|
|
Post by wally on Jul 30, 2015 0:41:26 GMT
This part of HF kinda got shot in the foot right off the start. I would like to see it start to grow again. I always enjoy reading about others practices and knowledge. We dont have any hogs at this time, but sure miss them around here, still have the huts and every thing to raise on pasture w/feed. Maybe I should get a couple piglets next time the DGC are here then DW cant say no when they each get a piglet..
|
|
|
|
Post by barefootfarmer on Jul 30, 2015 1:17:22 GMT
I'm in! We just butchered out 3 hogs a week or so ago. I don't like pigs per se, but I sure do miss them when they're gone. We feed them all the whey and broken eggs etc. I'm hoping to pick up 2 more early August just to eat up the excess dairy. Normally I don't like to keep them through the winter, but this last batch was so helpful that I changed my mind. We used to breed our own and then got tired of the winter work. I'm kind of leaning towards breeding again because they are "easy money" if your fencing and housing is right. Not to mention, they sure are expensive nowadays to buy as a weaned pig. $125 is the norm. This last time I got lucky and paid $125 each for 3 that were born in January. They guy still had them in April and sold them to me. They were so big! We raised them for only 3 months, fed them dairy, eggs and grain and the biggest one hung at 212lbs. The other two were 175 & 180lbs. What kind of piglets to you want, wally? |
|
|
|
Post by wally on Jul 30, 2015 8:30:30 GMT
lol, bff, its so easy to forget about winter chores when its over a 100 degrees out, it would have been nice to have some to feed the dropped fruit and veggies to over this season, As far as a breed I am total open when we were raising hogs I liked the yorkshire and berkshire.
|
|
|
|
Post by barefootfarmer on Jul 30, 2015 14:39:26 GMT
Yeah, I always have to remember to check my "summertime enthusiasm" against my "winter experiences"...
We started off raising Durocs as soon as we had land to put them on. We really messed that first time up. We had terrible planning, terrible (lack of) shelter because we believed the people saying we could raise them on pasture year round and didn't really know what that actually meant. And because we fell for a magazine article that suggested using bales of straw and a tarp for winter shelter. It was just awful. I think we must have made every mistake in the book and invented a few for good measure.
Then we moved to Large Blacks. That went better but I wanted something that grew a little faster. We still had a Duroc sow and bred her to the Large black boar. Things improved.
Finally, we decided no more pig breeding for a while. We had actually evolved to really nice huts, pretty much had the fencing for pigs figured out etc. But the winter work was getting to be too much for us along with everything else that we do. Namely, I was left caring for pigs in the winter along with milking all the cows due to our schedules.
The first bunch of piglets that we paid for instead of raising were a cross of york & hamp. We were astounded at how quickly they grew, how mellow they were and basically how easy they made life for us. Now I specifically look for that cross when I'm buying wieners.
One of the nice things about pigs is that it doesn't take long to figure out if you are going to like the genetics and disposition of them. And they are easy enough to move along when you're ready.
|
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Jul 30, 2015 16:21:17 GMT
Wally I love raising an annual pig every year for our freezer, I am not interested in breeding my own as one a year is plenty for me and hubby  I just posted a picture of mine on the thread called raising meat and freezing, with raising just one I don't need anything special as far as fencing and shelter, we buy in the spring and raise up and kill around Dec....No hard winter here until Feb or March.... I raise mine with sheep and the pig thinks its a sheep because it doesn't have any other pigs, so it learns to mimic everthing sheep do, learns to graze supper fast also. Now I do feed it pig food once a day but other then that it free ranges. Only things special Is a mudd hole LOL, of course they have a wooded area for shade provide I do believe in the Duroc breed even though mine are always mixed with another breed, I just love how calm they are and the fact that their ears flop over to keep sun out of their eyes, If a pig is to hot it won't graze as much like when its cooler so the floppy ears help, and boy oh boy is the meat awesome, pigs seem so easy as no hoof trimming, no extra shots or anything like that, I worm mine twice in the approx 10 ish months we have it around and its just a pellet I mix in with normal feed, no biggy! Good luck with your new adventures |
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Jul 31, 2015 1:26:49 GMT
I still have so much meat left in the freezer from my last hog that I can't really justify raising any pigs until at least next year, but I sure do enjoy them while I have them. Other than the poop...nothing smells as bad as pig poop, lol.  |
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Aug 1, 2015 0:45:49 GMT
Many goats, I have never had a problem with pig poop. Mine are raised in roomy dirt pens with little sheds and on pasture for part of every day and I found the pigs the easiest to clean of all my beasties.
