Well I'm actually at a loss for words, I am very sorry for your loss but I hope that our videos can bring back some good memories. Thanks Jess for sharing - Mike
Awww, first thing I thought of was "Charlotte's Web", but ... "Lion King" kicked in and found myself stuck on the song "The Circle Of Life". Another positive thing about that trip ... Was you two got to spend that time together. With the projects having you in so many different areas, the kids, etc., there can't be that much quality time for husband/wife. As much as we all love you guys and you loved Gilbert ... There's nothing more important then the 5 of you together, and you 2 are the foundation.
Growing up on hog farm in northern Iowa I get real kick out of your hog video. My dad and brother both still raise organic hogs. I get a real chuckle watching you struggling moving hogs. Your calving videos is the main reason I watch and going to Sturgis in early August I know how beautiful it can be out there. Keep making the videos my four boys and I just love watching them.
if you have a bucket that fits over their head you can back a pig fairly easy my grandfather taught me that one. Pigs are slower backing up and they want out of the bucket.
My girls raised hogs in 4-H for many years (before we went to strictly raising and showing Angora goats). My best "tip/trick" for you: Mini Marshmallows!!! Seriously, a handful of mini marshmallows will make a pig do anything you want! (We always called it "pig crack"!!) In the weeks leading up to trailer day, go out two or three times and feed 'em some marshmallows. That'll give 'em a taste and from then on out, when they see/hear the bag emerge from your pocket, they are putty in your hands! I promise it will make loading and unloading a breeze. Wish we lived closer, as we've not had home grown pork since the girls' showdays. Hope you have a great year selling out!!
Love the marshmallow trick, plus I can save a couple for myself. With the pushing up of our schedule I didnt get to try any type of treats or anything, next year I'm going to have to start earlier and anticipate a early departure. Thanks for watching - Mike
Hi Mike , nice Video , the pigs all look in tip top condition ,I hope the meat attracts a good premium when you sell it . Over the years I've asked a few Vegetarians what they miss most not eating meat and most times they say, BACON!!
One tip I use when I need traction on a chute, ramp or trailer is to take one of those galvanized welded panels and cut it to fit with some small bolt cutters then just nail it down with fence staples. Never rots.
Raised a few hogs. They usually don't go anywhere they don't want to go. When they want to go where you don't want them too, that is a big hassle either way. Great videos. Been binge watching since I found the channel. Thanks
You can get a board like a piece of plywood with a handle made in it, you can use it to push the pigs where you need them to go. My dad and I used them they work pretty good. They are very good looking pigs Mike and Erin you did very well👍👍👍👍👍👍
For My son's FFA Experience He would raise 2 Pigs. Come June while he was at school it was my job to load the biggest up into the horse trailer to get him to the sale barn for the judging and sale. Did not have the extra Fence Panels like you did. It would take me 2 hrs to get that one pig into the trailer. He would circle back and cool off in the mud of the crick. A 25lb pig is strong. Good Job.
Having the panels did help but it would have been nice to even have a smaller area to load them out of, the could still run cirlces around us. Thanks John - Mike
When I saw Erin climbing the fence to help load the pigs I was like watch your head Erin Looked like she almost hit it on the roof of the barn Sorry Mike can't tell you how much I laughed watching falling and getting back up unloading the pigs wish I was closer I would come get some fresh pork I love grilling and smoking pork . Thanks for Sharing I enjoyed it and learned something at the same time. Have a great day tomorrow and God Bless!!!
@@OurWyomingLife Now Mike you have got to admit that you've got a damn good woman if she puts on a pair of boots , climbs over a fence into a pigpen, bumps her head, shrugs her shoulders and says "It's all good". Erin, your top alpha in my book.
Hey Mike, I used to raise pigs and putting a 5 gal bucket on their head would get them to back up right where I wanted them to go- typically in a pig box. Been bit plenty of times wrestling a pig!
My dad was born in a ranch/farm since my grandad grew several crops, but mainly coffee beans. He also had cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks and geese. I have heard many stories and one of those was that pigs were much smarter than dogs. They can be raised to obey more commands than any dog. Having been near some pigs I agree, they are really super smart. I bet the pigs could sense something and that's why they not only didn't want to get off but also turned their snouts to the opposite side and huddled close seeking strength in numbers. I think this reactions are telling. It's a sad thing to watch even knowing it's necessary. As most of us know food does not appear by magic out of nothing. I will also take this opportunity to say that I love your videos, specially Erin's gardening ones, since I'm working on my own gardening space for growing some veggies and fruits that usually have lots of pesticides on them. I have to adapt and adjust some things since my weather is a tad warmer 😎. I live in a city opposite the Guanabara Bay from Rio de Janeiro city! I'm trying to catch up with the videos, I recently discovered your channel. After lots of binge watching I'll get there. Thank you they are very informative and great fun to watch.
