[Azzdodd]

Has anyone had these before? Getting some weaners in a few weeks and I just want to know when I can expect them to finish? How the meat will be? They are going to be outdoor reared I'm getting 2 gilts as I plan on keeping one to breed from....thanks in advance

[Hassle]

Pigs are social animals and prefer a piggy friend. Not sure on what you will expect but it guess it will be large

[Azzdodd]

Yeah I'm getting 2 weaners then keep the better one for breeding I'm thinking of crossing with a saddleback boar

[Fowgill Farm]

I think Hassle was trying to point out to you that keeping one on its own for breeding is not fair on the gilt she will fret when her companion goes to the butcher, do you plan to get another couple of weaners to keep her company?
Also think when your litters are going to be born and if you'll be able to shift a dozen or more piglets.
A Welsh/LgW cross will be a big pig 250kg+ fully grown so bear in mind it will need a good sized ark/building to farrow in. Crossing with a SB will give you good pork & bacon.
But why keep crosses pork from crosses is just any old pork, why not look at keeping pedigree LW or Welsh both super pork pigs and then at least you have the pedigree kudos to add as a selling plus.
Mandy

[HappyHippy]

Ditto Mandy's point about breeding from pedigree pigs, with the cost of feed as it is (high) and no difference in costs of keeping pedigree -v- cross breed pigs I'd be more inclined to use these two gilts to gain pig husbandry skills and be sure you want to take on the commitment of having pigs year round before starting to breed.
By going down the pedigree route you're helping to preserve these breeds for the future, could sell breeding stock to others and have the 'pedigree pork' advertising campaign backing you 
Large Whites and Welsh are both rare breeds in their own right, I'd be trying to find a couple of registered gilts for breeding IMHO.

But these ones will grow quick and should finish quite quick and lean 

[Tudful Tamworths]

Agree with what the others have said re. cross breeds v pedigree. What's the point in buying cheap when you can buy pedigree, put to a pedigree boar, and then potentially double your market (meat weaners and pedigree breeding stock)? You'll also be helping keep the breed going. 


And, as pointed out earlier, you shouldn't be thinking of keeping one lone gilt when the other two go.
Lots of people make the mistake of hanging onto one gilt for breeding just because they can.


Surely these aren't the only weaners available in your area. Where are you? Shop around and get the best you can afford if you want breeding stock. By all means buy cheap meat weaners to raise for pork, but be more selective with anything you intend keeping. You'll be glad in the long run.

[Azzdodd]

She would never be kept alone I would always have another pig here for company. I thought a good cross was as good as a pedegree but obviously not lol. If I was going to go pedegree would have to be saddleback I love them :-) as regards to finishing what sort off age should I look to finish these 2? I've still a fair amount of pork in the freezer so one will be going to pork and other one for bacon at the same time i know joints will be smaller but there is only 2 of us here at tea time lol

[HappyHippy]

Usually it goes on weight, rather than age  and a lot of it depends on what weight limit your abattoir has - check with them what the maximum they can do is. I usually send off 'porkers' at 85Kg liveweight, you get a carcass of approx 50kg and about 40Kg of actual cuts back. Measure around their body, just behind the front legs and when they measure 40 inches they're about the right size. The pigs you're considering getting should be that size around 22 weeks of age (ish).
We had a pig this size cured for ham/bacon - it tasted every bit as good, but the bacon had a smaller eye.

[Azzdodd]

I'm excited the other 2 I just took them when they looked ready but they were a osbXgos and I got loads off them....ration wise what do I feed them? The other 2 had a bucket morning & night o pig nuts and about 10 carrots each chopped? These 2 will be bigger I'm guessing so need more!

[HappyHippy]

The usual is a pound of food for each month of age, up to a maximum of about 6 lbs - split into 2 feeds.
If you're feeding fruit & veg you can reduce the pig nuts and feed 4lbs of fruit & veg instead of 1 lb of nuts - but stick to at least 50% of their diet coming from hard feed - they need the suppliments in it (vit's and minerals) and will grow quicker with a higher hard feed percentage. We usually give 75-80% pig nuts with the remainder coming from fruit & veg - except in the cold winters when they get full ration of hard feed plus some sugar beet if they're outside. (They need the extra protien to stay warm and maintain their condition)

Good luck and please post some piccies when they arrive