When I want a winter's deep bedding cleaned out, I put the pigs in there and let them turn and loosen it and that's the closest to muck we ever get. Other than that, there is a neat little spot and one scoop with the manure fork a day cleans my pigpen.
I think the key is giving them enough space, and what I call the "Tenth Pig Rule". What that is is that 9 out of 10 pigs are neat and easy to keep. That tenth pig will piss all over, make their pens a mess, bust out, break sheds and fences just because they can and just flat out not be enjoyable to keep. When you get a Tenth Pig, butcher it then and there, if it's 30lbs or 300. And then your pig keeping is easy.
|
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Aug 1, 2015 1:36:58 GMT
LOL...Otter  |
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 1, 2015 9:41:34 GMT
Otter, I love your tenth pig rule, lol. I just don't like the smell of fresh pig poo, even if it's in a nice neat pile in the far corner of the pen. My pigs were very neat, but I just don't like that smell. I do, however, like bacon, ham, and pork chops! I also like piggy personalities.
|
|
|
|
Post by jupiter on Aug 1, 2015 12:42:27 GMT
While I don't enjoy raising pigs, the last batch we had were really good pigs, they just wouldn't breed. They are in the freezer now. I don't plan on raising any through the winter this year, but I do miss giving them the extra milk, garden products, & eggs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Aug 1, 2015 14:36:30 GMT
manygoatsnmore, strangely, with keeping my own pigs in this way, I never smell it. Literally never. They all seem to go on schedule and I put a bit of peat mixed with lime on the potty spot, and it's always kind of dry and not stinky when I clean. That or frozen, lol. That reminds me, I need another bale of peat. A bale is 10 or less at Home Depot or Lowes and lasts for months when that's all I use it for. I fluff it, mix barn lime and if you keep it in a kitty litter bucket with a small coffee can it's easy to just keep it there. And I can tell you from dogs that if you toss some on top of a fresh dog pile it cuts the smell down drastically and instantly. I understand about certain smells just really getting to you. That's why I always have barn lime for outside and bleach for inside. Now, if I could just figure out what is going on with DD's socks!! That child can smoke you out of the house!
|
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Aug 1, 2015 15:40:19 GMT
I also have no pig poop smell, of course my one pig has about 10 acres to roam...  Better to have them fenced in a bigger area and let mother nature wash away all waste just like it would with other farm animals, I wouldn't want to raise them completely indoors/Barn or small pen outdoors as yes the smell could be a complete turn off in the raising consideration factor... Sounds as though if you had no choice I would do what Otter does as I can believe she has no smell issues and pigs do tend to want to keep all poop in one area naturally and the ease of cleaning of a set up like that is something completely doable..... My pigs doesn't smell as far as her body scent as she has acres of grass and a little mudd hole she baths in, she also lets me spray her with hose as I fill water troughs for sheep and her to drink from, she loves the hose spray BUT................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................ my livestock guardian dog that lives with the sheep and pig here at home site smells so bad as she likes to find the pig poop and roll in it  , pretty bad when I would rather hug my pig instead of dog |
|
|
|
Post by Skandi on Aug 1, 2015 19:28:14 GMT
Pigs are next years plan, we will have 2 acres for them and it will be split with electric fencing since we want them to plough some of for us. Will be 2 or 3 depending on if FiL wants to swap some pork for beef. as to breed. well there is no choice here, it's all the white high intensity indoor production type, a cousin of ours has imported some seamen from the UK to cross them out with, I believe he's got Hampshire and Then either old spot or saddleback. So we'll be getting some of his pigglets. (he's starting a freerange organic pig farm after leaving the dairy industry)
So expect 101 questions next may or so!
