We’ve had so many problems finding a pedigree Berkshire boar to service our three Berkshire gilts that we reluctantly decided to accept our first litters would have to be crossbreeds.
After some phoning around, an ad in ScotAds and discussions with our “proper” farmer neighbours, we found the local shearer also keeps Tamworth pigs and had a young boar available.
So, to our boys’ delight, Willie the shearer turned up yesterday and dropped the boar off. He’s 18 months old, has an amiable nature and is already trained to electric fences.
He’ll spend a few days in the byre getting used to us, then he’ll move out to his field pen and meet his first girlfriend.
It will be interesting to see what the offspring of a Tamworth and a Berkshire look like. We’ll be fattening two or three piglets from each litter and having them slaughtered, while the rest will be sold as 12-week-old weaners.
As for the boar’s name, the boys took one look and declared he was “Ginger”.
We’ll keep looking for a pedigree Berkshire boar, so if anyone knows of one that would definitely be available we’d love to hear from you.
We can travel down to the Scottish border to meet a seller - possibly as far as Kendal in Lancashire at a pinch - but as we have other livestock and no one to look after them while we’re away, we’re restricted to a day’s travel to collect a boar.
In the meantime, we’ll try Ginger and see if he can produce the goods with our gilts.
I have been reading your blog with interest as we do a similar thing here, but grow veg to pay the bills. (Or so the plan goes). We had 2 Berkshire boars last year from and organic farmer in the Scottish Borders. This year we have 4 gilts. Who knows what next year will bring!
I will speak to Elaine who does their breeding etc about a predigree boar and let you know.
It will be about a month though, as I just bought feed from them on Friday!
Good luck with Ginger….
Ritchie.
We are starting to wonder about Ginger - it’s becoming quite apparent that his previous owner spoiled him rotten. He’s not overfed, but he’s very affectionate towards people, demanding ear and belly rubs and generally acting like a total tart.
We’re just finishing his new outdoor enclosure so he’ll be moving in there once his quarantine is up and then we’ll move the first of the gilts in with him. Hopefully, he won’t prove to be too pampered to do the business!!!
We’ve fattened Gloucester Old Spots in the past and have four Saddlebacks filling out nicely at the moment, but ideally we’d like to to breed pedigree Berkshires only. It all comes back to getting the right boar though…
Does he realise he is a pig? Perhaps he is schizophrenic mate and believes he is a dog. Good luck with him and his harem.
He could even be a schizophrenic ginger tom … my ginger cat’s always up for a stomach rub or stroked leg …
Could be the name …?
I have sourced a registered Berkshire boar for you! Email me: thurstongarden at aol dot com
Ritchie