Type of hogs - choice...

[Deberosa]

I found a local producer for weaner pigs. He has yorkshires, hampshires and some durocks. I am leaning toward trying two hampshires this spring and butcher in the fall - what do you all think given those choices?

I really would prefer Berkshire but I'm thinking since they'll become pork chops in 8 months maybe it doesn't matter that much.

I plan to build movable pens with cattle panels in my brush area so they can till and clear the land a bit for me too.

[danville]

Does this producer only have purebreds or are there crosses available? If you can get a Yorkshire/Hampshire cross that would be my choice for your plan. Another cross with Yorkshire/Duroc would be pretty darn good. If not I would probably go with the Yorkshire. They are pretty good foragers and are bit more laid back in personality than Hamps and Durocs. I grew up on a farm that produced 1,000 pigs per year. We had a few cross breeds, some pure of the above, but mostly Chester White and Spots. I have always been fond of Yorkshires, what with their mothering ability, docile personality and rapid growth rate. I realize you probably want your hogs to root out the brush so you won't be ringing them. You may want to consider a strand of electric fence on the interior of your panels to keep them in. Remember- If the nose gets through then the head gets through then the hog gets though. We kept the brood sows on pasture, ringed, exterior fence woven wire with one interior strand of electric and most cross fences were only one strand of electric. ( With exception of the boar pens.) Get at least two. They are social animals and function better in a herd. As far as butchering at 8 months goes you will probably have some huge hogs by that time. Ours finished out at around 220-240 lbs at 5 1/2 months old. Good luck and enjoy them. You will have lots of fun watching them play with all the things they find in their lot. ( And the porkchops will be pretty tasty also.)

[bookwormom]

thanks for starting that thread. we have never kept hogs but are seriously thinking of it to help root out stumps (small ones and , four inches or so) eat the saw briar tubers and generally assist in improving some land and get a pond tight, I would like for them to grow slow, root a lot. But what would we do with hogs? I have tried to find neighbors who would be interested to put some pork in their freezer for the cost of the piglet, the cost of the butchering. we would do the work, build housing and fence them.
nobody is interested.
it is a strange world. I have sisters in law who will only eat store eggs. What is so gross about a naturally raised egg????

[bookwormom]

PS my computer moves words around at will. not mine, it has a mind of it's own. the "and" in line two belongs in front of "eat".

[Deberosa]

I am not sure if he has crosses or not but good to know the Yorkshires are friendlier and from what I've gathered they can do well in harsh weather also. Even though these will only be around for a few months so it won't matter that much.

I hope to find someone who will buy the extra hog in order to recover piglet and feed costs for both hogs so essentially ours will be only be the cost of processing, plus of course the fencing and stuff but that's reusable. Around here that shouldn't be too hard and I think it will be even easier as food prices start increasing.

I sure understand people being finicky though - have heard of people refusing to eat fertillized chicken eggs - how in the world do they tell the difference? ;-)

[BrendaSue]

I have a yorkshire, she is tolerant of any texas weather can bring...she just uses a bit more hay.....I wanted to breed her but that isnt working so we shall see what becomes of her....

[Deberosa]

Yes, the "book" says that Yorkshires get sunburn. But if they survive Texas sun they certainly would be ok around here!!! I think I forgot what the sun looks like...

[gardenfay]

i think some of the worst sunburns animals get is from sun reflected off snow - yorkshires, chesters, the udders of hereford cows, etc.
but if it doesn't shine there, guess you're okay there :)
my choice has always been durocs and duroc crosses; but that is the main type i was around growing up. always won me plenty of ribbons; so i could be prejudiced towards them.

[Deberosa]

i think some of the worst sunburns animals get is from sun reflected off snow - yorkshires, chesters, *the udders of hereford cows, etc.
but if it doesn't shine there, guess you're okay there :)
my choice has always been durocs and duroc crosses; but that is the main type i was around growing up. always won me plenty of ribbons; so i could be prejudiced towards them.

Heh - guess they can't get burned from cloud reflections off of MUD! ;-)

[gardenfay]

nope, not from rainbowburn either! :)

[annabella1]

bookwormom where are you that's a great offer for the pigs!

[WileyCoyote]

I've thought about pigs (I do love me some chops and bacon!) but my aunt (in Indiana) kept them and she said that they were a pain to raise because they were so smart. She kept them in a pen (think where Dorothy fell in the Wizard of Oz) on pallets so that they didn't get too dirty. One of our jobs when we visited was to "water" the pigs (and wash the manure between the pallet slats out of the way) on hot days with the hose, she had a small cement pond in the middle and they loved to play in it. She said it prevented sunburn, which was why pigs lay in mud when they couldn't get fresh water. The pigs would batter the sides of the pens if they saw or smelled something they wanted; they were very strong.

But I worry about methane gas in the soil with the manure decomposition, and the smell is pretty horrific, and I just don't think I'd have the time to care for them the way they should be. Plus I am pretty short and small; a year-old could knock me down, even without meaning to!