A New Year Begins for Pig Keepers Old and New

HAPPY NEW YEAR .
Here we are in 2016 with no sign of any dry weather! Cumbria has had a lashing this last month probably because we have had no pigkeeping courses as it is always dry and sunny on our courses.
We have lots happening with the pigs in 2016 with several Saddleback sows to farrow in early January. These piglets will provide show January gilts and boars for the forthcoming show season and weaners to sell for fattening. We have to “eat them to keep them” as only the best piglets that satisfy breed standards can go on to be pedigree pigs.This may mean that only approx a third of all the litters born to pedigree parents are fit enough for several reasons to go on and improve their breed.
With Saddleback pigs they must initially conform to breed standard of two white front legs and a white saddle, if too much white on their back legs or body they are allocated “for eating only”. Similarly with Carole’s white British Lop pigs any black marks can mean “for eating only”. There are lots of other selection criteria which is too complicated to go into now.
So lots of small piglets to view on the January pigkeeping course ,with some Hampshire piglets due in February as Anna the new Hampshire gilt, has
proved very difficult to get into pig. She has been served every three weeks since August. By using 3 different pedigree Hampshire boars ,all proven to be fertile, I hope she is now in pig. But she is still running with my Gt Yorks show champion boar,Coal Yeat Peterbilt.
So we have traditional British Saddleback pigs in all shapes and sizes together with modern Hampshire pigs for you see on the 2016 pigkeeping courses.
Carole and I look forward to meeting you in 2016 for a great day out in rural South Cumbria.
WE ARE STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND NOT FLOODED OUT LIKE THE POOR SOULS IN OTHER PARTS OF CUMBRIA