IN SHORT: Another really busy few months as preparations for winter really got going although I seem to have been preparing for winter all summer!!

I recentIy sold my Berkshire boar so have been busy inseminating my Berkshire girls and  also went to my first show and came back with rosettes(and another Kune Kune gilt I bought!).

I am also very excited that one of my homebred gilts is due to be exported tothe USA along with a selection ofother quality Kune Kune from each ofthe bloodlines to start a breeding herd - there will be a bloodline in USA called Rushbury Awakino!

Preparations at home have included 2 new pig buildings going up, a whole load of new stock proof fencing and vast quantities of feed/hay/straw being stock piled for winter use. I now have my big Berkshire sows enjoying the luxury farrowing stable and the Middle Whites equally spoilt in a similar building. These bespoke buildings are fantastic and were made by Kev Waldron of County Equestrian. If you need any type of wooden building made then contact Kev, you're welcome to come and see mine to see the high standard of building Kev produces.

I recently went to the British Kune Kune Show and Sale and took Rosie and Alice with me. It was the first time I had been to a show to show my own pigs so the day was a nervous one for me. The girls did really well though, Rosie won her class and Alice came second. I went on to buy the gorgeous little gilt that had pipped Alice to the post in the gilt's class. I still haven't named her as I can't decide what suits her best!

Another new addition to the Kune Kune herd is Floella a brown/cream Trish gilt who is very cute, very cheeky and rolls to have her tummy rubbed at the mere touch of a hand on her back!

Amazingly, one of Bella's piglets was bought by Wendy Scudamore who is exporting a small, select herd of Kune Kune across to the USA to start a breeding herd there. I am very pleased and proud that a little ginger and black gilt was considered good enough to go and will take the name Rushbury Awakino with her to America! Everytime I think of this my brain starts to say ' this little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home.........I'm sure you can see where I go with this!!!

Two weeks ago I had to inseminate Emily, she was ready, Jasper had persuaded her it was time to brim but Emily has never stood well for the boar. I invested in boar spray, sprayed it all over a towel and draped it over Emily's head - she loved it, couldn't get enough of it but she still wasn't keen on standing really still. What followed has encouraged me to make a sand bag saddle to hang over her back for next time as sitting on her back trying to insert and hold a catheter in for around 10 mins proved to be a quite challenge!! I managed and now hope she is in pig but only time will tell as I know Emily won't brim again, even if she's not in pig, without considerable encouragement. Keep your fingers crossed for Emily please!!

© 2010 Copyright Sam Jones, Steve Jones & Mark Dudley