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FrankB
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Reged: 12/08/03
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Posts: 10
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Loc: Western Oregon
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Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
03/29/04 06:59 PM
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My wife and I are considering adding pigs to our small farm and she is interested in Gloucester Old Spot pigs because they are a heritage breed and prefer to be raised on pasture. In England they are called Orchard Pigs. They are supposed to be good mothers and have mild temperments. The meat is supposed to be very tasty, as well. Does anyone have any experience with this breed?
Thanks,
Frank
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RichZ
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Reged: 09/12/02
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Posts: 558
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Loc: Cambridge, New York in beautiful Washington County, next to Vermont
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Re: Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
[re: FrankB]
03/29/04 07:46 PM
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Believe it or not, my wife and I are planning on breeding Old Spots and Berkshire Pigs. We're still doing research, so I'm not a wealth of info.
Cindi is our resident pig farmer, I'll alert her to your question!!!
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
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Re: Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
[re: RichZ]
03/29/04 08:30 PM
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Thanks Rich, but I don't know much about this breed. I think it;s pretty popular up north for some reason, but I haven't raised any. Maybe one day!
Yorks are also mild tempered, good mothers and produce large litters. Yorks I could talk about all day. 
http://www.cjmouser.com
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FrankB
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Reged: 12/08/03
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Posts: 10
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Loc: Western Oregon
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Re: Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
[re: itsmeCindi]
03/29/04 10:35 PM
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Thanks. It seems most of the Old Spot breeders are in the Northeast. We do have a couple of breeders in the Northwest, one in Washington and one here in Oregon. We're still exploring the possibilities.
Cindi, thanks for the input on Yorks. BTW, I've enjoyed your stories.
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Bird
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Reged: 09/12/02
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Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
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Re: Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
[re: RichZ]
03/30/04 05:16 AM
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Rich, my own pig raising days ended almost 50 years ago, and they've got breeds now I never even heard of, but the Berkshires were what I raised and showed; still have the ribbons I won at the county fairs. I can't say for sure whether it's the breed's temperament or the fact that I spent so much time with them, but mine always seemed much easier to handle and control in the show rings than a lot of pigs, a major contributing factor in my winning the Showmanship ribbon the first year I was in the 4-H club.
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RichZ
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Loc: Cambridge, New York in beautiful Washington County, next to Vermont
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Re: Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
[re: Bird]
03/30/04 06:28 PM
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Bird, I remember your stories about your pigs, especially the one that you had so tame that you could ride, and how you borught it to the county fair.
It's really interesting that you raised Berkshires. From all the research my wife has done, there's a large market for the meat of Berkshires, especially with Japanese people. Supposedly their meat goes for very high prices. We're still exploring the market, and if things work out, we'll be buying some breeding stock this year.
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
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Bird
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Loc: Corinth, TX, USA
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In reply to:
especially the one that you had so tame that you could ride
Rich, here's a picture of me and that particular pig. He tipped the scales at an even 300 pounds at the Fat Stock Show, but I guess my parents never made a picture of me riding him. 
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RichZ
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Re: Gloucester Old Spot Pigs??
[re: Bird]
03/31/04 05:29 PM
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That's a great picture, Bird!!! Too bad your parents never took one of you riding the pig!!!
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
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