[harry]

HI,,, at what age might boar taint start to happen in kune kunes, ie when is it to late to split a mixed sex group

[Fowgill Farm]

Harry i split all my GOS up at 16wks, i also make sure they go to the butchers by 28wks though by acccident some did go at 31wks and touch wood we had no probs.
HTh
mandy

[lill]

not many replies to this question as it has all been debated before in a previous post, if you read through all the posts on boar taint your questions will be answered.

[white-blazes]

We had a mix last year (mistake of the breeder) and had 1 gilt.  They all went off at 6 months without any problems.

[LulaB]

Hi Harry

I don't know about Kune Kunes, but I have never had boar taint on any of my pigs, and I have slaughtered at 11 months before now.  It seems to me that taint could be a problem with fast growing commercial breeds which mature faster.  The GOS, Berkshires, Large Blacks and Lops that I have had just haven't suffered from it.

My neighbouring farmer made all sorts of noises about taint when we first got pigs.  He's now first in line when we have stuff to sell!

[arl]

agreed i have never had it in my osb"s and iv even served it to a butcher friend who said he could smell it a mile off. i didnt tell him and he didnt know till lter and then he refused to believe me. i do think its a commercial thing.
arl

[robert waddell]

when is it to late to split up a mixed sex group       when the gilts are up the stick             kunnies are sexually mature at 3 months
boar taint   again    once it has been pointed out to the non believers you will recognise it when it is being cooked or fried        i would rather not take the chance with entire boars that is why we castrate  others can do what they want and claim it to be a myth that new customer butcher or restaurant that you so desperately want might just be one that can recognise boar taint        i know if you sold pishy pork to me i would not be back and demanding my money back in full with costs  and letting every man and his dog know into the bargain
commercial male pigs are left intact as part of there contract with the buyers and to adhere to the freedom foods campaign    that is the route they are forced down     meat in general can take on the flavour of what is fed to them

[dixie]

I don't think it's a myth, but haven't ever experienced it, despite keeping mixed groups together until 26ish weeks. Seems to me that traditional breeds, who free range, have space and stimulation, are rarely, if ever affected. Having visited a pig farm who routinely castrate (we had a demonstration) I think it's an unnecessary procedure to castrate every single male piglet, 'just in case'! It's not something I will be doing with my meat pigs.

[robert waddell]

it is not a just in case situation    with pedigree pigs i certainly don't want some fly by night coming to buy male pigs then breeding from them
26 weeks appears to be a cut of point irrespective if they have a suitable amount of meat to justify all the expense involved in getting them to this magical age

[dixie]

I've been doing it long enough to find that mine are ready at the earliest 20 weeks, some longer, but by 26 weeks they are all ready,  apart from the odd runt that can go up to 35 weeks, in any case it's the weight that's important not the age, but these ages are consistent with a good size carcass. I'm obviously doing something right not to have had any tainted!

[arl]

Me too Dixie only had pigs 20 years, did notice a difference in commercial stuff tho
Arl