Thank you very much Patricia, we love that we can help, even in a totally different climate. It always makes me feel humble when people say that I help them garden but at the same time it makes me feel good to make a difference. Thank you so very much - Erin
Great vid Mike! Our slaughter house has been closed by our council and now we have to send them to Aberdeen etc for slaughter. but now we've gotten the beast from the east and nothing has been able to move for a while
Just found your channel. Watched the five videos that you put in your playlist to introduce yourselves and the ranch. Look forward to watching more of the videos and getting to know you. My dad also was a ranch hand but we were in Oregon. He worked on many different ranches and we also moved often. Adult life has taken me through rowcrop farming and now to metro St. Louis where we are close to the grandkids.
That is wonderful David, glad you found us and took the time to get our backstory as well. Thanks for watching and looking forward to hanging out with you - Mike & Erin
We call that a hotshot, it does work on pigs however unless they are in an alley there is no way to control which way they are going to go when you touch them with it. Most of the time we have found they just go crazy lol thanks - Mike
Funny how you get when you raise something you have a little guilt about taking it to be processed I really like our pig hat we raised last year but about a week before butcher he bit me so not so much love. Had no problem butchering him and I do all my own curing and cut up so it was easy for me. Oh and he does taste very good.
Its so weird I watch you and Erin and totally expect A Texas accent . Thats where we are from and yall are way more Texan than some of the people we have here lol. Im not being rude by saying that , its just the "yuppies " and "hipters" are moving in at a fast rate. Yall are living the dream except for all that cold and snow!! I couldn't handle that but It be a great place to visit. Thank yall again for sharing your life and letting us live vicariously through you😀🐂
If you take a 5gal bucket with a few rocks in it,have the pigs butt pointing out of the trailer. Rattle the bucket and the pig will stick its head in the bucket. Then start pushing the bucket onto its head and the pig will back right out of the trailer! I've loaded 800lb sows by myself this way! 😊👍
Mike, You may find it easier to dig a hole to back the trailer in than using your ramp. As I believe you stated, hogs don't like abrupt elevation changes and will load easier if they can walk in on the level. I agree with using a bucket to back them in. But they still have a hard time going up a ramp in reverse. Live and learn. My best to you, Erin and the kids.
I agree with everything you said lol . We are going to hopefully be reworking the pigs area this spring/summer so we will be able to make it easier. maybe. Thanks Owen - Mike
Mike, my dad's friend use to feed them expired baby formula he would get for free. My dad always said it was the sweetest tasting pork he had ever had. Cheap feed too.
I won't eat pork. Stopped eating pork after watching the movie "Babe" and reading about the intelligence of pigs, which is as much as dogs or more. But... that's better than most pigs get now-a-days. Much better than the factory farming!
Though they are cute and smart my love of bacon must be fulfilled. We have a Hatfield processing plant down the road from us. We see truck after truck of pigs being brought in daily.
Our Wyoming Life Wow, that seems like a lot of pork. We tend to eat far more Beef in our house but I'd guess we'd each still eat 20lbs or so of pork a year so I guess I can believe it. With pork being cheaper than beef I can see how people would consume more.
We feel the same when our pigs are gone also. If you want to see how some of our bacon turned out, just google Matt’s custom meats Kelso Wa. The pic is our bacon from a batch of Duroc’s we raised. Can you do a video on your meats you get back?
Well Mike, at least you've given them a good life compared to what factory farm's would have done to them even seeing through your videos of your pig's of how well you'd care for them and the feed you've given them (especially the pumpkin's) and that's more than what factory farm's would have given them I bet !!! I was told you could tell the difference between the meat from a happy animal from a stressed animal but I don't know? At least the buyers of your bacon, pork chops , ham and of course sausages can see how happy your pigs were and they weren't in a crowded cruel environment as some places are. This would make a good learning video for people and children of were meat comes from. Great videos Mike from pt 1&2 well done friend 👍🐷🐖 (sorry for this being a long comment )
Hey Calum, dont apologize for long comments, you always have something good to say! I agree, our customers always tell us that they can taste the difference and I am very glad they do. Thank you - Mike
Our sow had twelve in her first litter. We did the honors of putting up each one, but not until we needed more bacon and ham. Basically one whole day was dedicated for each one. It's a lot of work but you know the complete process from piglets to cured bacon.
I've never actually used one, I wonder if they are trained with it and thats how it works or would it work on one thats not used to it? Thanks now I have some research to do. :) - Mike
Though I've bee watching you channel for sometime, became a sub tonight. Brings back some good memories as we lived near Spearfish for a number years and miss the area. You two keep up the great work, it's interesting, informative and entertaining. Can't ask for any more!Mark
We used to have the farm slaughter truck come out to the farm. 3 guys all day. I dont think that service is availble around NE Wyoming. Always tough to watch the little piggies go.
Enjoyed this 2 video series on the pigs.....I think it only right that I should extend the invitation to use my smokehouse to help ease your pain!! :) I'll provide all the wood! Hickory, pecan, apple whatever! It's a lot warmer back here in Alabama!
