[patmci]

I have a 16 month gloucester old spot gilt. I have had her in with my boar since she was 8 months old and she still has not produced a litter. I do not know what to do with her. I am just wondering has anything like this ever happened to anyone else who has pigs.

Regards Patrick

[daniellestocks]

Just a few more details may help? has he definitely serviced her? or is she not wanting any of it?
if he definitely has i cant help but sure someone else may have a clue?
Danielle

[powispigs]

Hi we have a 2 and a half year old saddleback gilt that has been with three different boars, each for a few months at a time from when she was 12 months old. She too has never had a litter, she has definately been covered but I guess it just doesn't happen for some pigs.  We have had to make the difficult decision to send her for sausages 

[patmci]

I did put raddle on the boar for a while and she came back with marks on her back so i think she had been covered. She is pedigree and of show quality if there were any shows in southern Ireland i wold have brought her. It seems a shame to make a nice gilt like her into sausages.

[JulieS]

I am presuming you have other girls that your boar has worked with? 

If he's working OK with others and it is just your 16 month old that is having trouble getting into pig things I would personally do are:

Make sure she isn't overweight and in good health.
Check when she is in season and keep a watchful eye on them to really make sure he is covering her properly......Feed more when she is in season too.
Try her with another boar.

Are you sure she isn't in-pig already?  Some gilts don't show much until the last week or so...and with some it can be the last few days.

I'm sure others with have some good ideas too.

Let us know how you get on.

[patmci]

I have 5 other sows with piglets by him at the moment so he is working. I will keep an eye on her.

Regards Patrick

[JulieS]

That's great Patrick.  Yes, keep an eye on her.  What line of GOS is she?

Let us know how you are getting on.   

[Hilarysmum]

Is there any possibility of AI ing or changing the boar even for another breed just to make sure?

[powispigs]

we only made the decision after three different boars of two different breeds -  that had got my other girls in pig successfully - had no luck with this one.  Even now we waiting until 4 months after she was with the last boar just to be certain as JulieS said some hide it well...fingers still crossed 

[Hilarysmum]

Have fingers and toes crossed for you, its hell having to let go a prized sow.

[patmci]

She will have until christmas anyway as that is when i sell all my meat.

[Snapper]

 I'd try  to put her to another boar if you can.

We had a GOS that didn't take with our GOS boar, when she came back in season she went looking for the Middle White Boar.
 Next time we wanted her 'in pig' we tried again with the GOS boar with no success. Middle White X GOS worked with her every time.

[daniellestocks]

we have a GOS sow who wont have none of the boar! but he covered all the others she just doesnt like him! Shes a big old sow and very bossy