How Much for a Tamworth?

[jlgoinggreen]

Hi,
We are considering purchasing an unregistered purebred Tamworth pig. The gentleman I am purchasing it from is also new to this lifestyle and has no idea how much to sell it for. He just bought his pig two months ago and she was pregnant. She is purebred, but not registered. He states he had the option of registering her, but decided not to as he is doing this to become self sufficient and not to show.

What would be a good price for these piglets in case I decide to purchase one/two?

[karenbrat1]

What are piglets in your area going for? (Check craigslist) I am paying $75 for purebred but unregistered Berkshire piglets, but another breeder wants double that. Regular crossbred feeder piglets are being advertised right now for $50-$65. In the spring they are $100.

[Handyman]

I've seen crosses advertised for as low as $45 this fall. I'm selling my Berkshire crosses for $60. I use organic feed, pasture, and hay.

Purebred Tams, certified organic, are $110 in our area.

[Mickey]

We paid $100 for our Tamworth in the spring.
Mickey

[jlgoinggreen]

Hmmm....I'm not sure what to do now. I don't see any Tamworths advertised on Craigslist or anywhere in my area. He's now telling me that Tamworths are worth $150 to over $200. His are not registered and he told me I would not be able to register the piglets if I wanted to. They look purebred, but he does not have any paperwork stating they are. Maybe I should just wait and see if more come up later.

[Handyman]

Where in PA are you?

[farmergirl]

Originally Posted by jlgoinggreen

Hmmm....I'm not sure what to do now. I don't see any Tamworths advertised on Craigslist or anywhere in my area. He's now telling me that Tamworths are worth $150 to over $200. His are not registered and he told me I would not be able to register the piglets if I wanted to. They look purebred, but he does not have any paperwork stating they are. Maybe I should just wait and see if more come up later.

Why does it matter to you that they be registered or registerable? You can't eat the registration papers. Pigs are good at tilling the ground and feeding families. Unless you are planning to get into selling show pigs, I can't see how registration matters at all.

[jlgoinggreen]

Originally Posted by Handyman

Where in PA are you?

I'm in Mercersburg.

[jlgoinggreen]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

Why does it matter to you that they be registered or registerable? You can't eat the registration papers. Pigs are good at tilling the ground and feeding families. Unless you are planning to get into selling show pigs, I can't see how registration matters at all.

You are absolutely right. Registration doesn't matter for what I want them. I am just trying to figure out why all of a sudden he wants to sell them so expensive.

At the same time, I would be willing to buy a registered pig for my son who is considering joining 4H and showing. He's just not sure if he wants to do goats or pigs.

[farmergirl]

When I sell feeder pigs, I raise the price as they grow, since it costs me in feed. The jump in the prices he mentioned does seem high, though. Are Tamworths popular for showing in your area? Here it's mostly Yorkshires and Hampshires, at least for the FFA kids.

If you are just looking to raise the hogs for your own home use, I would look for healthy, active crossbred pigs. Here in Texas, I sell them for $45/ each. No idea what I could get for them in PA, but I imagine it would be a bit higher than that. Still, you should be able to find 2 fine feeder pigs for no more than $150 tops.

Good luck. We love having pigs on the place. I'm sure you'll enjoy raising them!

Forgot to mention: please don't buy just one piglet. Pigs are highly intelligent, social animals who deserve to be raised with at least one of their own kind.

[Mickey]

I always raise just one pig every summer and haven't ever had any problems. I do have other animals around that he can see, but he is alone in his own yard.
Mickey

[jlgoinggreen]

Originally Posted by Mickey

I always raise just one pig every summer and haven't ever had any problems. I do have other animals around that he can see, but he is alone in his own yard.
Mickey

Thanks for this. We've been wondering what would happen if we only did one feeder pig for now to see how it goes.

[farmergirl]

Originally Posted by Mickey

I always raise just one pig every summer and haven't ever had any problems. I do have other animals around that he can see, but he is alone in his own yard.
Mickey

You might not have any problems, but think of the poor lonely pig. As social animals pigs are not at their happiest raised alone. We try to keep all of our animals living in conditions as natural for them as possible.

