pigs

[Tigger]

We used to keep GOS pigs when we were doing our 'Good Life' bit. We don't keep any stock now but they were great fun. We did breed from them and ate the results. They're quite interesting because they're so cute when they're little and very lovable when they're old, but they go through a young adult stage when they're naughty and this is the time to slaughter them without guilt (no pun intended).

I give a lot of my waste veg/fruit/peelings to my Bridge partner who keeps pigs. She usually gives me some chops, black pudding and faggots in return and they are fab.

I'm joining the queue for your meat sale now......

[jane E]

Both gilts went to the boar last Monday - successful with one, but other was obviously not properly in season. Means piglets should come last week May/ first June.

They were naughty as young adults - escaped - always together. They've calmed down now. Before Christmas I could quite cheerfully have taken them to the slaughter.

I've got to learn how to do sausages.

[jane E]

An update on GOS pigs. The one gilt had only one piglet and it was born dead. I've since learned that her mother and sister only had 2 in the first litter - hence meaning of term rare breed! However they had normal litters after that, so will have another go. Other one went to boar again and bit a quarter of his ear off! Never been aggressive, but is greedy and I wonder whether he argued with her at meal times.We'll see what happens with her.

[vivie veg]

Gilts will often have reduced litters if they suffer stress during pregnancy. Eg too hot (a problem in large breeding sheds) or being kept waiting too long for their food (again a problem in large breeding sheds where the ones furthest from the door might have to wait half an hour before their food gets served up, so commercial farmers have automatic feeders).

Try to keep to a strick regime (I'm sure they wear watches as they are so good at knowing when feeding time is!) and make sure you have cover if you might be late back for a feed.

[jane E]

That would figure. We had the hottest July I can remember, when we were having siestas to escape the heat. She was just over half way through because she delivered end August. However there's a history of small gilt litters in her family. I feed when I get home and that's pretty regular and because they're outdoor pigs with plenty of feeding in their paddock, sometimes they continue feeding at the end of the field before they go for the nuts. So it might well have been the heat. However she's back to normal and we'll have another go.