[Button End Beasts]

I know there was someone on here a while ago who had problems with a boar they had borrowed. Well I seem to be having a similar problem and just don't know what to do. 


At the beginning of Feb we borrowed a boar, supposedly of pedigree stock, owner is listed on the BPA and OSB site. The previous owner of this boar (who no longer keeps pigs), from whom we used to buy weaners from, put us in touch with this guy. So all looked rosy and the guy was nice and friendly. We agreed to return Rocky in 5-6 weeks time and agreed on a payment of a keg of beer from our local brewer.


So at the beginning of March, we started trying to get a date out of the guy for returning the pig but he was a bit vague. Then we agreed to keep him for some extra time until we were back from a holiday. We have been back 2 weeks now and in that time it turns out that the guy no longer keeps pigs and doesn't want Rocky back. He said we can have him but i said no, we have no room to keep a boar. He says his land is waterlogged and he can't have rocky back there. He wants us to keep rocky until he finds a new owner. He has offered to pay us for his keep. However, he still hasn't sent us any money nor the pedigree certificate. To top it all off, we can't find his ear tag and he hasn't been notched!!!!!! I now don't believe this guy is ever going to give us any money for his keep or send through any paperwork, replacement ear tags or whatever. 


What can we do? The guy doesn't live where the pig was kept so I don't really want to go and just dump poor old Rocky back on his land.


Any advice welcome, or anyone wanting an OSB boar...... poor fella!

[lachlanandmarcus]

I'm afraid that is exactly what I would do (take him back and leave him there).....!!!


Or else have him shot and removed and send him the bill unless he sends the keep money within a specified period and in advance plus the paperwork.

[Hassle]

Do you have a market that sells pigs nearby

[benkt]

We've been looking to hire a boar so far unsuccessfully. If you'd like to buy yourself another month or two of feed and time to sort it out then PM me!

[Shropshirelass]

I'd be tempted to keep him & use him at stud, & use him on your pigs to get them in pig again. But I'd also be tempted to get in contact with your solicitor & defra to see where you stand legally & also if your legal to move the animal as he has no tags & I don't know if you could do this yourself or keep him as your not the owner x

[Rosemary]

I know it's too late in this instance but do the BPA issue any guidance on boar hire? Specimen agreement or anything?

[HappyHippy]

Oh no  What a tricky situation to be in !

If the boar is registered and you know any of the pedigree name you might be able to trace him using the BPA herdbook and get the details for notifying your piglets, not all breeders do notch so it might not be as sinsiter as it sounds in that respect 

But shame on Rocky's owner  We're ubber protective if we ever take our boar out on-hire (and it's not often at all), we stay in constant contact with whoever has him and as soon as their pigs are served and don't return to season next time round we're back to get him. We love and value our boar and understand that folk who want to hire him do so because they can't accomodate a boar all the time - this chap doesn't sound like he cares that much 

I don't think it's fair on poor Rocky to take him back and leave him, but obviously he can't stay with you much longer 

I'd suggest contacting either of the BPA OSB breed reps to establish the boar's pedigree and they might know of a good home for him or be bale to advise you a bit more. Jane Matthews is in Chester, her contact details are 07971 551313 [email protected] and David Norman in Dorset can be contacted on  01258 880143 or email [email protected]

HTH
Karen 

[Button End Beasts]

To be honest, I'm not overly upset if Rocky isn't a pedigree. I just wonder if he really is the pig he is supposed to be. An OSB boar, belonging to this man, is on the BPA herdbook. I actually checked all this out before getting him. However, without a tag or any other form of ID it does seem a headache to get re home him.


He is a lovely gentle boy and Flo adores him but.......I don't want to have masses of piglets all year round. I simply don't have the land for it (I prefer to stock low and rotate the land).


When my OH collected Rocky, the owner seemed to adore Rocky and the 6 other pigs he had. So how can he suddenly have no pigs and not want Rocky back? I guess we're not very good judges of character and too trustworthy. 


I guess too, I'll spend next week trying to sort out whether we can legally claim him as ours if the owner won't take him back. But then that is kinda tricky too cos the owner wants us to have Rocky....but then he becomes our problem....but then he already is our problem........arrrgggg. 

[Mr Pig]

Notching is no longer acceptable for OSBs according to BPA so I suggest you inspect his ears closely for a tattoo which should appear in both ears and consist of the breeders' HDL (3 letters) and ear no. Use a torch and shine through from the back of the ear while you look on the inside and vice versa. Also suggest you contact the OSB Breed Rep for advice.

[kja]

i am pretty sure notching is still the ID mark for a osb the bpa site has diagrams for notching a osb & the osb breeders club have it down as the ID mark.

a friend of ours is breeding & notching OSB's. I thought rule of thumb white pigs tattooed coloured pigs notched but I could be wrong 

[Barnsnap]

Prior to January 2011, OSBs could be tattooed or notched.
From January 2011 all OSBs had to be notched.
From March 1st 2013 for a trial period, breeders are given the option when birth notifying and can either tattoo or notch.
So, it depends when the boar was born as to what type of identification he may have.
NB: OSBs can be double tagged but this form of ID has to be agreed with BPA.

[Shropshirelass]

But if he's got none of the above you can't prove his age or pedigree (unless your able to do costly DNA testing with livestock) like with dogs with the uk KC. Sorry but I wouldn't know how to age pigs - is there a way???

I know with sheep & horses you can check sheep & from last year the whole electric tagging thing & with cattle their registered from birth. x

[Button End Beasts]

Just thought I'd provide a little update to my boar dilema.....well Rockys owner never wanted him back, and wasnt ever answering his phone or emails, so I made the decision to keep him and am going to share him with benkt! When I sent a text to his owner saying this, he suddenly got all helpfull and sent all paperwork, a cheque etc.to me!
So I have myself a smashing looking, friendly boar whose pedigree did check out after all (though BPA are a bit slow putting him on the system and his ear notching isnt great) and a new piggie friend in Ben. Still worried about keeping Rocky "busy" but between my Flo and Bens ladies, hopefully he will be OK.
For anyone venturing into breeding, hope my story also makes you very aware of striking up a firm agreement BEFORE boar hire!
 
 

[Clarebelle]

i'm glad to hear everything is sorted out now. Poor Rocky, at least he is in good hands now! 

[Daisys Mum]

Lucky Rocky, sounds as if he has landed on his feet (trotters)