Comment by Sonja Tropf on December 4, 2011 at 9:11pm

great picture. What fencing do you have and how big is the area you are keeping them in? Any mothering issues? We are looking into getting pigs next spring/summer. 

Comment by B & B Family Farm on December 7, 2011 at 12:42am

These are 2 Large Black sows who made a nest together, furrowed together at the same time!

Comment by B & B Family Farm on December 7, 2011 at 1:01am

Sonja, About fencing and space.  this is my breeding area.  It is in two sections; 1 is @2.5 acres, the other @ 4.5 acres.  Both are perimeter fenced with HogTuff High tensil woven wire by StayTuff.  Inside that we rotate @ 3-4 weeks in smaller paddocks set off by portable electric fencing.  That system is 3 strands Intellirope, a Stafix 3 Joule charger and a 12v marine battery.  Have had no breaches at all.   For rotational post I use 3/8 or 1/2 rebar.   I cut 20' rebars to 40" length and get 6 from 1 bar.  1 bar is @ $7.50 so my post cast about $1.25.  I have a few hundred already and use them for cattle paddocks also. The other components are a bit pricy but I needed the extra piece of mind where I'm at.  

There are several reasons I chose the Large Blacks and the maternal instinct was one of them.  They are excellent mothers and usually give birth unassisted.  We had 2 sows deliver within 24 hrs; 2 at the same time in the same nest.  On of those two, Black Betty, turned a little aggressive for about a week and did not take much interest in her litter.  I think some of those problems may have been caused by my wife wanting to humanize the litter (she likes to handle the animals a little when they are first born).  I'm going to give Black Betty another try before making a decision to cull or not.  Please consider some of the heritage breeds listed on the ALBC website when you get ready to start your pigs.

Thanks

Russ

Comment by Sonja Tropf on December 7, 2011 at 9:44am

Thanks Russ,

that is very helpful information. We were looking at Tamworths, since I heard they can take the cold better and we are in New Brunswick. How many pigs do you have altogether in the paddocks? Thanks for the help. Sonja

Comment by B & B Family Farm on December 17, 2011 at 11:50pm

Sonja,  I have 15 up in the paddocks.  2 boars in the smaller one and 3 sows with their litters in the other.  This week will put the sows back in the boars to be breeding.  The weaned growers will be moved to a different spot on the farm for grazing.

Good luck...

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