Nice spill there lol been there done that sending livestock to butcher shop it is not easy trying not to get attached the animals some times it hurts like hell
Another great vid. I was thinking about your ramp.... Since you have a hole in the wall now, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to make the ramp or chute, fold up and latch to close off the hole in the side of the pen? Then next time, just unlatch and fold down to the trailer. Those were some good looking pigs.
Thanks! I just figured if you were going to have to patch up the hole, might as well patch it with the ramp! LOL! Sorry for adding to the project list!
The best weight for butchering pigs is about 225 pounds, after that your raising a fat hog. Next time you load out of a barn, make a funnel not a square. Make it progressively narrower so they cannot turn around. follow behind with a gate or 3x3 peace plywood so they cant see where they came from to force them to go forward. If that don't work get some good cattle dogs they will also heard pigs. Good luck with hogs Our family raised about 1500 head a year a good stock dog is worth its weight in gold.
Mike, two questions: 1. Do pigs ever bite ie..... They seem really tame, but are some aggressive? 2. It was weird how nervous they acted getting out of the trailer? Much more stubborn then they were getting into the trailer? Do they smell blood/death at the processing facility?
1. Yes they do, I have heard many horror stories of farmers losing fingers to pigs. Ours are pretty tame, but as they get older they can get crankier. 2. It wouldn't surprise me, to me it smelled like a barn, but to them who knows. When we take steers they get right off the trailer and walk right in, but then again they say pigs are as smart as dogs. One thing I didnt really mention in the video is that it took almost 3 hours for Erin and I to load those 7 pigs, they didnt really want to get on the trailer either but we had the time to be very patient with them. At the processors we had trucks and trailers lined up behind us, we didnt have that much time to be patient. As always, great questions, thanks for watching (still lol ) - Mike
Sooo after we loaded the piggies for market and we drove them - I noticed you stated just "you" cleaned out the trailer. LOL I was too tired to help. Pigs are stubborn critters. Hmmmm BACON
It's never as much fun to have to build something in a rush with a deadline. They look like healthy pigs. Right now if you had those dogs I mentioned ;)....ha
Why didn't you back up the trailer to one of the cattle panels, removing the panel, blocking the opening with the trailer and a corral panel. When we load pigs we back the trailer up to their gate, put their feed and water inside the trailer. The pigs go in and we close the door with no stress on the pigs or humans. It helps that we used the front end loader to dig out where the trailer parks to lower the entrance. That is pre-planning.
Were the pig shed it located it is too tight to back a trailer up to the panels. We had to go in the end where we could get a trailer in. Thanks for watching - Mike
does the pork come back in giant meat slabs and you guys need to cut and package it from there or does it come back pre-cut into the different pork sections and already properly packaged to be sold? also do you and erin prefer beef, pork or chicken? Thanks ahead of time
They actually package it all up for us, vacuum packaging all of it and even pricing it out based on our prices. They also cut it to order, for example, we get single packaged 1" thick porkchops, they will cut them, vacuum pack them and put the inspection stickers and prices on them for us. As for beek, pork or chicken. I'm not a picky eater, I will eat anything although variety is nice, if I get pork everyday then I start to feel off. lol Erin is a big chicken eater though, but I think she is the same way. We like to mix it up. Thanks - Mike
The pigs seem like they know where they are when you arrive at Sturgis Meats. Like they know that's the end of the line. Does Sturgis use a CO2 gas chamber, captive bolt gun or some other method to kill the pigs?
Mike, you can REALLY injury yourself if you wear gloves while handling material on a table saw. If the glove gets caught on the blade, it can turn what would be a bad nick into the loss of a finger when the fabric or leather gets caught up in the blade rotation. If it is too cold to not wear gloves, I recommend using a push stick or something fancy like a Micro-Jig Gripper. Please remember to work safe, at best that kind of injury can put you in a non-working state for a significant period of time.
Thank you very much. Great tip. I did take off the gloves soon after starting as you can see when I grabbed the nailer I didn't have them on. It's easy to forget little things like that. Thank you for the wake up call and thanks for watching. -Mike
No we dont, the processing facility is USDA inspected. They have three inspectors there and one does the health check when they arrive. Thanks for watching - Mike
Great video, I not so fondly remember those hog handling days, except my family used to butcher them, plenty of good hard work for my brother and I when much younger, what do they dress out at?, how much is the butcher able to save?
Pig wrestling!! How much does a processor do? Just the basic stuff or all the way through to final cuts and bagging? Great video, BTW. Love looking at the beautiful part of the country y'all live in.
