I’m watching four years down the road. Baby pigs in my area are $150. Processing in my area is fairly expensive as well due to limited processors. The taste of self raised pigs is very much a selling point.
Thank you for the insight into your choices, and the continued efforts in quality video content. We appreciate watching such an informative family friendly channel.
i started years ago with calves from dairy farms as they are any were from free to 100$ each depending on the market for them, ( hear the market in your area is same) and it been down to the free to 30$ for a long time, then being i have so much brush area that is in a valley and wet after a rain for a few weeks, was a great place for pigs, put the problem was everyone wants a 130 to $150 each weened, i had to bit the bullet and buy some older sows, i bread them for a number of years but last year i sent them ff to freezer camp and they were not putting out, this year i had to fork out 150$ for weened female piglets to bread later this winter, as i dont sell any of my meat, it all go to families and shelters in need and for my self, what little i can eat, weather its the steers or pigs they both are on one eire electric and 1/2" round bar are my posts, corner posts are costly $10 Tee posts
The life cycle argument is one of the main reasons to keep sheep (or indeed goats, I guess) instead of cattle on a homestead scale. Processing age for a steer raised on only pasture and hay/silage, especially reasonably poor stuff like you're likely to have on your property for a while, is about 2 years. That's a lot of winter feed you have to pay for. Lambs are butchered at around 5 months on good feed, a few more months on poor feed. Only the adult animals need to be kept over the winter.
Goats aren’t so bad. Although the fencing costs, as you discussed, are very high when starting up. That said, reasons to consider meat goats are a short life cycle, low feed inputs, and a high market price that, as my dad says, would make grandfather roll over in his grave.
I have 10 and a half acres of scrubby hardwood land. My original idea was to use goats to clear some scrub and start a little silvopasture farm based around goat meat, milk, fruit/nut crops and timber/firewood. After going through your channel for a month or so, I'm really being sold on the idea of pigs instead of goats. They seem easier and I think my land would suit them better, what with all the oak, hickory and fruit trees I have. Also there seems to be much more of a market for pork where I am Appreciate your knowledge and wisdom!
Hey Troy great info. With the challenges you had re: farrowing earlier this year have decided on a new breed of pig to go with or are you going to to introduce a new breed of boar with your sows. Thanks David
The Grayman right now I am going to retire all but one and look for a new girl of a different breed to raise next year. Not sure what I’m going with yet.
Troy, what's your best guess on pigs per acre? If you have three to five pigs on an acre of forested, bushy land, how long would it take them to knock it down? Also, why do you only farrow once a year? Help me understand why you don't stagger A.I. sessions to keep a herd of varying ages, since a sow can farrow twice a year. Stagger in the sense that you don't A.I. all the sows at the same time which would allow for two A.I.'s a year for more profits.
I like to start with Walter Jefferies recommendation of 10 per acre. Quality of pasture is very important. I read this question earlier today and I think it would be a great video topic. That is two for you lately! Keep up the good questions! As for once a year farrowing, it is really due to my management. Having multiple litters of different ages would require me to have to separate rotation processes and infrastructure since I would not let them mingle. With a 7 month life cycle on our farm we would have to have some overlap.
Awesome to hear (10 per acre). I've considered pigs, and I'll likely only have 2 or 3. I have enough space that I can easily give them an acre or more. Good news!
I a thinking of raising pigs in the near future mostly for myself and this helps with some of the aspects of infrastructure. I'm curious if you have a recommendation for a specific breed. Also what kind of shelter would they need, if any?
I started with mutts simply because I didn't want to be out much $ if I killed them. There are some heritage breeds that have a better foraging instinct and can bulk up better with forage but they take longer to finish. If you want a good meat pig that finishes well, look at duroc. I like the Hampshire breed due to them being more docile.
Our farm is in East TN and we have 125 acres 17 in pasture the remainder in forest and reclaimed old homestead. We have lots or rock and sink holes...do you think that pigs would still thrive in that environment? Thanks!
Robert Steinbrecher we breed our own but I would start looking in the fall for a reputable farmer that farrows piglets early in the spring. You could put a deposit down early and probably get pick of the litter.
Red Tool House - Homestead registration can be a damned nuisance, but if there's a disease outbreak it can really make a difference in stamping it out. I guess it depends whether you expect a new disease to be quarantined out and eradicated or you expect to just put up with it.
They need to be respected like any other large animal but I wouldn't say they are inherently mean. Some confined hogs can be ill-tempered and sows will be protective of their piglets.