|
|
|
|
Post by wally on Aug 2, 2015 1:24:48 GMT
Skandi, you dont have to wait a year to ask questions..Ask away now .
|
|
|
|
Post by manygoatsnmore on Aug 2, 2015 2:17:03 GMT
@shellymae, lol on wanting to hug the pig instead of the dog...I never thought my pigs smelled bad at all, just that fresh poo. I think I'll have to do what Otter does and get some peat next time I raise pigs. I truly enjoy the pigs themselves, and if I could eliminate the poop smell, I'd be a very happy pig farmer! |
|
|
|
Post by Awnry Abe on Aug 2, 2015 21:23:19 GMT
We have a Berkshire that we bought from RA Ranch Berks as a weiner. He is a lone pig that hangs out with the goats, bottle calves, and chickens. My worst fear was that he would get my skin. And that fear has been realized. A friend bought his brother. Maybe at processing time, we can swap pigs so I won't be taking my lone pig friend for a walk over the rainbow bridge...
|
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Aug 2, 2015 22:48:30 GMT
We have a Berkshire that we bought from RA Ranch Berks as a weiner. He is a lone pig that hangs out with the goats, bottle calves, and chickens. My worst fear was that he would get my skin. And that fear has been realized. A friend bought his brother. Maybe at processing time, we can swap pigs so I won't be taking my lone pig friend for a walk over the rainbow bridge... Once they come back in all those packages and when you first start eating the meat, well some of those feelings disappear and conversation comes up about getting another weaned piglet and starting all over |
|
|
|
Post by Awnry Abe on Aug 2, 2015 23:58:06 GMT
What's in tonight's bucket?!?!  This morning's leftover waffles soaked in buttermilk!! Yum! Not the usual clabbered milk with hard-boiled eggs. Is that spinach leaf?  Oh no! I don't want to share with one of those calves!  Oh no re-deux! Not that Nubian known to the ADGA as "Havener's Snicker"--better known around here as "Garbage Disposal". She will put the drain on the pail!!  When Grunt is gone, all I will have left to remember him by is this fried-pie shaped wallow pit that he made by the waterer.  |
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Aug 3, 2015 6:33:44 GMT
When we spent a couple days as guests of a friend in Saksild, Denmark, the village was surrounded by cropland. To the north was a huge building but no public access. When the winds were right, everyone knew what it was and they called it the "smell of money". It's not far from Skandi and she will know what it was. It was one of many sources of prized tender Danish hams. Interestingly enough, and despite traveling over much of Denmark, only saw one small operation in Jyland where there were pastured pigs and then only what looked like a hobby farm. If I should return for a sixth visit to that wondeful country, maybe see a second?
Martin
|
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Aug 3, 2015 10:42:52 GMT
Awnry, pig looks great and awe yes the wonderful mudd hole and memories |
|
|
|
Post by Skandi on Aug 3, 2015 21:01:28 GMT
When we spent a couple days as guests of a friend in Saksild, Denmark, the village was surrounded by cropland. To the north was a huge building but no public access. When the winds were right, everyone knew what it was and they called it the "smell of money". It's not far from Skandi and she will know what it was. It was one of many sources of prized tender Danish hams. Interestingly enough, and despite traveling over much of Denmark, only saw one small operation in Jyland where there were pastured pigs and then only what looked like a hobby farm. If I should return for a sixth visit to that wondeful country, maybe see a second? Martin You won't see many pastured pigs, (hense why my cousin can't get any suitable breed in the country) and most will indeed be on hobby farms, same with sheep actually, very few of them here too. Here when you see those large buildings you can tell what's in them by the size or the smell.. cows, pigs, chickens or mink are your options, pigs and cows being the most common. Looking in the local supermarkets, you cannot even buy free range pork. (and I would be doubtfull about the lable anyway, FiL could register freerange beef, but his beef animals NEVER get outside, they're kept in a small part of the barn their entire lives. but becasue the cows do go outside, they can call the meat freerange) When we were looking to buy, google earth was invaluable for spoting those monstorsities of farms. don't want to buy anything near one! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 16:27:15 GMT
Great thread, lots of good information.
|
|
I just posted a picture of mine on the thread
