The Family Hog (Page 4 of 5)
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Well, the pigs had their date with destiny
Hanging weight (skinned, gutted, headless, no feet, etc) The small one was 194, the big one was 230, the other two at 208, 218!!!! That's dammed impressive. That's 3 days under 4 months from 35/40lbs to that. The last set took 5 months and had a hanging weight of 180 and 184. Genetics matter. |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
My evil plan nears fruition!  
Been feeding the pigs in the trailer for the last two days. Had to add a cleat to my trailer ramp as the Duroc was skittish about going up the slippery ramp. So far so good. They'll get their last meal tomorrow afternoon.....then the door swings shut and they go for the last ride. The "feed 'em in the trailer" idea is pretty much genius as there's no way I'd get these guys loaded without a little trickery. I've got no proper swine loading chute and standing in between one of these hogs and wherever he wants to go just isn't a good idea at this point....particularly if he's panicked. I wouldn't want to keep these hogs in this arrangement for very long....they just pretty much are living to tear things up. Already ripped the lower cleat off the ramp and ate it. A couple days is OK, but any more than that and they'd escape and/or just eat everything off the trailer that they can get their snouts on. Hopefully the snow will ease up a bit......if we get too much more overnight it may make pulling the trailer out kinda interesting.
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Well, I hope you are not too disappointed in the total $$$ you've put into this project, but at least you know where your food came from. Don't discount the value of the education you have received from the project. Besides, you have already put out the $$$ for facilities so you won't have to spend that money again on your next attempt.
You really cannot compete with the dollars per pound of a commercial operation due to the efficiencies that specialized methods and bulk handling allow, if you consider all of their costs vs all of your costs. Where you beat their cost is by offering your own labor, improvising capital requirements (pens/buildings), and utilization of other products you already have on hand (garden scraps for feed). |
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Well, I hope you are not too disappointed in the total $$$ you've put into this project, but at least you know where your food came from. Don't discount the value of the education you have received from the project. Besides, you have already put out the $$$ for facilities so you won't have to spend that money again on your next attempt. You really cannot compete with the dollars per pound of a commercial operation due to the efficiencies that specialized methods and bulk handling allow, if you consider all of their costs vs all of your costs. Where you beat their cost is by offering your own labor, improvising capital requirements (pens/buildings), and utilization of other products you already have on hand (garden scraps for feed). I'm not disappointed at all. As you said, I got to learn a lot and at least this way I know what into the meat I'll be putting on the table. When it's all said and done, this pork will likely be as cheap as cheap supermarket pork, but I think it'll be a heck of a lot better. 
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I'm not disappointed at all.
I guess I was feeling like you were always having to get another something or other.... another load of feed, more stock panels, etc. ..... and I know how it all adds up pretty fast when you started out trying to keep your total costs down. You probably mentioned in the post already whether you are going to have them smoke the hams and bacon. They probably won't charge much more to do that, so I'd recommend it. However, you'll probably have the option to NOT have them smoked. You might want to keep a package or two as fresh side meat and maybe keep a picnic fresh as well, to give you something to practice your own smoking with. They'll slice the fresh side like bacon, too. We used to roll the strips in flour and salt and pepper and fry them in a greased skillet. I always thought it was an aquired taste as it did not taste like bacon, but it was still pretty good. |
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
You probably mentioned in the post already whether you are going to have them smoke the hams and bacon. They probably won't charge much more to do that, so I'd recommend it. However, you'll probably have the option to NOT have them smoked. You might want to keep a package or two as fresh side meat and maybe keep a picnic fresh as well, to give you something to practice your own smoking with. They'll slice the fresh side like bacon, too. We used to roll the strips in flour and salt and pepper and fry them in a greased skillet. I always thought it was an aquired taste as it did not taste like bacon, but it was still pretty good. Thanks for all the advice along the way––it was helpful and much appreciated. 
It's my goal to have my own smoker up and running next time around so we can cure and smoke our own product. For this bunch I have to let the butcher smoke the bacons and hams. Next time though.... 
