[LulaB]

Get a couple of weaners.  Raise them for meat the first couple of times and then breed. 


If you are going to breed, suss out your market.  It may be easier to find a market if you go down the rare breed route and finish them yourselves.  There are butchers who specialise in rare breed pork.  Pubs and restaurants too, are increasingly looking at ways of marketing their food.  If they can say "Our pork comes from a farm just down the road and is a breed that you can't get anywhere else", that's great for them and you.  They will need a steady supply, though.  Cultivate relationships and create your market.  That's what we've done and it is working well, so far.

[Beewyched]

 
Totally agree with you Julia - it's soooo much easier if they've grown up with you. 
 
 

an example.
our pigs are used to dogs and as i always have 2 dogs following me everywhere since the pigs were weaners/born, i just took it for granted.
a 2 yr old sow we bought in, actively hates them and will put up a good 10m chase and start a fight.
the problem being is the dogs hide behind me and i got a nasty bite in the thigh last week when she tried to bite the labrador and got me instead. shes no better after 6 mths yet all the babies raised here dont bat an eyelid. shes away next week, 200kg of rage isnt much fun.

I bet 200kg of sausages is though 

[princesspiggy]

oh yes, there is karma....