[patmci]

Hi guys i have 2 gos 13 month old gilts who had their 1st litters 3 weeks ago. I also have 3 other gos gilts. I would like to have litters at different times of the year. I would like to put the other 3 gilts in pig as they are nearly a year old. Would it be ok to leave the sows till about 2 months after they are weaned to put them in pigs or do i have to put them in pig straight after they are weaned. I heard that they are not as fertile after this. Is this true.

Regards Patrick

[Higgins11]

Patrick

how long do you leave the pigs on befor you wean? you might be able to gain a week or two by stretching your weaning date

[Tullywood Farm]

HI,

NO it is not true that they will NOT be fertile!.
You can as Higgin 11 said leave them on an extra couple of weeks but if you remove even 1 or 2 when they are near to been weaned the sow can come in to heat!.
The problem is that when you wean the sow will gestate approx 5 day's later, So if you are using A.I it is a lot easier to tell.
I use boars and have often let a sow rest for 1 or even 2 month's and have had no problem at all.
Remember that when you wean count 5 day's and then 21 to the next gestation and 21 day's to the next and so on.
If the was true every piggery in the world wheather Free range or Commercial would have all there Pigs in one month and nothing for 6 month's.'(4 in pig,2 to weaning)
You could also watch for your young gilt coming into heat and spread them so that you have only 1 litter per month, Once you have this system in place then as you wean you will be able to serve and the system will continue.
Hope this helps any more questions Please just ask.
Kind regards
Joe

[Hilarysmum]

I try very hard not to have more than one litter a year.  In the case of Hilary this is just not possible as she will go find herself a man if I leave it too long.  Daisy has waited 13 months to go to the boar (HIlary took her slot) was covered and took first time.  Getting them too fat makes them very difficult to get into pig.  You know the sows are fertile so leave them a while if its convenient to you.

[Tullywood Farm]

Hi Hilarysmum

Missed you for the last day or so

We rarely get one litter per year - and we have one sow, who hasn't produced at all yet and we have had her quite a while - Joe is too soft to send her through the butchery (I think there in love) and also it is my daughters favourite pig cause she showed her and won a rosette for being a junior handler!!

Pat obviously doesnt have the problems us softie pig lover have

Julie

[Hilarysmum]

It certainly makes it more difficult if you have to make that decision when you become attached.   They are such wonderful animals....

[Farmer]

I breed three GoS sows and aim at two litters per year each, but will rest a sow for a month or two if I feel she needs it. Resting a sow for a couple of months or more is ok, but don't go past six months as fertility may have dropped and the sow could become infertile - also watch that the sow doesn't gain too much weight, this will also effect her fertility and is not good for her general health.

I breed both Gloucester and Tamworth pigs, both are fantastic, but I do have a special place in my heart for the Gloucester - a magnificent, loving animal that loves human company and makes it a privilege to be a pig keeper!

Pig lovers of the world unite...share the love...share the passion and teach the world what a great animal these rare breed beauties really are!!!

(Sorry...did I get a little carried away) Best of luck anyway

Farmer
 

[Tullywood Farm]

Hello Farmer

Holly our GOS gilt is coming up three, and despite not being overweight and running in the forest with our best GOS boar, she never took to pig.

I'm always saying she's got to go, but as above mentions, I am outvoted by Joe and Tara who have taken a shine to her - she is beautiful, and when she talks to me I lift her big ears up and stare into her almost human blue eyes and chat to her - you would think she understood every word, she has lovely markings, and for a GOS very long hair.

I think she will live her life with us and never produce, we have tried the other GOS boar of a different bloodline but she must be infertile, she did go through a phantom pregnancy around Xmas time when the others were in pig, but no show of any piglets, so back to the boar she went.

They are lovely intelligent animals, we have Tams, Saddlebacks and GOS and my favourites are GOS then Tams who are very vocal, the saddlebacks are lovely and great at producing large litters for the butchery, but can be quite protective and nasty when they are in pig.

I think the most important thing is to love your breeding stock, and not be under pressure to breed them too intensively.  Keep it Country as they say around here
Julie

[Hilarysmum]

Pig lovers of the world unite...share the love...share the passion and teach the world what a great animal these rare breed beauties really are!!!

Oh Farmer my sentiments exactly wherever else could you find such loyalty, dignity, friendship and humility given so freely.

All packaged in such a beautiful tasty, well scrumptious body.  Pigs 4 ever.

[shetlandpaul]

and nice butties afterwards 

[Farmer]

I've just had the saddest day of my life - having culled my oldest breeding boar (George) and three barren sows, Peggy, Katie and Emma - all of whom I dearly loved - I will admit to having stopped on the way home to cry my eyes out and did so again along with my wife when I arrived back home - we had no choice as all four were well overdue for culling in order to make room for young blood - I know we will get as much pleasure and better production from their replacements, but these four were special and I will never forget George...I will miss his friendship and the talks we had...I will miss his gentleness when he just wanted a cuddle...the way he carried himself when courting a sow...his playfulness when he was a youngster...and the way he patrolled his paddock every night before turning in...but above all I will miss his morning greeting and the sound of his snoring when I do the evening walkabout...and if this makes me seem like an old fool, then so be it...I don't care!

Only a minority of people ever get to experience the true pleasure that can be derived from breeding animals of any species...nothing can be as rewarding as the relationship developed between a human and an animal, be-it pig, cow, chicken or sheep; dog, cat, mouse or canary...what a privilege to have another species show you love and effection...they deserve the best we can give them!

(Sorry for going on...I feel better now)

Farmer
 

[JulieS]

It doesn't make you sound like a fool at all.

I've only had my boys for a couple of months now, but I'm very attached to them already.  I can only begin to imagine how you are feeling today.

My thoughts are with you.

[Hilarysmum]

Last year I had to sell my beloved boar, I cried for a week, and phoned the poor long suffering (and dear friend) who had taken him on, every day to check he was ok.  He didnt miss me a bit, but how I ached for a cuddle with him. 

Have just taken on a new GOS boar, coincidentally called George (he chose it himself I wanted to call him Rufus) who I am now able to spend a lot of time with, cuddles and all.  Oh and the glorious sound of snoring when I do the last rounds.  Heaven.

[shetlandpaul]

the person who sold us our first pigs to be very careful that you don't become attached to them. we end up selling them to some else than take them to the slaughter house. its very hard specially with your breeding stock but thats one of the lessons that we learn.

theres nothing wrong having a good cry but the deed still has to be done.

[dixie]

I got our sow 2-3 months after her first litter, she came in heat immediately so we arranged to have the boar the following month, the result being a litter of 11! 10 healthy and survived. so its not impossible to get them inpig after a few months but I think the chances decrease.