[Fowgill Farm]

As many of you know i am involved in the GOS (Gloucesteershire Old Spots) Club and this is becoming a perennial problem as more and more breeders decide not to belong to the BPA. Recently i have taken calls from people who have bought 'pure bred' GOS pigs, they ring me to ask if i can register their pigs as pedigree which of course i cannot do. Only the breeder who is a member of the BPA can register pigs.
We then have the conversation that starts with me asking who they bought them off and generally the converstation goes along the line that this particular breeder swore blind they were pure bred! and i have to explain the old chesnut that 'pure bred' doesn't mean pedigree and that the pig they have is probably best off being sent for bacon and that they start again with stock from a BPA registered breeder.
Now i am not in any way discriminationg against all the cross breeds and unregistered animals out there who are being fattened for the freezer or butcher. Thats what they're ideal for and we all have the odd little accident with our stock now & then You can also breed from non-pedigree sows and that is entirely your choice.
I just want to say please please if you are buying pedigree stock if a pig keeper says its 'pure bred' start ringing the alarm bells. Most of the pedigree breeders i know would not use the term they will nearly always offer 'pedigree' stock, a 'pedigree' breeder will always be happy to show you their BPA certificate which shows their 3 letter herd identifier. They will also be happy to give you the birth note/registration number of their pigs so you can look them up on the BPA website.
You can also contact the breed society or telephone the BPA itself.
We all work hard for our money these days so make sure you get what you're paying for.
If anyone needs any advice about pedigree pigs of any breed fell free to contact me and i'll try to steer you to the right piggy person for that breed
Mandy  .

[oaklandspigs]

Good advice Mandy - we sell "purebred", birth notified and registered pigs, and are very careful that buyers understand what they are buying adn why.
 
 

[HappyHippy]

 
If we all try and spread the word, hopefully eventually folk will figure it out 
No paperwork = No pedigree, simples 

[P6te]

We purchased a 'pedigree' OSB sow, at the time of purchase we saw the papers and still have a copy but despite chasing the seller they have still (months on) failed to make the transfer on BPA records to us so for all intent she is 'just another pig'

I strongly suspect that the seller is no longer a member of the BPA and therefore cannot make the transfer.

Not impressed ..... 

[Berkshire Boy]

Pete,
You should get hold of the OSB rep for the BPA and they should be able to sort it for you. I bought a boar and a couple of sows and the breeder was no longer a member but it all got sorted out in the end.

[P6te]

Thank you BB .... I will take your advice.  Many thanks. 

[mwncigirl]

We're new to pig keeping and find the whole pedigree/pure breed paperwork 'thing' a nightmare. Lucky for us we have found a lovely lady who works hard for her rare breed pedigree pigs and made sure we knew what we were buying. If it weren't for Mary Benfield we would have ended up with a right raggle taggle bunch. We now have some beautiful pedigree registered gilts. I advise all new pig keepers to do your homework!!

[omnipeasant]

Purebred pigs can still be pedigree as this refers to the ability to trace parentage. The key word is registered. I can see it must be a minefield for new starters in pgs. Thanks for highlighting this.

[mwncigirl]

it when sellers say they 'can get the paperwork' that i start to wonder.....

[princesspiggy]

the pig breeder sends the paperwork away themselves, so the purchaser does leave empty handed, with a large slice of trust.
with registered ponies, the breeder signs the forms then hands it all over for the new owner to process.

[mwncigirl]

Yep, but when buying from someone who hasn't bred the pig, but bought them from a breeder in, the next county, and I would have to contact them etc......

[Blinkers]

Good advice Mandy - we sell "purebred", birth notified and registered pigs, and are very careful that buyers understand what they are buying adn why.

Ditto