*Today’s post is a couple hours later than usual, but I’m still trying to catch up from the long day that was yesterday … a 5:00 AM wake up, a pig pick up, soccer practice, and youth group (back to back to back) took a toll on me and I’m trying to catch up with my work.
But, as you can see from the picture above the piggies are all safe and sound in their new home. In fact it looks like they decided to sleep in today because I snapped this picture after 8:00 AM. I am really pleased with the way the pigs look and how they have grown. The Berkshire and Hereford cross is something that I’m very interested to watch grow, and of course taste. There might even be a chance that one of the gilts (four gilts and one barrow) gets to stay on the farm. If I can find a Tamworth boar (or semen) it is a three-way cross that I would be interested in trying out.
The sow though is probably the most exciting part because she is bred to a purebred Hereford boar and this June will give us our first litter of pigs born on the farm … and they will be purebred Herefords. She is very easy going and nice to work with and I aim to keep it that way be feeding her and the pigs by hand instead of using the bulk feeders (at least to start with on the pigs).
Of course all these new pigs mean one thing … we will have pork available this summer and then probably again in the fall/winter. If you are in the area and would like to get on the waiting list just shoot me an e-mail.
Sounds good. I have thought that if I brought in new boar stock I would probably go with Berkshire to mix some more into our herd genetics. Ours are primarily Yorkshire with Berkshire, Tamworth, Glouster Old Spot and other. About two years ago we got a Large Black sow and are now crossing her into the herd. She and her daughters are performing very well. One of her sons just went to become the young boar on another local farm. He is already performing his duties and I think he’ll make a fine addition there.
THey look like fine pigs. We hand feed all 100of ours and it certainly makes things easier if there is ever a crisis. However they do like to use me as a rubbing pole – which can be dangerous up close to the electric fence.