Very much like pig wrestling, without the oil or whatever they put on them. The processor does it all, they do custom cutting all the way to vacuum packing and labeling. They even put price tags on for us. Thanks for watching - Mike
Just bought them over the years. Gilbert always had Milwaukee tools so I wanted to get something different so we could keep them straight. Thanks - Mike
Not alot, and the chance to have it early and for the March market was the deciding factor. We would have had them for about another 10 days which might have added 10 lbs each. This way we will be able to sell pork a month earlier at market than we had planned. Thanks Jesse, great question - Mike
It about brings me to tears watching your videos. Our South Dakota farm was sold about 7 years ago after my dad died.
Well I'm actually at a loss for words, I am very sorry for your loss but I hope that our videos can bring back some good memories. Thanks Jess for sharing - Mike
Mike you know a lot about a ranch, farm,and animals too. That's great you are helping others and showing others how/what they can do.
Awww, first thing I thought of was "Charlotte's Web", but ... "Lion King" kicked in and found myself stuck on the song "The Circle Of Life". Another positive thing about that trip ... Was you two got to spend that time together. With the projects having you in so many different areas, the kids, etc., there can't be that much quality time for husband/wife. As much as we all love you guys and you loved Gilbert ... There's nothing more important then the 5 of you together, and you 2 are the foundation.
You flying that flag and taking it dowm in bad conditions is awesome... As a vet i love seeing that man.. God bless you an your family man
Thank you very much sir - Mike
Growing up on hog farm in northern Iowa I get real kick out of your hog video. My dad and brother both still raise organic hogs. I get a real chuckle watching you struggling moving hogs. Your calving videos is the main reason I watch and going to Sturgis in early August I know how beautiful it can be out there. Keep making the videos my four boys and I just love watching them.
As a veteran I appreciate u not only flying the stars and stripes but also taking care of it
Tyler, I’m a veteran as well. Thanks
if you have a bucket that fits over their head you can back a pig fairly easy my grandfather taught me that one. Pigs are slower backing up and they want out of the bucket.
Great idea, we will try it next year, thanks - Mike
Yes that bucket trick works well. I know from experience...Good video!
It works fantastically, just loaded up my last fair pig to take in this morning using this trick
Yep that works every time and it is the only way I move stubborn pigs.
My girls raised hogs in 4-H for many years (before we went to strictly raising and showing Angora goats). My best "tip/trick" for you: Mini Marshmallows!!! Seriously, a handful of mini marshmallows will make a pig do anything you want! (We always called it "pig crack"!!) In the weeks leading up to trailer day, go out two or three times and feed 'em some marshmallows. That'll give 'em a taste and from then on out, when they see/hear the bag emerge from your pocket, they are putty in your hands! I promise it will make loading and unloading a breeze. Wish we lived closer, as we've not had home grown pork since the girls' showdays. Hope you have a great year selling out!!
Love the marshmallow trick, plus I can save a couple for myself. With the pushing up of our schedule I didnt get to try any type of treats or anything, next year I'm going to have to start earlier and anticipate a early departure. Thanks for watching - Mike
Amen....it took me 1 month feeding in the tralier to get my big 460 lb girl to market..love what you do
So much fun, thanks Terri - Mike
You and your lovely wife are soo hard working, God bless you guys.
Thank you very much and thanks for watching - Mike
Hi Mike , nice Video , the pigs all look in tip top condition ,I hope the meat attracts a good premium when you sell it . Over the years I've asked a few Vegetarians what they miss most not eating meat and most times they say, BACON!!
Thank you very much, I get that :) - Mike
I really enjoy watching your videos thank you for letting me go on the adventure with you.
An adventure it is somedays. Thanks a bunch - Mike
awesome looking pigs.
Thank you Rodney - Mike
One tip I use when I need traction on a chute, ramp or trailer is to take one of those galvanized welded panels and cut it to fit with some small bolt cutters then just nail it down with fence staples. Never rots.
Thats a great idea, Thank you very much - Mike
Raised a few hogs. They usually don't go anywhere they don't want to go. When they want to go where you don't want them too, that is a big hassle either way. Great videos. Been binge watching since I found the channel. Thanks
And welcome to our Wyoming life
Thanks for watching - Mike
What a journey. It’s great to watch.
Funny how I never forget the aroma of farm animals. Didn’t mind to much. Cute piggies 🐷.💕
My Dad an I raised hogs here in Missouri. We’d wait until the winter because it kept the smell down.
Glad I found your videos. I enjoy watching em.
You can get a board like a piece of plywood with a handle made in it, you can use it to push the pigs where you need them to go. My dad and I used them they work pretty good. They are very good looking pigs Mike and Erin you did very well👍👍👍👍👍👍
I'm guessing you are talking like the panels we used, you can see one in the the trailer at 9:26 Thank you very much, they work well - Mike
Our Wyoming Life sorry Mike I didn't see it before I don't know how I missed seeing it.
It's all good. Lots going on. I just wanted to make sure that was what you meant and there wasn't another tool I was missing. Thanks. -Mike
For My son's FFA Experience He would raise 2 Pigs. Come June while he was at school it was my job to load the biggest up into the horse trailer to get him to the sale barn for the judging and sale. Did not have the extra Fence Panels like you did. It would take me 2 hrs to get that one pig into the trailer. He would circle back and cool off in the mud of the crick. A 25lb pig is strong. Good Job.
