Too many Animals?

[VStillman]

Thanks finns! My husband and I are thinking of maybe getting a pair of weaners to raise the first year to butcher, then maybe moving up to a breeding pair the following year...

One thing we have never raised was pigs, let alone a breeding pair. We bought a pig ready to butcher from a friend last year (YUM!) and we r planning to pick his brain for info and advice as well. We r leaning toward Duroc because what I've "read", they r suspose to be the friendliest and dont need as much protein as the others. But Im open to suggestions....

 

[kstaven]

If you are set on pigs one thing we have found is that they are best not on a rotational grazing system. They tend to be little rototillers that destroy a lot of pasture.

 

[EllieMay]

I agree that you should start SLOW.
Get only a few livestock first and see how the pastures do for the year.
On such a small acreage I would be primarily concerned with the parasite load if the pasture is not allowed to 'rest' for at least a month.
Sheep are good (as well as goats if you have good fencing).
You can just get one pig and run it with the sheep (give it a scoop of grain once a day).
The chickens or guineas running through the pastures will help eat the parasites.
Good luck!

 

[finns&fjords]

Thanks finns! My husband and I are thinking of maybe getting a pair of weaners to raise the first year to butcher, then maybe moving up to a breeding pair the following year...

One thing we have never raised was pigs, let alone a breeding pair. We bought a pig ready to butcher from a friend last year (YUM!) and we r planning to pick his brain for info and advice as well. We r leaning toward Duroc because what I've "read", they r suspose to be the friendliest and dont need as much protein as the others. But Im open to suggestions....

That's a good idea to start out with a freezer-bound pair to see if you want to deal with the extra work of breeding pair. Our 2 sows are both half Duroc and have been good mommas with even temperaments that allowed us to go in their pen and handle babies as needed. One of them is sorta difficult to move-like how do you force a 400 lb animal to go somewhere it DOESN'T want to....

 

[VStillman]

Im sure that is a funny sight!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!