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Originally Posted By freemanesq:
Well, how did it go? Kinda anti-climactic, really. Fed the hogs before work this morning.....they didn't even wake up for it (still dark.) Mrs. Feral pulled their feed at Noon. Got home about 4 PM, gave 'em some feed in the trailer and they walked dutifully on which was the biggest mistake they ever made. Swung the door closed, hooked up and took 'em out. Had some guys to help which was appreciated and helpful at the processor. The pigs didn't much want to come off the trailer and very much didn't want to go in the holding stalls. Can't say I blame them––it was necessary to have some extra guys around. In any case, took about 90 minutes to load 'em, haul 'em and get 'em unloaded. They'll sit in the holding stalls overnight before being killed tomorrow. Don't have good pictures from the whole process––too busy getting things done today. Had about 5 inches of snow on the ground in the pasture but had no issues pulling out with the trailer. My biggest worry was getting stuck half way out with a trailer of pissed off hogs. That would've been a nightmare, but fortunately didn't come to pass. Fed these guys 3000 pounds of feed plus 200 pounds of shelled corn to get 'em to the butcher. I'll look at costs in the Family Hog, part 2, coming soon.
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Fed these guys 3000 pounds of feed plus 200 pounds of shelled corn to get 'em to the butcher. I'll look at costs in the Family Hog, part 2, coming soon.[img] that seems like way too much Are you sure? I only count like 45 bags of food (50lbs each) for 4 pigs. (2250lbs) (I lost track somewhere, so I could be off 4 to 6 bags) I KNOW that the 2 pigs I did last summer (which took a long time) was not 1500lbs of food. |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Originally Posted By Feral:
Fed these guys 3000 pounds of feed plus 200 pounds of shelled corn to get 'em to the butcher. I'll look at costs in the Family Hog, part 2, coming soon.[url=http:// http://] that seems like way too much Are you sure? I only count like 45 bags of food (50lbs each) for 4 pigs. (2250lbs) (I lost track somewhere, so I could be off 4 to 6 bags) I KNOW that the 2 pigs I did last summer (which took a long time) was not 1500lbs of food. I'll double-check my math.....but I'm pretty sure that's a good figure for me. Feeding a mill ground mash style ration.....powdery......I'm sure there was some wasting going on. I think one of the things that drove that figure up was the cold weather here over the last month. What are you feeding? ETA: It occurred to me overnight that the best comparison of feed "equivalency" would be cost. That 3000 pounds of feed cost me about $565. I bet that figure makes our feed bills more equivalent....weight aside. If it doesn't, I definitely want to know what you're feeding.
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Purina pig chow.
unmedicated (except starter) Starter/grower/finisher. (18% protein-starter, 16% protein-grower, 21.5% protein-finisher) About $14/bag (food is expensive out here) (40 bags, $560) The local feed place mash is about $10/bag, but we've had very good luck with the Purina. Low bag usage, fast gain, little waste Very pleased Use the purina chicken food too (start n grow, layena, chick raiser), also very pleased with those. I have a friend who does hogs too (about 8), he does a mash from a different feed elavator, but his take much longer to get to market weight. (and this time we bought our feeders from the same guy, so same genetics). I've had his pork, it's much fattier than mine (although he goes bigger before butchering too) My pigs have had hanging weight that was 80% of live weight. That's mighty good. |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Purina pig chow. unmedicated (except starter) Starter/grower/finisher. (18% protein-starter, 16% protein-grower, 21.5% protein-finisher) About $14/bag (food is expensive out here) (40 bags, $560) The local feed place mash is about $10/bag, but we've had very good luck with the Purina. Low bag usage, fast gain, little waste Very pleased Use the purina chicken food too (start n grow, layena, chick raiser), also very pleased with those. I have a friend who does hogs too (about 8), he does a mash from a different feed elavator, but his take much longer to get to market weight. (and this time we bought our feeders from the same guy, so same genetics). I've had his pork, it's much fattier than mine (although he goes bigger before butchering too) My pigs have had hanging weight that was 80% of live weight. That's mighty good. Interesting. Looks like our costs are roughly equivalent though you're a bit ahead of me. We fed our three for almost exactly 4 months and, as of this morning, got hanging weights of 195, 184 and 154 pounds. (This butcher doesn't check killed weight, just hanging.  ) Figure about 30% loss from live to hanging weight and that suggests live weights of roughly 280, 260 and 220pounds.....but we'll never know for sure.
