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Barnyard Buddies:  Pasture raised pork question  |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 06:50:02 AM
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After viewing Food Inc., I'm convinced we should raise our own meat. When it warms up around here I would like to get some hogs. I would like to put them out on pasture. The dh says we should keep them on the cement next to the barn. His reason for this is he does not want them to rut up our good pasture that we rotate our goats on. So, do pigs rut out of boredom? Does anyone still put rings in their snouts? Do all pigs rut or just certain breeds? I would really like to try it just once to see if there is a difference between feedlot or pasture raised pork. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 07:24:15 AM
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goodmorning, we raise a lot of pigs each year. we only have 2 now. pigs rut and dig naturally. they like to eat bugs and roots etc. some breeds rut less. i can understand the concrete. thing is not very natural. they love running and being with other pigs. we always raise more than one. when we sell the one it pays the cost of ours. i have never used a nose ring. it appears to me the breeds with longer snouts dig more. also if they are needing a mineral they will root more.we feed ours alfalfa and grass hay and grain. they always taste better than store bought. i like hamp-duroc cross. just a thought sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 08:18:48 AM
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They all rut to some degree, and if you have tree's in your pasture, they will destroy them, also your fenceing has to be hog proof. If you have other livestock in your pasture with them , some hogs will become territory aggressive and can hurt/kill the other livestock. I do not keep mine on cememt, but we do have some major ground repair every year.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 08:21:11 AM
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Ok so I am a dolt! Apparently they "root" up the ground. When they rut is whole other topic. Now I'm laughing at myself after rereading my post. Anywho, thank you Alee that site is very informative.
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 08:54:45 AM
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I have raised hogs on pasture. This last time I got 4 castrated 3 month old boys. I put them in my big field garden. They were great there. It was the last part of Sept. I was done in that garden so I thought they could eat all the leftover garden stuff. They did. That lasted a few months. They grew very fast. I gave them goat milk and lots of scraps, too. They had a ball out there. They had a little pond area, too. But when they got bigger is when the trouble started. First off, I have chain link up one side and in the front part. Not good for pigs at all. They can go right under it. So I put rebar and rocks and anything I could find to keep them in. Then they started getting out into the chicken yard. Then they started getting out into our yard. Have you ever seen anyone chasing 4 200 pound pigs around? Good excercise, but NO FUN! Then they started wanting MORE food because it was winter and no forage. So I was constantly carrying 5 gallon buckets of feed and scraps. I was begging people for their scraps. They were drinking gallons of warm milk. I had to start hiding from them because every time I went outside they'd see me and try to get out. I was scared of them then. They went to the butcher in JAn. last year and that was the happiest day of my life. I was SO glad to see them go. And yes, the meat was very good. I still have tons of sausage.
Anyway, yes, they tore up the whole pasture out there. Garden and all. A year later it's still trying to repair itself. I think they ate 2 of my ducks. The first 2 I had almost ate a baby goat. It was a nightmare. So no more pigs for me. A friend is going to start raising them so I will get one from her. She is going to do the nose rigs next time.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 08:59:22 AM
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I continued on with the "rut" theme, as to not embarress anyone,lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 09:35:59 AM
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My cousins have large blacks...a species that thrives on pasture. They're in the pasture with the goats most of the day and do fine. Their pasture does have a strand of hotwire and that has done a great job of keeping the pigs from digging out. Large blacks are one of the breeds that don't root around a lot (and their meat is UNBELIEVABLEY delicious...and high in Omega 3 fats). We are going to raise one of their weaner pigs this summer with our other weaner pigs. I am serious about being able to tell the difference in flavor and texture with the large blacks.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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Barnyard Buddies: Pasture raised pork question |
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Pasture raised pork question
