First hogs

[crossroads]

Not only am I new to this site, but new to farming as well. My wife and I bought a small farm (8 acres) this summer. We already had 2 goats, but quickly bought 2 Holstein bull calves for out children to bottle feed. Then we built a pig pen and shelter and bought 4 weaner pigs that were 12 weeks old. Today was the day for our first slaughter and it went as well as could be expected. The hanging weights were 181,185,188 and 208. We already had 3 1/2 of them sold with plans to keep a half for ourselves. Already looking forward to getting a new batch in the next month.  

[wanttobetraping]

cool nothing like fresh pork!

[Admin]

Sounds like you've got a good thing going over there. Can't beat homegrown food.

[mncooner]

Nothing like eaten what you raise.I never had to buy meat in town we butcher a steer I raise and hogs a buddy of mine has. I'm pretty sure most small town butchers are underpaid its a lot of work when we do it but its worth it . Are you making a brine so you can do hams and bacon?

[crossroads]

We're having bacon made, but no ham. We're pretty much hammed out coming out of the holidays. We don't buy much red meat since we do pretty good with deer n elk. Up till now we've had to buy all of our pork n chicken. When the weather gets a little better I'm going to build a chicken coop. Our kids bottle fed the cows, so they'll be getting sold. They've made it very clear they don't want to eat Frodo and Finley lol.

[nativeson]

Pork Rules! You Can eat pork years round Good choice. Pigs will be here forever!

[crossroads]

Just got our pork back from the butcher yesterday and had some for dinner. We're very pleased with the results and we've heard back from 2 of our customers who are very pleased as well. It's seems to be much leaner than store bought with better flavor.

[farmertrappe]

Excellent, sounds like you are on your way. I've been raising pigs/hogs for over 15 years and is my favorite part of the homestead. If you get some meat birds to free range you will not want to eat factory farm raised chicken again. Easy to process with family help and delicious.
And my tip of the day is "Strawberries Love Pigs". After picking season I mulch the plants with straw and manure straight from the pen. It mulches out the weeds and breaks down to feed the soil and plants=Hugh berries. Happy Homesteading.

[mrchicken]

If a total rookie wanted to get a pair of starter pigs, what would we realistically need for them?
Pens? Sizes? Water/day? etc....

Thanks!

[crossroads]

Thanks for the strawberry tip! That sounds good, our kids love strawberries.

[crossroads]

Jan 28, 2014 17:16:26 GMT -5 mrchicken said:

If a total rookie wanted to get a pair of starter pigs, what would we realistically need for them?
Pens? Sizes? Water/day? etc....

Thanks!

Okay here is my one rookie to another rookie info. Everything I read said they don't need a lot of space, my setup is an 8x12 shack with a fence 4' in from the door giving me a 4x8 storage area for grain.
I chose to give them water and feed on a free choice basis. It took them about 30 seconds to find the steel water nipple. The rule of thumb I went by is 2 pigs 1 ton of grain and when the grain is gone, they are ready to butcher. (Although, I had to feed for an extra 2 weeks due to the butchers schedule). Another rule of thumb is 6 months from birth to butcher.
As for an outside area I had an area fenced off for them that was 8x16 and it got pretty soupy. I think the next batch will get more area outside.
Although I'm happy with the way our pigs turned out, I'm not sure the next ones will get free choice to feed. The last month they were eating 20# per day each. One study I read claims they will grow 1.7# per day on 7.9# of grain per day. We had some cold weather in December that I'm sure raised their feed intake, but I don't plan to keep any through dec. again.
I hope this is useful info. We bought our farm on 6/9/13 and didn't know the first thing about raising pigs, but Google has been a good friend over the last 6 months lol.

[counteryboy5]

GET DAT BACON

[paddyg441]

Fine farm operation you have, nice weights on your Porkers, will be very Tasty Indeed.

[Deleted]

Good post. Might have to get back into raising a few hogs myelf

[crossroads]

Thanks!

[trappingtime0]

Im going on to my 4th year raising pigs and all I can say is DON'T LET THEM HAVE A CHANCE TO GET OUT they are a pain to get back in most of the time and also I have this portable pen made from and old hay wagon that burned down but the frame is in good condition and it works great they cant get out unless they break it like they did last year but I was lucky and went to tend them as they were breaking it so they never got out. My last pigs weighed 180, 210, 220, 270 so they were some good hogs 

[crossroads]

Do you always raise them 4 at a time? That seems to be the number that is going to work for us.

[mrchicken]

Thanks for the great info!
Going to miss this season but want to give it a whirl next year.
Ill be freezing most of the carcasses I catch trappin to supplement their feed.
Buddy of mine raises a couple every year and he brings them fresh road kill and feeds them the carcasses from the deer he kills. Said the extra protein helps.

He gave me 2 pieces of advice. #1 DON'T LET THEM GET OUT !!!! #2. Don't feed them fish if your home is within 1/2 mile down wind of the pen !

[farmertrappe]

Hmmm Mr Chicken I don't know about feeding hogs with road kill or critters from trapping. This is the meat you will be feeding your family, I raise my own hogs and chickens so i know what and how they were fed. What about the hogs eating the brain and spinal cords, man I think that's bad stuff. Ain't that how mad cow started? I buy a local feed ration from people I know and trust and supplement with left over produce from stands and my garden. I would seriously ask your county extension agent about this and get their opinion. Not worth saving a few dollars in my humble opinion.
Happy Homesteading.

[trappingtime0]

Crossroads
I started my first year with pnly doing 3 and 4 both years after that i probably will continue with 4 unless the guy i biy from has only like 5 then id probably take all five just to make it easier for him and doesnt have to sell one pig or unless my costumers grow and want more and more but for now i think 4 is plenty

[mrchicken]

Mar 4, 2014 7:50:02 GMT -5 farmertrappe said:

Hmmm Mr Chicken I don't know about feeding hogs with road kill or critters from trapping. This is the meat you will be feeding your family, I raise my own hogs and chickens so i know what and how they were fed. What about the hogs eating the brain and spinal cords, man I think that's bad stuff. Ain't that how mad cow started? I buy a local feed ration from people I know and trust and supplement with left over produce from stands and my garden. I would seriously ask your county extension agent about this and get their opinion. Not worth saving a few dollars in my humble opinion.
Happy Homesteading.

Im not particularly concerned as long as the feed is fresh and not rotten. Been eating wild hog for 10+ years and they eat ANYTHING!
Swine are omnivores and in the wild a dead critter is fair game. They routinely wipe out turkey and duck nests eating the eggs and birds. The only nasty wild hog I have ever come across was living along a lake eating dead fish, snails, and seaweed. That was a "gamey" tasting pig.

The absolute best pork I have ever eaten was a 250++ lb wild sow I shot one year with a super heavy acorn crop. Thick layer of fat that was sweet and nutty. Mmmmmm. That was some good eating. Conversely one of the old timers up here says you don't want to eat a pig that has been eating "mash" or Mast meaning acorns or fallen fruit. I think that makes em tasty !

I really don't care for store bought pork anymore, especially with all the chemicals they treat it with. Compared to wild it is bland and flavorless.

Ill have to look into the nervous system issue to see if there are any diseases which can cross over.

[ninedeer]

nothing like raising your own food,17 years ago My wife and I bought a 10 acre hobby farm.The first summer was spent cleaning up the place.over the years we have raised goats,pigs steers,turkey,chickens,rabbits,horses and fox.I would say we have raised 30-40 pigs butchered some for are self and sold some to family and friend raised 50+ steer.when we started all this we where green horns as well.we have learned a lot over the years and would want to live any other way