I'll have to check on our finisher ration, I think ours is 14% protein. Yours is much higher. |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Purina pig chow. unmedicated (except starter) Starter/grower/finisher. (18% protein-starter, 16% protein-grower, 21.5% protein-finisher) About $14/bag (food is expensive out here) (40 bags, $560) The local feed place mash is about $10/bag, but we've had very good luck with the Purina. Low bag usage, fast gain, little waste Very pleased Use the purina chicken food too (start n grow, layena, chick raiser), also very pleased with those. I have a friend who does hogs too (about 8), he does a mash from a different feed elavator, but his take much longer to get to market weight. (and this time we bought our feeders from the same guy, so same genetics). I've had his pork, it's much fattier than mine (although he goes bigger before butchering too) My pigs have had hanging weight that was 80% of live weight. That's mighty good. Interesting. Looks like our costs are roughly equivalent though you're a bit ahead of me. We fed our three for almost exactly 4 months and, as of this morning, got hanging weights of 195, 184 and 154 pounds. (This butcher doesn't check killed weight, just hanging. ) Figure about 30% loss from live to hanging weight and that suggests live weights of roughly 280, 260 and 220pounds.....but we'll never know for sure.
I'll have to check on our finisher ration, I think ours is 14% protein. Yours is much higher. Yeah, look at that. My pigs were MUCH bigger on the same amount of money food (although less volume) My small pig was 194 lbs hanging in just 3 days less than 4 months. I've found that live to hanging for us has been right around a 20% loss (we measure them, not weigh them, but they say that's accurate). |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Now you guys have me wishing I'd have kept track of feed, just to throw some more into the pot!
I've been feeding outdated dog food almost exclusively.Maybe a couple scoops of SS grower pellets mixed in every day. Do food usually runs around 20% protein, but honestly haven't looked at fat content, or anything else. I'm not all that concerned with how long it takes them to get there: just how much it costs. 
And thanks gentlemen, and all those who have also contributed, to my favorite SF thread EVAH! |
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By Dave15:
I'm not all that concerned with how long it takes them to get there: just how much it costs.
If the hogs are happy and healthy then free feed is good feed. 
How are your pigs doing on it? Everone forgets this but labor isn't free. You still have to water them, check their food, worm them, etc. The faster you get them grown and to market, the more money you make.(Ok, it's not much, but it still matters). Also, the longer you have them, the more chances for something to go wrong. JMHO |
Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
Feral, thanks for taking us on this journey.
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The Nuge "To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness. How unnatural. How cheap. How cowardly. How pathetic."
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Feral, have you had a chance to re-count your feed bags? After BozemanMT's comment about how much feed you offered, the thought keeps bugging me that you used a LOT of feed. According to your live weight estimates, less beginning weights of your pigs, your hogs added about 600 total pounds of growth (live weight). At over 3000 pounds of feed, you needed more than 5 pounds of feed per pound of gain. That seems much too high, even for cold temperatures, for healthy hogs like yours.
You and BozemanMT have compared your feeds and growth rates. One thing that you might keep in mind is that pelleted feed is more dense than the meal you fed. A hog's belly can only hold a certain amount before it is full (in volume, not in weight). This means that BozemanMT's hogs could eat more pounds of feed per day than yours did, and more feed = more gain per day. That is another thing that makes me think your math may be off- it seems like your hogs would have had to eat 8-10 pounds of mash per day every day to use that much feed, and that would seem to be a LOT of volume for hogs of that size, if it is physically possible. I know you've mentioned that they wasted a bunch of feed around the feeder but in my exerience it was never as much wasted as it looked like. |
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feral, you mentioned van loon's small scale pig raising book, is that the only one you're using? i'm thinking that raising hogs would be a pretty cool thing to do (i can honestly say i never thought i'd say that in my lifetime).
any other suggestions on books, websites, etc.? i've said it before, but i'll say it again, most excellent thread. wealth of info. |
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Originally Posted By BozemanMT:
Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By Dave15:
I'm not all that concerned with how long it takes them to get there: just how much it costs.
If the hogs are happy and healthy then free feed is good feed.
