Pigs are here!

[Deberosa]

Our first experience with pigs. These were $90 each but two are already 4 months old and one is 3 months old so they are a good size already. They took to their new home quite well, no panicking as I expected. Just headed for the feed trough! It's pouring rain of course, but they found the straw shelter.

I noticed right away how they communicate with each other. One found the shelter and then grunted at the others and they followed. They will be fun to watch!

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/deberosa/010-2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/deberosa/018.jpg

[sbemt456]

I am so jealous, I want some pigs, hubby wont eat pork any more so he wont get pigs for me.
Yours look like they may have some poland/china in them. If so they will grow and fatten quick, and make lots of lard.
Cant beat lard for pinto beans, fried taters and makin pie crust!

Congrats to ya!

stella

[Deberosa]

He said they were hamshire/yorkshire crosses. They aren't at all what I expected. I expected them to be well - piggy! They sleep most of the day snuggled in their straw. I gave them some left over french toast and expected a feeding frenzy, they sniffed it, licked it then nibbled it. Maybe they are just getting used to the place or maybe the medicine they got right before they came here is slowing them down. They seem alert and healthy otherwise.

[Nicole]

What age are they ready to slaughter? What is the best way to slaughter a pig? Hubby and I are looking forward to fresh pork:)

[Deberosa]

We are going to have a mobile butcher service process these pigs. Two of them we are going to sell and that's the only way we can legally do it here - we sell them the pig and the butcher processes it for them.

Here they come on site and kill the pig - which is important because when pigs get upset adrenaline rushes in them and it makes the meat mushy like you get in the stores.

This is our first time, but we listened to a local woman who does raise pigs to sell describe the process - it works great for her.

[Nicole]

That sounds like a great way. I will shop around for a mobile team to. We are way out in the country so hope they come out here.

[Drawbar]

You can also kill and quarter your pig/lamb/cow and then bring the quarters or whole carcass over to a butcher and save the kill fee and disposal fee too.

That is the way I do it, and it is all legal as well, and it allows the animal to be stress free. Just give it a flake of hay, then wham...the thing never knew what hit them. Absolutely no stress.

Now if only someone would do that to me when my time comes :)

[Deberosa]

You can also kill and quarter your pig/lamb/cow and then bring the quarters or whole carcass over to a butcher and save the kill fee and disposal fee too.

That is the way I do it, and it is all legal as well, and it allows the animal to be stress free. Just give it a flake of hay, then wham...the thing never knew what hit them. Absolutely no stress.

Now if only someone would do that to me when my time comes :)

That won't work in Washington unfortunately - the person killing the animal has to be certified if you want to sell the meat. Go figure.

[Nicole]

That is the way I do it, and it is all legal as well, and it allows the animal to be stress free. Just give it a flake of hay, then wham...the thing never knew what hit them. Absolutely no stress.
LOL, that is fast and I can live with that. Thanks