[Helencus]

Well went and looked at a boar today and decided to buy him. My bsb are 8 months so should be ready in a few months. He's 7 months old so should be ready to work after a month or two to settle in. His sire was a reserve champion at the royal show and he looked superb. Fingers crossed the girls like him.

[jacob and Georgina]

congratulations sound like you have got a good find there!!
 

[Helencus]

Thanks Jacob I think so and he was very reasonably priced plus his breeder was extremely knowledgeable and is very willing to give help and advice to get us started and help us produce good quality pork. Really chuffed.

[JulieS]

That's fantastic.  Would love to see a picture.   

[Hilarysmum]

Well done. 

[Helencus]

Thanks so many things to learn though! Can he go in with the girls after a suitable isolation period? Will he be able to live in with them both until farrowing and when they have piglets? Also do they get tusks that need to be removed?  Cheers

[skidley]

My boar lives with the girls all the time until a couple of weeks before farrowing. I have staggered the farrowings this time so one of the sows went in with him then the other a month later when she weaned her litter. I have just taken the first one away as she is due shortly and he still has the company of the other one for another month so hopefully he will only be on his own for 6 weeks or so this time round.

He also has a date with some other ladies booked later in the year so once he has served my girls again he can go on holiday. By hiring him out the borrower pays for his feed for 6 weeks and for him to cover each sow.

He will be 2 in january but we haven't had any issue with his tusks so far.

[Rosemary]

Does hiring him out give you a problem with standstills when he comes back? Is it 20 days for pigs?

[powispigs]

yes, you have to have 20 clear days after bringing a pig onto your holding number 

[Hilarysmum]

Better to have the sows come to you, if only for high welfare reasons, not everyone will take as much care of him as you will. 

We have never had a problem with boars with tusks, providing he is gentle and you always have a pig board with you I cant see any reason to be concerned.  Unless he is rough with the sows, then you can ask the vet to grind them down. 

[Helencus]

Thanks HM. I'm getting excited already :-))

[Hilarysmum]

I'm getting excited for you too