How are your pigs doing on it? Everone forgets this but labor isn't free. You still have to water them, check their food, worm them, etc. The faster you get them grown and to market, the more money you make.(Ok, it's not much, but it still matters). Also, the longer you have them, the more chances for something to go wrong. JMHO Labor IS free:the kids take care of most of the critters, outside the heavy work. Caring for live animals,day in, day out, teaches them responsibility like nothing else! They have been given increasingly more complex/time consuming tasks since the age of 3 or 4, and are rising to the occasion.One son is using his fair earnings to get into dairy goats come spring, with the understanding that HE Not going to market, so no rush. They're working my future garden spot, and fertilizing it all at one, so again, no big rush. Water has been a pain the last week, with the GLOBAL COOLING/LOOMIMG ICE AGE we've been experiencing, but no biggie.The don't drink as much as the horses, and I can't eat the horses, so I don't hold that against them. And like Bozeman pointed out, genetics etc DOES matter. I got 3 VERY small, and honestly not very good piglets, for a very low price, and I should have most assuredly started with better pigs, and will next round. One has obviously poor confirmation, even to my untrained eye. (wife spent YEARS involved in livestock judging and SMACKED me !) But they were available and cheap, and I maybe bit when I shouldn't have. That said, they're doing very well.Really starting to put it on last few weeks. Looking at Tams or Ossabaws next time, IF we decide to go big/niche market, or maybe just 2 or 3 El Cheapo generic pigs, if we're just feeding us and ours. |
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Feral, have you had a chance to re-count your feed bags? After BozemanMT's comment about how much feed you offered, the thought keeps bugging me that you used a LOT of feed. According to your live weight estimates, less beginning weights of your pigs, your hogs added about 600 total pounds of growth (live weight). At over 3000 pounds of feed, you needed more than 5 pounds of feed per pound of gain. That seems much too high, even for cold temperatures, for healthy hogs like yours. You and BozemanMT have compared your feeds and growth rates. One thing that you might keep in mind is that pelleted feed is more dense than the meal you fed. A hog's belly can only hold a certain amount before it is full (in volume, not in weight). This means that BozemanMT's hogs could eat more pounds of feed per day than yours did, and more feed = more gain per day. That is another thing that makes me think your math may be off- it seems like your hogs would have had to eat 8-10 pounds of mash per day every day to use that much feed, and that would seem to be a LOT of volume for hogs of that size, if it is physically possible. I know you've mentioned that they wasted a bunch of feed around the feeder but in my exerience it was never as much wasted as it looked like. Been over the numbers a few times......they seem pretty solid. I agree that it seems to be an excessive amount of feed and I wish I had a great explanation for it....but I don't. Figuring dollar amounts we're not too far off, but I do wish I had a better scheme to minimize feed use. |
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Originally Posted By Dave15:
And like Bozeman pointed out, genetics etc DOES matter. I got 3 VERY small, and honestly not very good piglets, for a very low price, and I should have most assuredly started with better pigs, and will next round. One has obviously poor confirmation, even to my untrained eye. (wife spent YEARS involved in livestock judging and SMACKED me !) But they were available and cheap, and I maybe bit when I shouldn't have. That said, they're doing very well.Really starting to put it on last few weeks. the first set of pigs (or any animals, or cars, or equipment or whatever) is always tuition pigs. You have to pay tuition, and it's cheaper in the long run to just learn it all at once. BTDT DAMHIK
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Failure wouldn’t matter in itself, of course, if people were content to fail: the problem comes when they don’t even try to succeed but nevertheless want and even demand the fruits of success Theodore Dalrymple
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Originally Posted By jj01:
Want some sausage recipes? Please. |
Well just got some P-mags in that I ordered, and call me crazy but I believe the mags have a expiration date on them. It's a little round circle just below the notch were the mag's couple in the mag well. -wheatons83
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I just went back and read this whole thread as I'm getting ready to start building a pen and then get a couple piggies in there.
I was wondering how important is it to have level ground for the pen? Should I expect a lot of "run off" from the pigs? If so, I'm thinking I can just dig a trench around the lower side of the pen to catch any run off. I noticed in one of the later pics there were large puddles in the pen which is why I asked. Has there been a part II to this thread yet? A co-worker who lives a few miles down the road from me raises just about every animal you can think of. He mentioned that one trick he uses for loading his pigs in the trailer is that as he is raising them, he will use a push broom to scratch their back. They get so used to it, that when he opens the trailer to load them, he stick the broom through the side and scratches the floor and the pigs come running, then his wife shuts the door. Sounds like a good idea. Gene |
Posted By 455SD: Newspaper, man. Newspaper.
Posted By Napoleon_Tanerite: meh... gives my garage floor that well used look.
Posted By Johnny_Reno: That's true. It's very difficult to throw your garage floor down the driveway.
Posted By Napoleon_Tanerite: meh... gives my garage floor that well used look.
Posted By Johnny_Reno: That's true. It's very difficult to throw your garage floor down the driveway.
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Originally Posted By GENESMITH:
I just went back and read this whole thread as I'm getting ready to start building a pen and then get a couple piggies in there. I was wondering how important is it to have level ground for the pen? Should I expect a lot of "run off" from the pigs? If so, I'm thinking I can just dig a trench around the lower side of the pen to catch any run off. I noticed in one of the later pics there were large puddles in the pen which is why I asked. Has there been a part II to this thread yet? A co-worker who lives a few miles down the road from me raises just about every animal you can think of. He mentioned that one trick he uses for loading his pigs in the trailer is that as he is raising them, he will use a push broom to scratch their back. They get so used to it, that when he opens the trailer to load them, he stick the broom through the side and scratches the floor and the pigs come running, then his wife shuts the door. Sounds like a good idea. Gene Good deal, Gene. I'm thinking about our spring pigs too.
