[Pocagranja]

It is interesting to read that boar taint does not usually occur in pigs under 6 months? We slaughtered our 2 Pot Bellied boars at 3 months old as they seemed sexually active. The meat was tainted, not too bad but definitely no good just as a plain roast, needed lots of herbs & spices.
Our sow is pregnant again so we are worried that this time we have to slaughter under 3 months for any boars. They will be tiny as they only weighed 15 kgs at 3 months.  Does anyone have any similar experience or advice. (Castration is not an option here)

[HappyHippy]

My Kune Kunes are castrated by the vet, in the same way as dogs are done (a closed castration) it's not cheap, but it means I can run them on to whatever size I like without the worry of taint or cross breeding.
If castration is out, maybe trying to sell them as 'suckling pig' at a couple of months old - I'm afraid I've not really got any other advice  You could try keeping them as far away from mum & sisters as possible once they are weaned, it might help a bit 
Karen 

[Pocagranja]

Yes we thought about keeping them away from all the sows to see if it delays their sexual development.  We tried to sell the sows last time as pets & the boars as suckling pigs but nobody was interested For a vet to castrate a dog here costs over 100 euros so I hate to think the cost of castrating lots of baby boars

[robert waddell]

why is castration not an option
even if you keep them away from females they will still ride each other so still active and tainted

[oaklandspigs]

Robert - would be happier if youir statement read "why is castration not an option
even if you keep them away from females they will ride each other and could potentially still be active and could be tainted "

Boar taints certainly exists, but is by no means certain.  The commercial world has largely given up castration, and whilst we can argue about whether it casues any pain or distress, many smallholders do not wish to castrate.

I would quite happily support your view that it is an option, and one that should be considered, but one for each to decide, and lack of castration does not inevitably lead to taint.   

If you're happy castrating, then fine, I'm not arguing the case against.

[HappyHippy]

Yes we thought about keeping them away from all the sows to see if it delays their sexual development.  We tried to sell the sows last time as pets & the boars as suckling pigs but nobody was interested For a vet to castrate a dog here costs over 100 euros so I hate to think the cost of castrating lots of baby boars

It costs me between £35 and £50 per piglet, it's certainly not cheap (anesthetic costs mainly)  But for me it's what works best, especially as castrated Kune Kune boars make excellent outdoor pets.

Maybe folks just don't want to eat pot bellied pigs  I would always consider them more 'pet' than 'pork' 
If they are your pets, that's fine - but if you're wanting to sell piglets/pork you might be better considering a larger breed. Traditional pork breeds don't normally become sexually active until they are about the right size for slaughter
HTH
Karen 

[robert waddell]

oaklands if you read the postings by pocaganja      the first states castration is not an option
the second it would appear the cost is prohibitive       i would like the posters view
the point that should be getting across  is that we  are dictated to by animal welfare groups that wield the lobbying power   yes the commercial world has given up castration but only because of there market that if they were to continue would disappear overnight  how many gilts go to slaughter in pig  you will never get an answer
could does not come into it the poster said they were tainted are you calling them a liar Cathy pebbles from qms says she can detect it is she a liar  but i like your  use of diction to sledgehammer  a view

[Fowgill Farm]

Just out of interest i have sent a entire young boar to the butchers this week, he missed going at the end of Nov because he was too small so i had to keep him back but the only place for him to live was with a sow so i know he was feeling his feet even though he was too small to serve her it didn't stop him trying so i shall be waiting with interest to see if there is taint, will keep you posted.
Mandy 

[MAK]

I think "taint" has been discussed before. I am pretty sure that someone said that not everyone (eaters) can taste taint AND that the level of taint varies with breed of pig.
My neighbour seems to think that if the testicles are removed immediately after killing this will reduce the level of taint. Or maybe my French is not up to it and he said that he would kill me if I leave the testicles on our next pigs (or any other version you can come up with)..

[Pocagranja]

Hi, thanks for all the replies. When we slaughter the piglets we always remove all the guts, inc testicles, leaving only the kidneys, we then hang them over night in a cold store. Could the kidneys make any difference to the taint?
We acquired both the pigs (boar first, then sow for company) as rescued animals & assumed that the boar had been castrated as he had no visible testicles & was very gentle mannered.  Yes we now know he has internal organs! So we never got the pigs for pork, getting another breed is not an option.
Ref the castration we are considering it, a local farmer does the procedure himself & we are going to watch & decide. Obviously the cost comes into the equation as well as the animals welfare.  We do not sell the pork & even full grown they are still a very small breed.

[robert waddell]

i don't think the kidneys would make a big difference to the meat  although they do taste pishy when cooked
you will have to look up the laws covering castration in Spain and adhere to them
interesting in France they leave the testicles in the carcase our slaughter house remove the testicles if there the anus and tract also the vagina and tract i am assuming the penis is removed as we have never seen one on a male pig

[Rispain]

What is pot belly meat like, is it incredible fatty???

[chickenfeed]

  i once saw the produce from a PB, someone we knew had one slaughtered, now dont get me wrong i like a bit of fat with my pork but this was more like a bit of pork with fat fat and more fat. they never bothered with one again.

[Pocagranja]

Like most meat the quality etc depends upon what you feed the animal as well as the breed?
We fed our PB piglets on lots of vegetables, let them roam free to forrage & fed minimum amounts of cereal. The result was not fatty at all! A nice layer of fat under the skin of about 1cm then lean dark pork. Needless to say the taste was lovely & we are looking forward to our next arrivals in 8 wks!