[jlgoinggreen]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

You might not have any problems, but think of the poor lonely pig. As social animals pigs are not at their happiest raised alone. We try to keep all of our animals living in conditions as natural for them as possible.

I know I need to study a lot more on the subject of pigs. I've ordered 'Small Scale Pig Raising' by Dirk Van Loon since I am planning to do this eventually, even if we don't do it right this second.

My question is, would the pig be lonely even if she has a lot of animals around her? We have been discussing getting just one and seeing how much work it really entails, but at the same time...I also want to keep my animals in as natural environment as possible and keep them happy.

[Feathers-N-Fur]

A single pig will be ok. BUT 2 will be happier and grow faster since they have each other to compete with for food. 2 really isn't any harder to care for than 1. 2 will take more feed obviously, but you can ask around and see if anyone is interested in the second one and you can then split the feed bill. Most of the feeder pigs we sell go to people who are raising them for family as well as themselves.

jlgoinggreen, my kids do both goats and pigs in 4H. We do the goats for the fun of it, and for our own consumption (meat and milk) and they sell their pigs at the fair. The excess goat milk goes to the pigs too.

[jlgoinggreen]

Originally Posted by Feathers-N-Fur

A single pig will be ok. BUT 2 will be happier and grow faster since they have each other to compete with for food. 2 really isn't any harder to care for than 1. 2 will take more feed obviously, but you can ask around and see if anyone is interested in the second one and you can then split the feed bill. Most of the feeder pigs we sell go to people who are raising them for family as well as themselves.

jlgoinggreen, my kids do both goats and pigs in 4H. We do the goats for the fun of it, and for our own consumption (meat and milk) and they sell their pigs at the fair. The excess goat milk goes to the pigs too.

Great! Thank you for sharing. We decided we are going to get the pigs after all. We found out that someone in our homeschool group also raises and breeds Tamworths. We just got home from visiting their farm We are buying one from her and maybe one from the gentleman who was trying to sell me one before (still waiting on a firm price) in case we decide to breed or we might just buy two from her. Two girls, one as a feeder and one in case we decide to breed or as another feeder for someone else. We are thinking feeder pig for now or one feeder and one to maybe breed later on. We will see how it goes. The way her and her family (including her young kids) described it, a lot goes into the way you raise them. Her babies were very docile and friendly. They were raised with a lot of love from her, her husband, and her children. The pigs (huge by the way) actually lay down to get belly rubs. Something they have been doing with them since they were babes. They do great work for them on their farm....tilling, fertilizing, picking out rocks, etc.... I was really impressed.

[grimm_mojo]

i bought 2 tamworth gilts about a year ago i payed $125 each an when i was picking them up the guy i was getting them from asked if i wanted the papers an for that price you bet i wanted them lol never know may get a boar to breed them to instead of breeding them to my razorback boar. these gilts were 40 lbs when i bought them

[agmantoo]

The seller thinks he has found someone that he can take an advantage of because of the discussion on having a Tamworth.

A similar situation is going to a salvage yard and asking do they have a set of beige seats for a vehicle. Since asking for a specific color they will increase the price if they have what you want.

Find the price of a Duroc or Yorkshire of comparable size. Tell the seller of the Tamworth you will pay him the same for the alternate breed for his animal. He may take the price or you can walk. You can always work yourself into the breed you want over time. There is no need to pay such a high premium as he is asking for a common pig.

[highlands]

Pigs do better as a group, because they are competitive feeders. They also do fine singly. Don't stress about it. Raise what you need. It is about the same work to raise four as to raise one. Then you can sell the other three and pay for your pig.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

[2 Beauts]

For what it's worth, the people I've talked to about pigs say that if they are siblings, they will use 1 area for their poo. If you get them from different breeders, you could end up with more area to clean up (if needed)

I don't have my own pigs yet, so I have no experience to base this information on.