[P6te]

Hi all,

We are new to breeding and would like some advice please.  We are going to be breeding OSB's and are purchasing a boar (as a weaner) that we will grow on with the intention of breeding from him.  At what age is an OSB boar considered old enough to cover a sow?

Many thanks

Pete

[oaklandspigs]

He can become sexullay mature at around 5 months, but it is more a case of mechanics at that age - ie is he tall enough to mount your gilt/sow.  Typically I would let him go through to 8-10 months, then choose a small sow (so one of them knows what to do!).  If your choice of female is limited, then you may have to just wait until he is big enough or buy him a stool !

From about a year old you could expect him to be working normally, and whilst he will continue to grow, he'll be big enough to cope with most sows by then.

[robert waddell]

are the females going to be the same age as the boar   if so from 6-8 months old he should be able to service the gilts

[P6te]

The one female we have lined up is approx 6 months older so when he is 10 months (the age I was thinking of) she will be approx 16 months old.

[robert waddell]

at that age differance he will need to be older to service her    all to do with size    but they will have fun trying it out

[P6te]

ummmmm .... ok .... so in your opinion at what age do you think he is likely to have caught up sufficiently to service her without just playing at it!! 

[robert waddell]

there will always be a size differance until he is a year and a half then he will be more determined then
about 10-12 months old she could stand down hill or in a hole then bingo  but pigs can prove yoyu wrong

[P6te]

Thank you .... we have a while to wait but may need to consider covering her with another boar first and then this one for her second litter!

Many thanks

Pete

[Cluckinggoodpoultry]

Think it is more to do with the boar himself, my saddleback boys started covering my older sows at 8 months and managed very well might I say.

Do have a rather confused kune kune boar though, having successfully covered gilts and sows on a regular basis for myself and others, he has taken to riding a large barrel around the yard 

[P6te]

so he may succeed at an earlish age .... and maybe this is an obvious question, but how do you know (other than by waiting) when the sow has taken?  Is there test I can easily carry out??

[HappyHippy]

he has taken to riding a large barrel around the yard 

Should've gone to specsavers 
But in all seriousness (well, as serious as I get  ) at least he's managing to find something to fullfill his 'urges' 

P6te, I think the easiest way to tell is to watch for a return to season, three weeks from the date of service. I think they can scan to detect, but it takes someone with the scanner who knows what they are doing (maybe if you've got good pig vets or a friendly commercial producer near you they might be able to help) I have seen mention of a pregnancy test that you can dip in their urine, but it seems to be a Chinese/USA product and I'm not having much joy sourcing them here 

Karen 

[robert waddell]

cluckinggoodpoultry   there is nothing unusuall with your kunie boar some of ours in the past and a Simmental bull   when they get up in the morning if not near females     will masturbate to satisfy there needs

[cuckoo]

Hi P6te 

Basil was 10 months when put in with Sage and Onion who were 17 and 13 months old respectively - he managed to do the job almost straight away!

[P6te]

Hi Cuckoo,   

Thank you for your reply, following your theme (Sage, Onion and Basil) our boar is going to be Borage and Mary known as Shallot (Charlotte)!

Pete

[Cluckinggoodpoultry]

'cluckinggoodpoultry   there is nothing unusuall with your kunie boar some of ours in the past and a Simmental bull   when they get up in the morning if not near females     will masturbate to satisfy there needs '


Know what you mean Robert it's the same with most males