GSHP
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Tamworth pigs -ready to go ?The Tamworth boars are now 19 weeks old.
They measure Girth 39 inches Length 42 1/2 inches
and Girth 38 inches and Length 42 inches.
I have worked this out as 73.5 kg and 68.9 kg. liveweight.
Are they close to going ? I haven't reared Tamworths before and am finding it hard to judge by eye, much longer and leaner and no decent hams to speak of.
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pookie
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pm Mochyn she's yer man!
She has a pig measuring tape and everything too 
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GSHP
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Do you think she would mind ? I was hoping she might see the post and advise
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pookie
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she wouldn't mind at all, she loves to talk tamworth! 
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resistance is fertile
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Sounds like they need a bit longer, they are not the quickest pig to grow to slaughter weight, but once teh overalll carcass size is achieved and reasonably well filled out they cut up really well.
You also tend to get a slightly heavier deadweight than the size suggests due to their quite lean tendencies.
6-8 months minimum till slaughter (IMO  )
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GSHP
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Thanks before with other breeds I've aimed for around 6 months. I know some say 70kg live weight is about right but they don't look 'ready'.
Also a little anxious about boar taint ....a possibility ? since starting again with pigs after many many years, I've only had gilts.
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GSHP
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Taken last week
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resistance is fertile
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they look great, just give em a bit longer if I were you, until they look 'ready' then you will usually find they are  .
BTW I have a feeling that Boar taint is something you will hear lots about, but never directly experience
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Bebo
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| resistance is fertile wrote: | | BTW I have a feeling that Boar taint is something you will hear lots about, but never directly experience |
I agree. We nearly always buy male weaners. I've had them up to 9 months before (108kg hot weight  ) and no trace of anything like that.
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mochyn
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I'm with them: give the pigs a few more weeks: perhaps to 26, and then have another look. Boar taint, as far as I know, only shows up in 'working' boars, and I've sent off boars of more than 7 months with no problem at all. Good looking animals, though.
And sorry, I'm always late!
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GSHP
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Thanks everyone just what I needed to hear. I didn't feel they were quite ready just getting a bit anxious.
The bigger boar did try his luck with one of the gilts at 17 weeks just before we separated them  hopefully both too young.
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mochyn
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oooh: and don't expect big, round hams. Tamworths aren't that shape! Much more elegant and streamlined, although their hams are delectable.
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GSHP
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I know far from ideal as the gilt is far too young, but I have bred pigs before, albeit a life time ago, we do have the space and they are from different litters. Fingers crossed it comes to nothing though.
We had planned on separating them between 4 and 5 months and was getting the pen ready for the Sunday. They were 17 weeks and it was Saturday.
The weekend coming will be three weeks hopefully she will show signs of hogging.
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