying his keep - lol)
as our gos's season is gona fall on xmas eve (no post?) , i have to decide whether to let him cover her or not.
anyone tried tamworth x gos?
hes golden ranger. very cute.
will post fotos tomorow
 

[little blue]

lovely
we've just got replacement boar since we lost Murphy, so far the girls frighten the life out of him, he's only little!
not really what we planned, but too good an opportunity to miss...

[Berkshire Boy]

Good on you princesspiggy always a good investment a boar. I have 3 because I like to mix them about but I find them no trouble at all. As with anything it is down to the way you treat them, they can be the gentlest of things but you need to remember they are a strong animal and have off days.
The main advantage over AI is that you just let them get on with it, leave them in together right up to farrowing if you want.
Enjoy

[robert waddell]

little blue  you may have a problem there if the boar is intimidated by the sows/gilts he will not be very interested in them when they are gouping for it      some boars are perfect gentlemen when she says no he says alright i wont bother    what you want and need in a boar is him being forcefull      not even bothering to get the nickers off just straight in there giving her laldie   

[Berkshire Boy]

Oh Robert you are such a charmer.

[oaklandspigs]

PP,

Yes we've done tammies to both Saddlebacks and GOS, in both cases you get a really nice crossbred -lively, good back end when done to a GOS, and not so much tendancy to go to fat, finished fast as well.

[little blue]

he's too young yet Robert, but his separate pen isn't going to plan so he's having to bunk up with the big girls....
they are not in season & just don't like sharing their food with upstarts.

give him chance, he'll get the idea when his hormones kick in

[princesspiggy]

  what you want and need in a boar is him being forcefull      not even bothering to get the nickers off just straight in there giving her laldie   

u do make me laugh 

well dorothy is alot bigger but hes damn persistant from the first minute. thats what shes needing and she might lose a few pounds now as she cant stand still to eat her dinner in peace. i dont think shes missed her seasons, i think iv just missed them, cos im rushing around allday. they always seem to be in season saturday mornings here. or bank holidays when theres no post.
the boar will fit in fine here, hes bin well looked after and loaded fine etc so fingers crossed. in fact he looked a bit worried in the trailer - prob thot his time was up!
im still excited, will be taking fotos tomorrow!

[princesspiggy]

btw am i right in thinking 10 mths is the earliest to mate a tammie?
thanx

[robert waddell]

yes get them farrowing at just over the year old

[princesspiggy]

finally took some fotos!

[Tudful Tamworths]

Get him in there! I'm sure it will make a great cross.

Have spent far too much of today on "S**g watch" - the next great reality TV show, I'm sure. Got a new boar in last night, but ihis feet are so muddy, he keeps slipping off. Trying his best, poor bugger. Getting it in, but there's a bit of leakage. Apologies if anyone is eating!

[Sylvia]

My pigs are so discreet I thought they had never "done it" but apparently they had. Only one litter so far though and not really much sign of the other one being in pig.

[Fowgill Farm]

i don't know why but i actually prefer boy pigs to girls, i think they have more character proabably why i have 3 at the mo Big Gerry who's 7, deaf and fires blanks but is still top pig and he marches round letting everyone know and woe betide you if he gets a whiff of one of my other boys, then there GG 18mth, an absolute gentleman and such a mummy's boy and then theres Tom Tom who i have for sale whos 6mths and is such a lazy thing lays on his side to eat and quite often falls asleep in his trug!. I love my girls too but all my boys are mummy boys. Happy families Enjoy your boy a good investment
Mandy

[princesspiggy]

it was a big decision for us to get a boar, very aware that they can be dangerous etc, but this chap is a angel so far. hes not pushy or bossy, hes a complete gentleman. and he has the most kind and thoughtful eyes. delighted so far. im very happy at moment! a herd of tammies is very pleasing on the eye.