Having the panels did help but it would have been nice to even have a smaller area to load them out of, the could still run cirlces around us. Thanks John - Mike
Putting dirt on the runner was a great idea👍 and keep the trailer dirty when moving pigs as then won’t like the shine from the floor
That makes sense, must be an all animal thing. If theres not dirt on it, it doesnt look natural. Thanks - Mike
Our Wyoming Life or if they refuse to go on pull them like if you taking them off and they’ll run on or risversa
Earl Jensen made the same comment I was going to offer. Also learned from my grandpa many moons ago. Thumbs up to Earl.
That is an awesome tip, wish I would have had it yesterday lol Thanks - Mike
When I saw Erin climbing the fence to help load the pigs I was like watch your head Erin Looked like she almost hit it on the roof of the barn Sorry Mike can't tell you how much I laughed watching falling and getting back up unloading the pigs wish I was closer I would come get some fresh pork I love grilling and smoking pork . Thanks for Sharing I enjoyed it and learned something at the same time. Have a great day tomorrow and God Bless!!!
I had to ask her, she said she did hit her head once, but that must have done it. Thank you very much - Mike
@@OurWyomingLife Now Mike you have got to admit that you've got a damn good woman if she puts on a pair of boots , climbs over a fence into a pigpen, bumps her head, shrugs her shoulders and says "It's all good". Erin, your top alpha in my book.
Hey Mike, I used to raise pigs and putting a 5 gal bucket on their head would get them to back up right where I wanted them to go- typically in a pig box. Been bit plenty of times wrestling a pig!
I have heard about the bucket trick from a few people, I cant wait to try it! Thanks Tim - Mike
You are so truly kind to them. It will pass when you get new 🐖.
That is true, when the little ones show up we get a reset. Thanks Joanne - Mike
My dad was born in a ranch/farm since my grandad grew several crops, but mainly coffee beans. He also had cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks and geese. I have heard many stories and one of those was that pigs were much smarter than dogs. They can be raised to obey more commands than any dog. Having been near some pigs I agree, they are really super smart. I bet the pigs could sense something and that's why they not only didn't want to get off but also turned their snouts to the opposite side and huddled close seeking strength in numbers. I think this reactions are telling. It's a sad thing to watch even knowing it's necessary. As most of us know food does not appear by magic out of nothing.
I will also take this opportunity to say that I love your videos, specially Erin's gardening ones, since I'm working on my own gardening space for growing some veggies and fruits that usually have lots of pesticides on them. I have to adapt and adjust some things since my weather is a tad warmer 😎. I live in a city opposite the Guanabara Bay from Rio de Janeiro city!
I'm trying to catch up with the videos, I recently discovered your channel. After lots of binge watching I'll get there. Thank you they are very informative and great fun to watch.
Thank you very much Patricia, we love that we can help, even in a totally different climate. It always makes me feel humble when people say that I help them garden but at the same time it makes me feel good to make a difference. Thank you so very much - Erin
Great vid Mike! Our slaughter house has been closed by our council and now we have to send them to Aberdeen etc for slaughter. but now we've gotten the beast from the east and nothing has been able to move for a while
I hear ya there, this is not much fun anymore! Thanks - Mike
You have inspired me to want to be a rancher in Wyoming when I grow up.
Thank you very much, we wish you all the best! - Mike & Erin
Great job Mike, enjoy your videos.
I saw the most recent pig to Sturgis episode before I saw this one. They came with the bucket and the pigs just walked off and into the barn LOL
Never a dull day on the ranch!
Never is, to tell the truth I got this video uploaded with 1 minute to spare, blame it on the ranch life. Thanks - Mike
Just found your channel. Watched the five videos that you put in your playlist to introduce yourselves and the ranch. Look forward to watching more of the videos and getting to know you. My dad also was a ranch hand but we were in Oregon. He worked on many different ranches and we also moved often. Adult life has taken me through rowcrop farming and now to metro St. Louis where we are close to the grandkids.
That is wonderful David, glad you found us and took the time to get our backstory as well. Thanks for watching and looking forward to hanging out with you - Mike & Erin
Hey Mike you can get a stick that gives the pig an electric shock when you touch them , which really helps moving them!
We call that a hotshot, it does work on pigs however unless they are in an alley there is no way to control which way they are going to go when you touch them with it. Most of the time we have found they just go crazy lol thanks - Mike
Our Wyoming Life that's fair enough, we'd just use it with cattle
Funny how you get when you raise something you have a little guilt about taking it to be processed I really like our pig hat we raised last year but about a week before butcher he bit me so not so much love. Had no problem butchering him and I do all my own curing and cut up so it was easy for me. Oh and he does taste very good.