How steep a hill are you talking about? I'd shoot for the flattest ground you can manage, but the pigs will adapt to a hillside. I have a hilly part of our pasture that I'd love to put our pigs on....I finally nixed that idea because the erosion will be massive once the pigs turn the ground to mud. Part II to this thread is here. What are you building your fence with? Gonna electrify it? |
I give myself, my heart, my soul to give some friend a hand
This morning I was born again, I am in the promised land
--W. Guthrie via Ray Wylie Hubbard
This morning I was born again, I am in the promised land
--W. Guthrie via Ray Wylie Hubbard
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I just glanced over this thread and thought I'd post an alternate pig farming plan.
I have 80acres of land but am not prepared to build structures on it, any animal farming I do has got to be free range and with low labour input. The problem with releasing animals is finding them again to harvest. A friend of mine does this very well with an electronic feeder with a bell that scatters feed twice per day. A run is established around the feeder, young ducks, chicks, pigs etc. are trained to the sound and feed and then the run is removed. The animals tell time better than humans, they are never late. Back to pigs; all pigs can live 'free range' but domestic pigs can pick up parasites etc. that are not good. Pure wild baor on the other hand are much better at living rough. I've bought pure European boar breeding stock for this reason, they will also fend for themselves food-wise much better. I'm waiting on the pigs to get big enough to ship to me but my free-range ducks, rabbits and chickens are all here and living happily. A friend of mine is getting me some quail, pheasant and partridge chicks in a few weeks as well. Something to consider. |
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Originally Posted By Monkey-man:
I just glanced over this thread and thought I'd post an alternate pig farming plan. I have 80acres of land but am not prepared to build structures on it, any animal farming I do has got to be free range and with low labour input. The problem with releasing animals is finding them again to harvest. A friend of mine does this very well with an electronic feeder with a bell that scatters feed twice per day. A run is established around the feeder, young ducks, chicks, pigs etc. are trained to the sound and feed and then the run is removed. The animals tell time better than humans, they are never late. Back to pigs; all pigs can live 'free range' but domestic pigs can pick up parasites etc. that are not good. Pure wild baor on the other hand are much better at living rough. I've bought pure European boar breeding stock for this reason, they will also fend for themselves food-wise much better. I'm waiting on the pigs to get big enough to ship to me but my free-range ducks, rabbits and chickens are all here and living happily. A friend of mine is getting me some quail, pheasant and partridge chicks in a few weeks as well. Folks have done hogs like that for many years. Drive 'em into the forest in the Spring, collect 'em in the Fall, fatten them and let them get the mast out of their system for a few weeks, then slaughter. More power to you if you can do it that way.
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I give myself, my heart, my soul to give some friend a hand
This morning I was born again, I am in the promised land
--W. Guthrie via Ray Wylie Hubbard
This morning I was born again, I am in the promised land
--W. Guthrie via Ray Wylie Hubbard
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Originally Posted By Feral:
Originally Posted By GENESMITH:
I just went back and read this whole thread as I'm getting ready to start building a pen and then get a couple piggies in there. I was wondering how important is it to have level ground for the pen? Should I expect a lot of "run off" from the pigs? If so, I'm thinking I can just dig a trench around the lower side of the pen to catch any run off. I noticed in one of the later pics there were large puddles in the pen which is why I asked. Has there been a part II to this thread yet? A co-worker who lives a few miles down the road from me raises just about every animal you can think of. He mentioned that one trick he uses for loading his pigs in the trailer is that as he is raising them, he will use a push broom to scratch their back. They get so used to it, that when he opens the trailer to load them, he stick the broom through the side and scratches the floor and the pigs come running, then his wife shuts the door. Sounds like a good idea. Gene Good deal, Gene. I'm thinking about our spring pigs too.
