Raising Pigs/UPDATE HAVE PIGLETS

No. Catchpole is tied off before I hook piggy gene. ( I ain't THAT dumb).

 

Lol, you guys...this thread seems to have been a trouble-making issue. I apologize for even posting it! I just really wanted to promote the breed, and other rare and endangered breeds too. The pork you get at the grocery store is pale, dry and pretty tasteless in my opinion. Wouldn't it be nice to have options? Large black numbers in the US are less than 1000, Old Spots are even more endangered. We are in the midst of a food crisis here. Just trying to be a blessing here, lol. Lol.

 

You did fine @Kathy in WV , Yard and I get along just fine.

 

Ok then, you guys had me going! I'm usually the peacemaker for most part. I can get a little witchy sometimes I've been told. But us WV gals are all like that, lol. As Popeye said.... I yam what I yam! Seriously, go read about the virus if you don't do anything else. The National Pork Board had an article stating its so virulent that a thimble full is enough to infect every pig in the US today. Big wow for me... lotta pigs out there!

 

Pregnant young gilt lovin her mud.

 

2 LB boars courting my 500# Hampshire gal. Unfortunately she doesn't breed so she's headed to the freezer next. Sucks because that would have been a good cross for feeder pigs.

 

Been 4 years since we raised hogs so have been reading with interest. Ours were Hamps that we butchered at 350 and 400 lbs. Cannot beat fresh home grown porkers. Will buy a 150-200 pounder and fatten it for a couple months before "makin baking" out of it. Thanks for the thread. Will be putting in a new pen below the back pond so it can have plenty of mud time--LOL--makes them happy.

 

we buy them as just weaned. 35-40# so we know what they are consuming off the farm.
once they get past 200, OMG they can pack it on in short order.
Usually go to the spa at about 250-275#

It's so cute when they come back from the spa, all packaged up and into the freezer they go.

We found after several years of raising them, the closer we can get to 275 the better for the fat vs meat ration.

We typically raise either hampshires, duroc or a cross.

Each breed is going to have it's own ideal processing weight.

Just a word of warning. Once you've tasted pastured family farmed meat (chicken, pork, beef), You are going to wonder what the hell you've been getting in supermarkets and restaurants over the years.

Factory/feed lot meat sucks .. and I'm pretty sure it will kill you.

 

We just had a horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE first time farrowing with one of the gilts. Spent 36 hours taking turns fishing pieces of a decomposed piglet out of her cervix. I now know every detail of a pigs reproductive anatomy by feel. Something caused the first piglet to die and when she tried to push it out it fell apart, leaving her with a bunch of bones criss crossed over the cervix with the other piglets mashed up behind the bones. No way to get them out until all bones were removed. Lost the other 6 piglets from lack of oxygen. Had to call a Vet, she couldn't come but told us what to try. Would you believe she had us use a water hose to flush out the uterus? Lots of Penicillin shots for her this week but she is up and eating good. Wow what tough animals they are.

 

The same way you stay safe when cutting a calf when the Bull is near.

Lots of space between you and the Bull

Lots of fencing between you and the Bull

Lots of Trees to climb.

Always look innoncent when the Bull arrives.

 

depending upon the terrain, yuo may well have to bait and shoot them, as if they were deer, if they escape. Not kidding, once they find out that they can fend for themselves, some of them like to roam a lot more area than you are likely to own.

 

Yup just get real close on one side and shoot it in the ear canal with a trusty 22LR. If it doesn't drop and turns on you, just jump in your armored wheel barrow.
.

 

Like you hog Kathy in WV.

 

Hog's no different than any other critter. If all you have is a .22 and you don't want the meat full of adrenalin, you bait them in to you tree stand, wait until you have a full on frontal head shot( head lowered to eat or drink). Draw a mental "x" between ears and eyes, and that's your mark. If you can't arrange this, then it's a 223 sp thru both lungs, like you would deer or anything else. So nice to have both options, given the AR and the .22lr conversion unit.

 

I just let them line up, 2 for 1 shot.

 

Just like a few of my deer.

 

Very informative.
I've never kept pigs, mostly cows and horses here, but five years ago, in all my yankeefied glory, a horse got out and I thought hitting in the shoulder football style in mid-run would hurt the horse. Ha. Ha. HAHAHAHAHA. I thought pushing a horse would be mean and hurtful.
These thoughts diminished over time-like when I was holding my horse's halter while X trimmed her hooves, and when she lost her balance and staggered back from us, she simply tilted her chin up and carried me, off the ground, right along with her.
So, to notch piglets ears, if you're dead set on being around Mama, I'd say to have someone stand next to you with a bat. Start notching ears. When Mama comes, have Person 2 ready and willing. Knock her in the head. If she comes again, hit her again.
OR
If Mama's ok or semi ok with it, get the piglets up and put them in a box in front of her, then carry the box off. Do the notching completely away from her. Then, later, just bring the box back and release the piglets. In the meantime, all she'll have done is worry and look around for them. Much less stressful for everyone.
Have fun

 

Lol, OK. Actually you put Mama hog in a pen just big enough to stand in. Same cage you use for giving shots or Vet work etc.... pull the mini pork chops out and plop in a box. Ear notch and castrate as needed, putting back with Mama after done. In a few minutes all is forgiven.

I wish my internet was good enough to post a video I took last week of the Vet guys bleeding my hogs for their bloodwork and health certificates. The level of SCREECHING....OMG!