Looking at getting pigs aventuallyaventually advice needed

[Jesusfreak101]

Ok I had two durocs which ere great big pigs both where very sweet my boar I could easily handle same with the sow. My husband didn't want me handling them while pregnant so we sold them since I am the farmer and he works outside of home. We have two kids right now so and this one going be the third. I am looking for a breed for meat that grazes/forages. I also would like it to be under 200 pounds at max weight. I would also like a friendly breed I can already say my kids love pigs they both loved petting them and feeding them. So yeah I been doing alot of research so far I come up with the American guinea hog, and the kunu pig.

 

[Latestarter]

Based on the lot picture you shared on another post, you're only going to have ~1/3 of an acre and you want goats too... I'm not sure you're really going to have enough room to do everything you want. Most here have posted recommending that you NOT keep ruminant animals in with the pigs. They'll really need their own area/space. I believe @frustratedearthmother has/raises AGHs. I can't recall, but maybe @Mini Horses does/did too?

 

[Jesusfreak101]

We live on 200 acres actually the pictures are from the pen areas where I keep the animals at night because of coyotes, stray dogs and other predators.

 

[Baymule]

My experience has been with feeder pigs. It's just easier on me to go buy them, raise them, then take to slaughter. @frustratedearthmother has AGH and keeps a boar and sows. She loves them!

 

[Jesusfreak101]

We plan on moving actually so I wouldn't be getting them for a long while but I can keep looking for the breed I want so that I stay with in my budget and save for the ones I want.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

We talked about doing a feedr before we move. But he wants to wait until after I get money from saling some babies we are about to have(ducks, gosling, chicks, kids)

 

[Latestarter]

I apologize... the 1/3 of an acre pen picture was a totally different person's post. I got the two of you mixed up... dyslexic I guess.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Lol its no big deal

 

[Mini Horses]

I had AGHs. Raised from weaning to adult. Bred the gilts, then butchered the boars. No taint in the meat. The girls were able to farrow by themselves, great moms! Their temperaments were outstanding. Docile, non-aggressive -- even with hours old piglets. At first I intended to sell the piglets, buy another boar, etc. Put all on CL thinking, weaners would sell & probably not sows. One farm bought them all, including sows! They were raised on pasture, fresh veggies, etc. So, I now have none. I would buy them again. Think about it but, not wanting more work right now. I can get weaner size for $30-50 here.

Meat has been great. I rendered leaf lard to use. They were 143 & 147 hanging weight. While they are a "lard type" the meat is NOT full of fat, nicely marbled but lean. I wanted the smaller hog as I didn't want so much pork at once. Only change I would make is to only butcher one at a time! I did a "kill & chill" at an inspected site, then cut & pkg at home. Big job with 2....so, next time, one at a time OR pick up one at a time to pack.

They do no grow out as fast as the larger breeds. Mine were 14 mos old when butchered but mainly because I was waiting for the gilts to be older to breed, then waited another month to be sure they were. They are actually great for whole hog spit cooking @6-8 months, again, still smaller than your other breeds -- but easier to handle & butcher at the smaller size.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Thats actually something I hadn't thought of to breed the females and butcher the board when they mated. I been debating about the safety around my kids with male pigs and cows. My kids a young and love to help with all the animals. We got blessed with our last boar and how gentle he was. I been nervous that we might not be so lucky last time. Kinda like our buck he overly gentle he follows the kids around like a puppy. (I am always with them with any of the animals, that being said my four year old has been know to climb in to pens so ego my nervousness about certian animals when she my only girl and boys are known to be trouble lol) I keep debating between having a feeder calf/pig and until they are much older.