castrating piglets v entire males for meat

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castrating piglets v entire males for meat

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normandy helene

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 3
Location: le mont st michel

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 4:38 pm Post subject: castrating piglets v entire males for meat
hello we usually raise castrated male pigs for meat ( sent to slaughter at 7 months) we have some uncastrated male piglets now 6 weeks old is it to late to castrate ( we usually have piglets that have been castrated at 4 weeks) if we intent to send them to the abbatoir at 6/7 months old thanks

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 4:43 pm Post subject:
I have no idea. Doubtless someone will. What I can add is that I've raised them to 8/9 months, or bigger, intact. I've experienced no boar taint, or added aggression, even when kept in a pen with 2 other boars. So, if it is too late, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

normandy helene

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 3
Location: le mont st michel

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 4:45 pm Post subject:
thanks nick thats great we recently slaughtered a 8 month pig ( from another breeder) with no boar taint - infact he was delicious! but were concerned with keeping boars alongside our 'dad' aged 18 months

NeathChris

Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 1387
Location: Neath, South Wales

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 5:01 pm Post subject:
i never castrate, seems a pointless task thats alot of work. The oldest i hve sent a boar is 7 month and he was delicious. I would run them on as they are, and they will probably grow on quicker and with better conformtion.

Leonie

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 731
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 8:44 pm Post subject:

nickhowe wrote:

I have no idea. Doubtless someone will. What I can add is that I've raised them to 8/9 months, or bigger, intact. I've experienced no boar taint, or added aggression, even when kept in a pen with 2 other boars. So, if it is too late, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

that was with one of our pigs wasn't it nick? the meat tasted just fine so I wouldn't worry too much.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 8:52 pm Post subject:
It was indeed.

Leonie

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 731
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 9:37 pm Post subject:
we're down to our last two joints now, it was a large pig

High Green Farm

Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 07 9:59 pm Post subject:
Technically not too late to castrate, but I think in the UK this would have to be done by a vet presumably under sedation. We've had boar taint at 6 months, so no guarantee at that age either. We send ours off at 22/23 weeks.

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