Very true, luckily I havent had one bite me. Yet. I have had them nibble and thats enough for me. Thanks - Mike
Its so weird I watch you and Erin and totally expect A Texas accent . Thats where we are from and yall are way more Texan than some of the people we have here lol. Im not being rude by saying that , its just the "yuppies " and "hipters" are moving in at a fast rate. Yall are living the dream except for all that cold and snow!! I couldn't handle that but It be a great place to visit.
Thank yall again for sharing your life and letting us live vicariously through you😀🐂
Thank you very much Lisa, not sure I could pull of Texan but I appreciate the compliment. Thanks for watching - Mike
If you take a 5gal bucket with a few rocks in it,have the pigs butt pointing out of the trailer. Rattle the bucket and the pig will stick its head in the bucket. Then start pushing the bucket onto its head and the pig will back right out of the trailer! I've loaded 800lb sows by myself this way! 😊👍
Great Video! Love the yellow DeWalt tools. :)
Thank you very much ( I should upgrade someday to the 20volt though) and thanks for watching - Mike
Mike, You may find it easier to dig a hole to back the trailer in than using your ramp. As I believe you stated, hogs don't like abrupt elevation changes and will load easier if they can walk in on the level. I agree with using a bucket to back them in. But they still have a hard time going up a ramp in reverse. Live and learn. My best to you, Erin and the kids.
I agree with everything you said lol . We are going to hopefully be reworking the pigs area this spring/summer so we will be able to make it easier. maybe. Thanks Owen - Mike
Thanks Mike.
Thanks for watching Steve - Mike
thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching - Mike
Excellent~Enjoy all your videos! Mid Ohio
Thank you very much - Mike
Mike sorry that I had a great laugh at your expense. Good video.
Its all good, in the end we accomplished exactly what we needed to do. Thanks for watching - Mike
Ure welcome thanks for reply Mike
Hi Mike, Ur right! Much harder to transport then cattle. Good luck 🤠
Thanks Rich - Mike
wakie wakie eggs and bakey........... Of course, the best eggs and bacon are from animals I raise myself, or yourself :-) Nice looking pigs !!
Thank you very much! - Mike
Oh my you all are mighty tough. God bless you and stay safe. Dealing with live stock isn’t easy💕🇺🇸
There is another reason I won’t be doing many voiceovers... your too damn good at it!! Loved the video!
Thanks Ryan :) - Mike
Mike, my dad's friend use to feed them expired baby formula he would get for free. My dad always said it was the sweetest tasting pork he had ever had. Cheap feed too.
I bet it was, great idea! - Mike
That's funny Mike 😂😁@ first they don't want to get in the trailer then they don't want to get off the trailer you think they would know why lol..
Its like that moving pigs anywhere they are almost as stubborn as me :) - Mike
I won't eat pork. Stopped eating pork after watching the movie "Babe" and reading about the intelligence of pigs, which is as much as dogs or more. But... that's better than most pigs get now-a-days. Much better than the factory farming!
Though they are cute and smart my love of bacon must be fulfilled. We have a Hatfield processing plant down the road from us. We see truck after truck of pigs being brought in daily.
I was reading an article yesterday that the average american consumes 64.5 lbs of pork per year...just blows me away. Thanks for watching - Mike
Our Wyoming Life Wow, that seems like a lot of pork. We tend to eat far more Beef in our house but I'd guess we'd each still eat 20lbs or so of pork a year so I guess I can believe it. With pork being cheaper than beef I can see how people would consume more.
Great video Mike!
Thanks Tyler ! - Mike
We feel the same when our pigs are gone also. If you want to see how some of our bacon turned out, just google Matt’s custom meats Kelso Wa. The pic is our bacon from a batch of Duroc’s we raised. Can you do a video on your meats you get back?
We will check it out, and yes we will be doing a video when we get it back. Thanks a bunch - Mike
Well Mike, at least you've given them a good life compared to what factory farm's would have done to them even seeing through your videos of your pig's of how well you'd care for them and the feed you've given them (especially the pumpkin's) and that's more than what factory farm's would have given them I bet !!! I was told you could tell the difference between the meat from a happy animal from a stressed animal but I don't know? At least the buyers of your bacon, pork chops , ham and of course sausages can see how happy your pigs were and they weren't in a crowded cruel environment as some places are. This would make a good learning video for people and children of were meat comes from. Great videos Mike from pt 1&2 well done friend 👍🐷🐖 (sorry for this being a long comment )
Hey Calum, dont apologize for long comments, you always have something good to say! I agree, our customers always tell us that they can taste the difference and I am very glad they do. Thank you - Mike
Thanks Mike👍
When I bought my cattle liner I sold the pig floors so I would never be tempted to haul hogs.
Not a bad idea at all, wish I would have thought of it! Thanks - Mike
Our sow had twelve in her first litter. We did the honors of putting up each one, but not until we needed more bacon and ham. Basically one whole day was dedicated for each one. It's a lot of work but you know the complete process from piglets to cured bacon.
