Saskatchewan’s wild boar producers can’t meet the demand for meat and hunt farm animals.
“Wild boar is a good diversification opportunity as there isn’t a huge investment in facilities,” says Stewart Adam, livestock development agrologist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in Prince Albert.
“For example, 10 acres of fenced land can accommodate 20 sows, a unit that is bred to farrow twice a year. At six to eight weeks, the young are removed and fed for the finish market or for the hunt farm.”
Although shelter is simple, round straw bales or wooden sheds, fencing is important.
Read Also
Volunteers help exotic animal farm rebuild
Exotic animal farm loses beloved camel and pony to huge hail storm that gripped the Brooks, Alta. area as a community member starts a fundraiser to help the family recover from the financial and emotional damage.
Various types are suitable, as long as they are sturdy and well built: four-foot woven wire with one or two electric wires, for example, is effective.
As with most livestock, Adam said, the provision of adequate space, feed and water tends to keep the pressure off the fences.
Some kind of penning is needed for sorting or treating animals.
A good source of water is necessary, with the required feed consisting of alfalfa hay and grain mixed with peas or screenings at about three pounds per sow per day.
A mineral supplement with lysine is usually supplied, and some form of mange and worm control is fed or injected once or twice a year.
Adam and three Saskatchewan wild boar producers are offering production seminars.
The producers, Victor Leblanc of Zenon Park, Carson Richardson of Melville and Jamie Dick of Ridgedale, are members of the new generation co-op Canadian Classic Wild Boar Co-operative Ltd., and have been raising wild boar for at least five years.
Their topics will include facilities, feeding, economics and breeding stock.
The seminars, scheduled from 1-4 p.m., are Dec. 6 at the provincial building in Lloydminster, and Dec. 7 at the provincial building in Prince Albert. The cost is $10 at the door.
