Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Retiring the herd boar

Saying hello at the fenceline
Nose to tail, about 8'.  Probably 800lbs. 
Socializing with th pink boar at the fence line. 

All good things must come to an end.  My main herd boar past his prime in the last couple of years, and while I'm fond of him, it's time to go.   He's sired more than a thousand nice pigs, and his genetics are well-represented in my herd. 

I never did name him.  He was always just "The Boar", and I've always been careful around him, but he's given me no reason for concern during his time here. 

For the last 6 months or so he's been pretty sedentary; preferring to sit in any mud he can find, and while he'll occasionally mate, he's not as into it as he was when he was a few years old. 

At this point he's one of five boars we keep, so we'll be well-covered as far as boars go, but what I'll probably do next is get a good berkshire boar to replace him, to increase the percentage of berkshire in our herd. 

I do appreciate this animal, and hate to see him go, but it's time, and past time. 

Thank you, Boar. 

1 comment:

Austin said...

So what do you DO with such an animal? Sausage? Bacon? SPAM? I've always heard that boar meat "tastes funny".