Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Can anyone tell me, at what age does a GOS gilt come into season initially? and...
also when does a GOS boar start sowing his wild oats ?

I have a pair since they were 8 weeks old and would like to breed from them, I know its not ideal for them to breed too early, but can't seperate them as they need each others company(at least till near farrowing).
Any opinions welcome.

Hi we have had boars active as early as 5 months,this is far too early for a gilt.We dont let our gilts to the boar before their first birthday'.Commercial' gilts usually have their first litter on or around their first birthday,we feel that those extra couple of months help the gilt no end.Hope this helps

Hello there,

assuming that your GOS are not related, then you can put gilts to the boar from 10 months, we would wait until they were about 1 year as I think they are that little bit more mature and more likely to be good mothers.
the gilt will come into season every 3 weeks for approx 50 hours (less in the Winter) and will be ready for the boar 12 hours after the season starts. Day 2 of her season is the best time to let her at the boar.
We keep our working boars seperate from the sows to keep them in tip top condition.

Good luck with the pigs.

Morag

OK so he can do the business now, but I still havn't got an answer for the gilt. I know the optimim time for mating her but not when she will brim initially, as I havn't seen it yet. I have been watching for signs though. Thanks for your replies

How old is she now ?

6/7 months.

I wouldnt leave a young gilt with a boar its too much of a risk.Seperate them until you are happy she is old enough to go in pig.

The general wisdom is, not before 9 months, if she falls pregnant at 9 mths she will have her first litter after her first birthday. Remember that a big boar can damage and hurt a small gilt. Also, you are less likely to have difficulty with the mother rejecting her young, if she is a little older.

Regards,

Morgan