Ex sow-boar paired boar bonding myth?

[BlueBird]

Hi there,

On my dabblings on the Internet I have come across a theory that boars that have previously been paired with sows cannot be paired with boars. This is usually talking about boars that were missexed and paired with a female and then neutered. The sources often say boars in these cases cannot be paired with boars again. I guess because they've had a taste for the ladies and feel like the new boars would be competion. This feels like it could be true but then again I once thought that neutering would help "calm down" hormonal boars once upon a time. Does this have any truth to it?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there,

On my dabblings on the Internet I have come across a theory that boars that have previously been paired with sows cannot be paired with boars. This is usually talking about boars that were missexed and paired with a female and then neutered. The sources often say boars in these cases cannot be paired with boars again. I guess because they've had a taste for the ladies and feel like the new boars would be competion. This feels like it could be true but then again I once thought that neutering would help "calm down" hormonal boars once upon a time. Does this have any truth to it?

The old breeder habit of just placing a boar with a sow to impregnate her and then shoving him back with his mate in a tiny breeder box is at the bottom of this because it goes right counter to any social wiring that guinea pigs have and totally ignores their natural behaviour. The casual ripping apart of a bond and the lack of space really exacerbate the relegated boar's disappointment; especially as these boars are generally teenagers and young adults...

Generally, a neutered boar that has been accepted by sows to be the one they want to procreate with won't be happy to being relegated to bachelor status again. Being accepted by sows to be dad of the next generation is after all any boar's life dream with only very, very few exceptions mostly due to traumatic experiences.

However, a bereaved neutered boar may daddy baby boys quite happily or live with other older boys in a pensioners group - but that can only ever happen on an individual basis by dating under expert supervision before you bring any piggies home because key to this is mutual liking and personality compatibility, as well as the boar's natural inclination to take over guardian duties; not every boar is interested in nurturing. In the end any cavy bond of whatever shape or form only works because the piggies in question want to be together. You can never make them!

What is a bit of a recipe for disaster is bringing home a male companion of any age (including babies) and expecting them to get on because it neglects the crucial aspect of choosing a partner that vibes with an ex-husboar. If at all possible, another sow of their choice should always be the first option and you will always need a plan B in case things don't work out to your own liking.

Most of the people trying this are not the ones that are aware of importance of character compatibility and allowing their piggies a say in who they want to live with; it is all about the human's own interests and convenience - and that is indeed an outright recipe for disaster!

 

[BlueBird]

Many thanks weibke! Thorough answer as always. I wasn't particularly planning on removing my husboar and making (*cough* demoting) him to a bachelor. I was just curious whether that was why some rescues neuter some boars and pair other boars together. It seemed the logical explanation.