Large Black weaners

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Large Black weaners

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kaybee

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 11 9:03 pm Post subject: Large Black weaners
Large Black weaners for sale. 10 in litter. Ready now. Pure bred - I usually breed pedigree but this litter isn't birth notified sorry so only for meat not breeding. Gilts and castrated boars available. 10weeks old. ï¿½60 each. Feel free to ask for any more details.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 11 9:08 pm Post subject:
Hi kaybee, Welcome to the forum - it is customary to join in the forum before advertising, and many start by introducing themselves in the Welcome section of the forum. It might also be useful to say, in your ad, where in the world you are.

Chickem

Joined: 27 Mar 2009
Posts: 3958
Location: Sunny Devon

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 11 9:08 pm Post subject:
Hi from devon Tell us mre about yourself

Pel

Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 2366
Location: Sennybridge

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 11 10:08 pm Post subject:
Hello from west wales. Just wondering why do you castrate your boars? is it to prevent people from using them as breeding boars even though they bought them as meat. As I've found they fatten quicker with their balls on. I know LB are bacon pigs and look their best at about 10months old (onwards), but just wondered.

kaybee

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 11 10:13 pm Post subject:

Hi, thanks both for the welcome - I've posted about myself in the welcome section now as you suggested - I really didn't mean to ruffle feathers; I'm not finding this site too easy to work out and I did check for rules before I advertised but must have missed something! Sure it will be easier when I've found my way around a bit more. Bit of a techno-thicky...

I'm in Mid-wales which I put in my profile. I'm between Newtown and Welshpool.

Looking forward to reading more of the forums!

kaybee

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 11 10:38 pm Post subject:

Pel wrote:

Hello from west wales. Just wondering why do you castrate your boars? is it to prevent people from using them as breeding boars even though they bought them as meat. As I've found they fatten quicker with their balls on. I know LB are bacon pigs and look their best at about 10months old (onwards), but just wondered.

I find it makes no difference to how they fatten - the gilts and boars usually grow at the same rate all things being equal - and as you say they are best slow grown. I learned the hard way not to "push" a traditional breed!!! so I never slaughter before 7 months now and often grow onto nearly a year but by then they are "active" and are also likely to fight as well as serve their sisters. I can't afford to separate out the boars from the gilts as well as the age groups as I don't have the acreage - I like to keep them in family groups and as I don't ring their snouts as I don't agree with it I have to keep them in one area of the smallholding as they wreck the fields! Also some folks are fussy about "boar taint" and won't buy entire male pigs. I don't find it a problem personally but the main reason is so I can keep my pigs in family groups when I finish the pigs myself.

It's not to stop people using them for breeding boars - if anyone wanted a boar for stud then I would consider keeping one entire from a future litter but to be honest only the best animals should be kept for breeding and as the LB is a rare breed it stands to reason that the quality should be exceptionally high for the sake of the breed and as I've only been breeding pigs for 6 years I don't feel I'm really the best person to pick the best boars at least without advice from a more knowledgeable breeder. Breeding sows are a different matter and I'm pleased with the few gilts I've picked so far. A boar has the potential to spread genes more widely than a sow that's all. You probably know with pedigree breeding only the breeder can register an animal which ensures they're happy with the quality. Of course what someone does with the animal once it's theirs is up to them! I used to think pedigree breeding was a joke and not for me - it was only when I had a rare breed myself I realised it's about conservation and not snobbery and really important.

Sorry long explanation but hope it helps!

Pel

Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 2366
Location: Sennybridge

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 11 9:46 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the explanation, makes sense for what you need to do. How will you cope if the castration ban comes into place though? Do you show your pigs at the smallholders show in may at builth? LB are may favourite breed, unfortunately none of my clients keep them, well except one 2 years back.

kaybee

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 11 10:23 pm Post subject:

I probably wouldn't keep pigs! lol! Well I probably wouldn't finish them anyway; just a couple for our own use.

I know it's not allowed/approved for organic standards and some folks view castration as "mutilation" and that's a point of view I respect. It depends on what the purpose of it is though I guess. If it improves the general welfare of the animal in a specific situation then I don't view it as mutilation although it would be great if I could manage without it - at the very least it's one less thing to think about organising! I was initially advised by a friend who used to be a commercial pig breeder and he wanted me to do the whole clipping thing - y'know, the old fashioned industry view that you clip off everything that sticks out on a piglet until you're left with a walking sausage. I refused to clip teeth, ears and tails - that really is mutilation and if you keep them properly they don't need it. I was warned dire things would befall me if I didn't clip teeth but they haven't so far and some 20 litters later I still maintain it's neither ethical or necessary.

LB's are lovely gentle beasts - except at dinnertime maybe! Do you keep many pigs?

kaybee

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 11 10:25 pm Post subject:

Pel wrote:

Do you show your pigs at the smallholders show in may at builth?

I don't show any pigs no. Never been tempted. Love going round shows though! Royal Welsh my favourite - not been to smallholder for couple years.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 11 2:23 pm Post subject:
I've just met this litter and I can say I've seldom seen a brighter bunch! Really smashing pigs. If you;ve ever been tempted to get some Large Blacks go for it!

kaybee

Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 11 2:50 pm Post subject:
Thanks mochyn! Glad you liked them! Lovely to re-meet you again - chutney is yummy BTW thanks mmm!

matt2052

Joined: 23 Dec 2010
Posts: 10

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 11 7:22 pm Post subject:

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