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 Members of the British Saddleback Breeders' Club  Members of the British Pig Association  Members of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust |
Bob Walmsley BBC NorthamptonWith so much recent interest in where our food comes from, we at Mikespigs are working with Bob Walmsley from BBC Radio Northampton's Consumer programme to follow the process of what makes a sausage... From piglet to plate! So to make piglets we needed a sow and a boar. Our first broadcast went out at the end of Summer. Bob commentated on what happened when a "boy" pig met a "girl" pig! "So would this involve a meal,at a swanky casino; resort, bottle of wine and music?" Sort of... After two days of mating our boar and sow (Duncan and Sally) settled down to general digging, eating and lounging about in the late Summer sun. Three weeks later Sally did not come into season again... She was pregnant. Great! Not so fast!! As with all farms, things rarely go as planned... Just before Christmas Sally farrowed (gave birth) to just three piglets. What a disappointment - we hoped for ten! Fortunately all grew fat on their mums milk and when they emerged in the winter snow they looked very solid. How hardy are these? Our worst blizzard for 18 years and they are out rooting in the mud and snow. Wow!! |  Bob Walmsley with Mike and piglets
 Sally (left) and Duncan (right) on their "date"
 Sally and piglets digging in the blizzard. WOW!!
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