Very true, good job Frank - Mike
ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO! y'all should consider a pig whip that kids use for ffa to help move the pigs
I've never actually used one, I wonder if they are trained with it and thats how it works or would it work on one thats not used to it? Thanks now I have some research to do. :) - Mike
Thank you for the videos, and the time spent making them. I'm craving bacon wrapped chops for some reason. BACON.
Isnt it amazing how that works lol Thank you very much - Mike
Though I've bee watching you channel for sometime, became a sub tonight. Brings back some good memories as we lived near Spearfish for a number years and miss the area. You two keep up the great work, it's interesting, informative and entertaining. Can't ask for any more!Mark
Thank you very much Mark and thanks for watching! - Mike
You must have a strong background in marketing.You do a great job with your videos and your your ranch brand.
Thanks
Good job mike
It’s like they can sense what’s thru that door I’d be thinking this trailer ain’t so bad
We used to have the farm slaughter truck come out to the farm. 3 guys all day. I dont think that service is availble around NE Wyoming. Always tough to watch the little piggies go.
We have to get our USDA inspected because we resell it to customers just like the grocery store. I can imagine it would be tough Thanks Jess - Mike
Pigs Are Very Smart Animals,,,, They Knew What's Coming,,,,
Enjoyed this 2 video series on the pigs.....I think it only right that I should extend the invitation to use my smokehouse to help ease your pain!! :) I'll provide all the wood! Hickory, pecan, apple whatever! It's a lot warmer back here in Alabama!
Thank you Tom, we are looking for a vacation spot! lol - Mike
Nice spill there lol been there done that sending livestock to butcher shop it is not easy trying not to get attached the animals some times it hurts like hell
yes it does. Thanks John - Mike
Love the piggies!,,
They taste soooo good
Thanks for watching :) - Mike
If you were about to be turned into bacon wouldn't you not want to get off the trailer.
God bless.
In my mind I would like to think that they have no idea, somewhere inside though I kinda think they do. Thanks for watching Brian - Mike
Another great vid. I was thinking about your ramp.... Since you have a hole in the wall now, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to make the ramp or chute, fold up and latch to close off the hole in the side of the pen? Then next time, just unlatch and fold down to the trailer. Those were some good looking pigs.
Thats a good idea, I am planning on building a permantent ramp this spring/summer. I like it. Thanks Jerry - Mike
Thanks! I just figured if you were going to have to patch up the hole, might as well patch it with the ramp! LOL! Sorry for adding to the project list!
I wish i lived on a farm but hopefully i will start one in a few years
Very nice, good luck to you! - Mike
The best weight for butchering pigs is about 225 pounds, after that your raising a fat hog. Next time you load out of a barn, make a funnel not a square. Make it progressively narrower so they cannot turn around. follow behind with a gate or 3x3 peace plywood so they cant see where they came from to force them to go forward. If that don't work get some good cattle dogs they will also heard pigs. Good luck with hogs Our family raised about 1500 head a year a good stock dog is worth its weight in gold.
Thanks for the tips James. and thanks for watching - Mike
Hi mike how are you and goodbye pigs
I am doing well, how are you?- Mike
Mike, two questions:
1. Do pigs ever bite ie..... They seem really tame, but are some aggressive?
2. It was weird how nervous they acted getting out of the trailer? Much more stubborn then they were getting into the trailer? Do they smell blood/death at the processing facility?
1. Yes they do, I have heard many horror stories of farmers losing fingers to pigs. Ours are pretty tame, but as they get older they can get crankier.
2. It wouldn't surprise me, to me it smelled like a barn, but to them who knows. When we take steers they get right off the trailer and walk right in, but then again they say pigs are as smart as dogs.
One thing I didnt really mention in the video is that it took almost 3 hours for Erin and I to load those 7 pigs, they didnt really want to get on the trailer either but we had the time to be very patient with them. At the processors we had trucks and trailers lined up behind us, we didnt have that much time to be patient.
As always, great questions, thanks for watching (still lol ) - Mike
small world story time that saw dust you got by vaagen is from my home town here in colville WA
that went smooth..:)
about as smooth as could be expected. Slow and patience is the key. Thanks - Mike
Another great video. I just dry cured 2 slabs of pork bellies and will be smoking them soon to finish making my own bacon Yessiree!!
YUM, I bet it will be delicious. - Mike
I already can smell smoke pork butts on the smoker from here. Thanks Mike love the videos
Thank you very much! - Mike
Sooo after we loaded the piggies for market and we drove them - I noticed you stated just "you" cleaned out the trailer. LOL I was too tired to help. Pigs are stubborn critters. Hmmmm BACON
hahaha, I figured you could us a break. Thanks Betty for all your help - Mike
It's never as much fun to have to build something in a rush with a deadline. They look like healthy pigs. Right now if you had those dogs I mentioned ;)....ha
Woof Woof. Thanks for watching - Mike
Why didn't you back up the trailer to one of the cattle panels, removing the panel, blocking the opening with the trailer and a corral panel. When we load pigs we back the trailer up to their gate, put their feed and water inside the trailer. The pigs go in and we close the door with no stress on the pigs or humans. It helps that we used the front end loader to dig out where the trailer parks to lower the entrance. That is pre-planning.
