Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Well, another reason to pay your bills off and retire early....

So you can stop sitting around all day. Looks like training in your off time cannot completly offset the damange done from a Cubicle lifestyle...sigh.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39523298/ns/health-mens_health/

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

What's new, Scoobey Doo?

Marge lost a few piglets to traumatic injury, but she has 7 of the 12 she farrowed and they are MONSTERS. For LB pigs they are growing fast (I suspect due to the ample milk supply, she has 12 teats).

Olivia did lose two of the really tiny ones. She has 13, including a small boy now named "Bud." Bud is WAY to small to be used for breeding (ever, he's a textbook runt) and is becoming something of a family member. He's even been to church with us (Sunday School lesson...)

Anyhow, we have reservations on a couple of breeding pairs, and (assuming my genders match up) we should have 4 to 6 pairs out of this farrowing. Just got to make sure all the pair candidates look nice and well formed. And I have to notch so I can tell them apart. And I need to vaccinate. And do that "boar to barrow" thing. And...

Oh (not that this is a big deal to anyone but me) two of my boars are off farm visiting other "ladies." I don't rent boars as a matter of course (or offer stud), but I know these farms, these pigs and it's nice to lower the head count for a couple of months.

Some of thegoats have gone down the road, mostly as pets or companions for does. Turkeys (midget white) and chickens are EVERYWHERE :)

It's been cool and crisp in the mornings, and my last hay cutting (what I'm feeding right now) has proven to be beautiful, sweet smelling and well recived by Goats and Hogs alike.

Dave,

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Olivia is the Queen piglet maker.

I'm not sure if this is some kind of record for the Large Black Hog in North America, but I'm sure it should be.

Olivia farrowed 15 piglets yesterday. I made sure everyone ogt a pass at a teat and got some colostrum, so I'm hopeful most (if not all) of them will make it throught the first few days. Though I am a dreamer some times. Anyway...check out the video and my terrible, stereotyped redneck imitation.