
Background:
We are a co-operative community in our third year of raising GOS weaners for meat (free-range). This year we bought three birth-notified GOS gilts with the idea that we might keep on the best one for breeding, partly so that we don't have to source weaners every year but also so that we can experience the entire cycle, including piglets from birth (a founder of a our community has bred pigs here in the past, including doing A-I herself). Our current gilts have good temperaments and are now at 20 weeks so we are a month or two away from making the final decision. I'm looking at the practical issues of breeding and keeping pigs year-round.
Uppermost is the concern for pig welfare, including finding a suitable companion to satisfy their social nature. I, personally, am especially interested in kunekunes and would like, eventually, to breed. I wouldn't mind switching over from GOS to kunekunes, but I think the group will take some convincing. On both counts, it occurs to me that a good way to start would be to provide a home for a rescue kunekune.
In order to give the kunekune more opportunities for grazing, I'm wondering about separating the pigs for part-days, putting the kunekune in with our mini-flock of Shetland sheep. I realise that this is a rather time-intensive solution, but I'm up for that (would it have to be daily?). Perhaps the GOS could extra grain at that time (so separation is a positive experience for both animals).
TIA for opinions/experiences.
Cheers!