Wild Boar
We have a wild boar herd that is based on animals of Polish descent. Wild Boars are subject to the Dangerous Animals Act and we have been granted a licence to keep them by constructing a purpose-built breeding facility. Our boars have their own wooded area where they can enjoy expressing their natural behaviour.
They have a good shape for meat production and ours have been carefully bred and reared to have a good temperament. We are crossing our male boar with our traditional Middle White sows to produce special quality, slow growing natural meat. We call this cross the Laverstoke Blue.
All our pigs and boars are housed in arks, which is where they sleep and give birth to their babies. The arks are moved regularly to fresh ground. Both generally have two litters per year. Pigs may have 8 to 12 piglets per litter while boar have 4 to 6 boarlets per litter. Each piglet or boarlet has its own favourite teat. The bigger, greedier piglets get the teats that give the most milk. The smallest piglets or 'runts' never grow as well because they get the least milk. Piglets are weaned at approximately 8 weeks and boarlets at approximately 12 weeks.
Adult pigs and boars enjoy eating grass just as much as cows and sheep. They particularly enjoy fruits, vegetables and nuts. They can live for as long as twelve years.