Were the pig shed it located it is too tight to back a trailer up to the panels. We had to go in the end where we could get a trailer in. Thanks for watching - Mike
Hope you keep raising pigs. They are a lot of fun as they are so smart. Thanks for the comeback and keep enjoying the rural life. There is no other.
I M a Pig Farmer i could never pick up a scale like you Mike lol
does the pork come back in giant meat slabs and you guys need to cut and package it from there or does it come back pre-cut into the different pork sections and already properly packaged to be sold?
also do you and erin prefer beef, pork or chicken?
Thanks ahead of time
They actually package it all up for us, vacuum packaging all of it and even pricing it out based on our prices. They also cut it to order, for example, we get single packaged 1" thick porkchops, they will cut them, vacuum pack them and put the inspection stickers and prices on them for us. As for beek, pork or chicken. I'm not a picky eater, I will eat anything although variety is nice, if I get pork everyday then I start to feel off. lol Erin is a big chicken eater though, but I think she is the same way. We like to mix it up. Thanks - Mike
You need a big bad wolf to blow them out! Thank you for the great videos:)
Thank you very much, great idea. :) - Mike
The pigs seem like they know where they are when you arrive at Sturgis Meats. Like they know that's the end of the line. Does Sturgis use a CO2 gas chamber, captive bolt gun or some other method to kill the pigs?
Mike, you can REALLY injury yourself if you wear gloves while handling material on a table saw. If the glove gets caught on the blade, it can turn what would be a bad nick into the loss of a finger when the fabric or leather gets caught up in the blade rotation. If it is too cold to not wear gloves, I recommend using a push stick or something fancy like a Micro-Jig Gripper. Please remember to work safe, at best that kind of injury can put you in a non-working state for a significant period of time.
Thank you very much. Great tip. I did take off the gloves soon after starting as you can see when I grabbed the nailer I didn't have them on. It's easy to forget little things like that. Thank you for the wake up call and thanks for watching. -Mike
I think it's funny how they wrote everything out before
Actually narration is written after it happens, none of us are clairvoyant. Thanks for watching - Mike
Do you have to get a health check before you take them across state line?
No we dont, the processing facility is USDA inspected. They have three inspectors there and one does the health check when they arrive. Thanks for watching - Mike
Good video. Is this your first year of raising pigs?
This is year 3 for pigs, although every year we get more and more. Thanks - Mike
Great video, I not so fondly remember those hog handling days, except my family used to butcher them, plenty of good hard work for my brother and I when much younger, what do they dress out at?, how much is the butcher able to save?
The general rule that we use is that 28% is unusable. A 250lb pig will dress at 180lbs. Thanks for watching - Mike
Thanks, I couldn't remember
Great big adventure Mike I have one question how many pigs do you normally raise and take the market at one time? Be safe
Yes, pigs can be real stubborn but, frankly, they're more fun then steers. Pigs have similar personalities to dogs.
They are fun ! Thanks -Mike
Pig wrestling!!
How much does a processor do? Just the basic stuff or all the way through to final cuts and bagging?
Great video, BTW. Love looking at the beautiful part of the country y'all live in.
Very much like pig wrestling, without the oil or whatever they put on them. The processor does it all, they do custom cutting all the way to vacuum packing and labeling. They even put price tags on for us. Thanks for watching - Mike
Where did you get your dewalt wall
Just bought them over the years. Gilbert always had Milwaukee tools so I wanted to get something different so we could keep them straight. Thanks - Mike
I like that crate you used. I need to get one like that. Did you guys buy it or make it yourself?
Not sure which crate you are referring to, can you tell me what time you see it? Thanks - Mike
Our Wyoming Life it was the metal one you used for weighing the pigs.
What did y'all feed with. We show pigs and we feed with Moormans Showtec.
We are feeding show-rite team 18 along with garden scraps. Thanks - Mike
Is it an ADM Feed?
It's made by Hubbard feed
What is the price per ton? I’m seeing if I should buy other feeds for pigs next year
I would venture you don’t charge enough for your pork or your cattle. But hey we are farmers.Take care.😎
I hear ya there. Thanks Brent - Mike
What is the make and model of your trailer?
[edit to clarify my question] Would waiting until your original delivery date have made enough of a difference in weight to make more money?
Not alot, and the chance to have it early and for the March market was the deciding factor. We would have had them for about another 10 days which might have added 10 lbs each. This way we will be able to sell pork a month earlier at market than we had planned. Thanks Jesse, great question - Mike
YAY !!! More bacon !!!
Yes Sir, its coming - Mike