Got roped in to hogs.....

[Bettacreek]

Everything I say is just hearsay. BUT, I've heard that mature breeder boars are supposed to taste terrible. The pig guy here turns his into pepperoni, because the heavy spicing helps to cover up the yucky boar taste. Now, I don't know if this is barely mature boars, or very mature boars or what. It seems like if you could breed them to the sows and butcher without any yucky taste, he would have done so, so I'm assuming that they turn yucky fairly early on. As far as feed, if they're fed slop or something, they're supposed to taste pretty yucky as well. I don't know what you're SUPPOSED to feed them to make them taste good though. We just buy them, and this is simply what was learned from the pig man.

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
These are fed a commercial Hog feed, a friend of mine bought a 350lb Boar from the guy I bought mine from and had it processed, she said the meat tasted awesome!

 

[seedcorn]

OK, you have eaten boar meat. Breeding boars will have a "wang" to their meat that if you're not used to it, may or may not like it. Most boar meat is turned into processed meats due to the flavor change vs gilts, barrows. In Europe, they don't make barrows as they don't convert feed as well.

Interesting (love to see pictures) on wood pen. My experience w/hogs, they'd work their way right through it. What is "HOG DOG"?

 

[lilwhispers]

Breeding boars do get a very STRONG flavor If you plan on butchering I suggest that a month or so before you are gonna butcher separate him from the ladies for AT LEAST a month that should work the flavor out of the meat. When I took my meats clas in college our teacher who have been a meat cutter for ages told us that virgin boars will not have the strong flavor it only starts when the are used for breeding and if you give them at least a months with no female contact then the flavor goes away. Hope this helps

 

[VerlonCox]

I agree with Seedcorn on this one, I have dealt with them before in the past and they are a hassle. With the cost of feed and the problems that they cause I got out of it. BUT if I had someone supplying me with free feed that would probably get me right back into it..............but not if I only had a wooden pen. I am use to steel and concrete and even that isnt a sure bet, when that fails a "early termination of contract" has always been my favorite option.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

What is "HOG DOG"?

Dogs trained to hunt pigs​

 

[lockedhearts]

This is not my thread and I apologize to the OP, I did not intend to take this over. As far as pictures of our wood pen, do a search I posted pictures about a month ago.

Please revert back to the OP as this is not my thread.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Not woried about the direction the thread goes... Ether way Im learning something.


My pen once finished will be wire an hot wire. My pen is in the woods But not made of wood.

I do see alot of wood pens around here with hogs in them tho.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

If the location where they will be kept is mostly wooded, just be aware that pigs like to root, A LOT! They will probably dig up a lot of the roots around the trees and this in turn may cause the trees to either die or become unstable.

We never had a problem with our pig escaping. We used wood horse fencing with field fencing surrounding the outside. We did have to line some of the edges with cinder blocks and wood panels though, as his rooting would cause holes under the fencing. He wasn't trying to get out, but it was just a side effect of his rooting.

Also, make sure you educate yourself about how to kill them. They are tough suckers to kill! We did have ours for meat, but when it came time to put him down, it took several bullets to the head before he actually died. My dad researched for weeks before doing it and still it was difficult. If you have experience killing and butchering animals though, you shouldn't have a problem. I do have to say that pigs are one of the thoughest animals I know though!