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Permalink Reply by NHF on March 29, 2012 at 4:04pm

Hi Gosia,

We've raised a number of breeds including Berkshire, Large Black and Ossabaw. We do not castrate males.

Berkshires grew the fastest but also required the most grain. They were also hardest on the land due to their large hooves.  We processed them at 8-9 months.  Large Blacks were about the same but had smaller feet. They are a very easy breed.

However, we now raise only Ossabaws and tend to process them at 13-15 months...at least a year. They're slow growers but great mothers and foragers.

The trick for us to manage the perception of boar taint is to grow the males in separate paddocks from the females. We keep them on opposite sides of the farm.

Good luck to you.

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