How steep a hill are you talking about? I'd shoot for the flattest ground you can manage, but the pigs will adapt to a hillside. I have a hilly part of our pasture that I'd love to put our pigs on....I finally nixed that idea because the erosion will be massive once the pigs turn the ground to mud. Part II to this thread is here. What are you building your fence with? Gonna electrify it? The ground is mostly flat, but there is a sleight angle on it that water does run down hill from that area. Tomorrow I'll take some pics of the area I'm looking at. Today I picked up 2 rolls of 4' x 100' welded wire which has 2" x 4" squares, and a bunch of free T-post/U-post's. I have a pretty good pile of lumber that was here when I moved in (2x4's, 4x4's etc), a couple rolls of chain link that were here as well. I have a large roll of #9 wire if needed. Tomorrow I'll check the price on the electric wire setup. I don't see any problem with building a strong enough pen. On top of that, my property is fenced all around. I'll take pics as I move along with this and start my own thread. Thanks, Gene |
Posted By 455SD: Newspaper, man. Newspaper.
Posted By Napoleon_Tanerite: meh... gives my garage floor that well used look.
Posted By Johnny_Reno: That's true. It's very difficult to throw your garage floor down the driveway.
Posted By Napoleon_Tanerite: meh... gives my garage floor that well used look.
Posted By Johnny_Reno: That's true. It's very difficult to throw your garage floor down the driveway.
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Originally Posted By SigOwner_P229: Originally Posted By Feral: I'd probably go one step further and suggest that, in a "survival situation," pigs would be a horrible choice for the small homestead seeking a meat animal that can be brought to slaughter with minimal external feed input. But, as long as the feed mill remains open, they remain a good choice for someone with little grass and a willingness to pay the feed bill. I'd rather eat a nice smoked ham than roasted goat in any case (and I'm willing to pay for the privilege though I'll be paying less than most.)  I agree completely, just thought I'd bring that up for anybody considering pigs for survival food. I didn't want the comment about the excellent feed conversion rate to mis-lead anybody. On a lighter note, I would also much rather a good smoke ham as well, and to be honest, I would have to say that I probably eat pork at least every other day. MMMM MMMM Good!!!!! I imagine it wouldn't take long (a couple months) in a SHTF situation for people to want some bacon/ribs/ham. It may be impractical, but so are must "luxury" items. ETA: Some one was bringing up genetics. Here is a local farm that actually has a semen catalog. I'm good friends with the owner and graduated HS with his son. I'm sure it can be frozen and overnighted if anyone is interested. http://www.tempelgenetics.com/ They raise and sell seeds/semen for:
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Born with a low tolerance for bullshit
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Feral, I linked to your old archived pig threads from this forum in someone's thread recently.
What do you think of updating the first post with links to the annual threads that followed this one? There is so much great info in those threads. If this one set to not archive, that would be a great gathering of content. kitties |
Wine is sunlight held together by water~~Galileo Galilei
Well-behaved women rarely make history~~Marilyn Monroe
Well-behaved women rarely make history~~Marilyn Monroe
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Originally Posted By Kitties-with-Sigs:
Feral, I linked to your old archived pig threads from this forum in someone's thread recently. What do you think of updating the first post with links to the annual threads that followed this one? There is so much great info in those threads. If this one set to not archive, that would be a great gathering of content. kitties Sounds good to me!
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The money that I earmarked for charitable giving in 2017 has vanished in a cloud of health insurance premium payments.
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Feral, if you get a chance could you give us your hindsight from where you are eight years later? I will do that. Might take a few days. |
The money that I earmarked for charitable giving in 2017 has vanished in a cloud of health insurance premium payments.
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Originally Posted By Martlet:
Great thread. I moved my first hog to the freezer last week. Enjoy every bite. That'll be the best pork you've ever eaten.
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The money that I earmarked for charitable giving in 2017 has vanished in a cloud of health insurance premium payments.
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Originally Posted By Skunkum:
Feral, if you get a chance could you give us your hindsight from where you are eight years later? Hmmm. I've enjoyed the hell out of raising pigs the last few years. It's been a heck of an education having "pastured pigs." Looking back, I realize how simple the first years were. Buy some weaners in the Spring, put 'em in the pen, feed them, take them to the butcher in the waning days of Fall. Easy enough. Filling our freezer with fine pork and selling the extras to folks we know was gratifying. Running the numbers and finding we were generating enough money to cover our costs AND filling the freezer was also gratifying. Everything became more complex when we started with breeding stock. More mouths to feed.....and bigger mouths at that. It was eye opening, to say the least. Things changed considerably, and not always for the better, when we went from feeding out a few weaners to "farrow to finish." [to be continued] |
The money that I earmarked for charitable giving in 2017 has vanished in a cloud of health insurance premium payments.
Born with a low tolerance for bullshit
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