Another great/helpful video, thanks! We started with 14 pigs this year and are liking it. Question, you said you only overwinter sows I think, if I heard right then how are you breeding them, artificial insemination or just using young boars then processing (or some other method)? Thanks again.
Yes, you are correct. We only keep sows and breed via AI. We have done several videos on our AI process and explaining why we chose that route. Thanks for watching!
I’m watching four years down the road. Baby pigs in my area are $150. Processing in my area is fairly expensive as well due to limited processors. The taste of self raised pigs is very much a selling point.
Good info, thanks.
Thank you so much for the video.
Thank you for the insight into your choices, and the continued efforts in quality video content. We appreciate watching such an informative family friendly channel.
i started years ago with calves from dairy farms as they are any were from free to 100$ each depending on the market for them, ( hear the market in your area is same) and it been down to the free to 30$ for a long time, then being i have so much brush area that is in a valley and wet after a rain for a few weeks, was a great place for pigs, put the problem was everyone wants a 130 to $150 each weened, i had to bit the bullet and buy some older sows, i bread them for a number of years but last year i sent them ff to freezer camp and they were not putting out, this year i had to fork out 150$ for weened female piglets to bread later this winter, as i dont sell any of my meat, it all go to families and shelters in need and for my self, what little i can eat, weather its the steers or pigs they both are on one eire electric and 1/2" round bar are my posts, corner posts are costly $10 Tee posts
The life cycle argument is one of the main reasons to keep sheep (or indeed goats, I guess) instead of cattle on a homestead scale. Processing age for a steer raised on only pasture and hay/silage, especially reasonably poor stuff like you're likely to have on your property for a while, is about 2 years. That's a lot of winter feed you have to pay for. Lambs are butchered at around 5 months on good feed, a few more months on poor feed. Only the adult animals need to be kept over the winter.
Good insight , thx Red.
Goats aren’t so bad. Although the fencing costs, as you discussed, are very high when starting up. That said, reasons to consider meat goats are a short life cycle, low feed inputs, and a high market price that, as my dad says, would make grandfather roll over in his grave.
That's if you can keep them within the fence... :)
"Poopkin patch."----This city boy from Philly is adding that one to my arsenal. 🤣 Some how, some way that will be worked into conversations.
I have 10 and a half acres of scrubby hardwood land. My original idea was to use goats to clear some scrub and start a little silvopasture farm based around goat meat, milk, fruit/nut crops and timber/firewood.
After going through your channel for a month or so, I'm really being sold on the idea of pigs instead of goats. They seem easier and I think my land would suit them better, what with all the oak, hickory and fruit trees I have. Also there seems to be much more of a market for pork where I am
Appreciate your knowledge and wisdom!
Thank you. I'm planning on pigs next year for the exact same reasons.
How do you keep the electric fence from shorting out on weeds?
The fence is hot enough to burn up/kill most of the weeds. Mid summer I come through with a string trimmer to clean them up.
Hey Troy great info. With the challenges you had re: farrowing earlier this year have decided on a new breed of pig to go with or are you going to to introduce a new breed of boar with your sows. Thanks David
The Grayman right now I am going to retire all but one and look for a new girl of a different breed to raise next year. Not sure what I’m going with yet.
Red Tool House - Homestead: Have you considered Idaho Pastured Pigs ( IPP)? From my research they are good at foraging. Tim
Cliffside Acres Don't IPP's take longer to grow out to harvest weight?
What are the issues with sheep? I have been looking into them and would appreciate any insight. Thanks
Troy, what's your best guess on pigs per acre? If you have three to five pigs on an acre of forested, bushy land, how long would it take them to knock it down? Also, why do you only farrow once a year? Help me understand why you don't stagger A.I. sessions to keep a herd of varying ages, since a sow can farrow twice a year. Stagger in the sense that you don't A.I. all the sows at the same time which would allow for two A.I.'s a year for more profits.
I like to start with Walter Jefferies recommendation of 10 per acre. Quality of pasture is very important. I read this question earlier today and I think it would be a great video topic. That is two for you lately! Keep up the good questions! As for once a year farrowing, it is really due to my management. Having multiple litters of different ages would require me to have to separate rotation processes and infrastructure since I would not let them mingle. With a 7 month life cycle on our farm we would have to have some overlap.
Awesome to hear (10 per acre). I've considered pigs, and I'll likely only have 2 or 3. I have enough space that I can easily give them an acre or more. Good news!
Rotation is very important. The ground needs time to heal and regrow. I plan on doing a video on this next week.
Red Tool House - Homestead what breed are your sows that their piglets grow out to processing weight in 7 months?
Ours are duroc crosses. We have crossed them with hampshire and landrace
I a thinking of raising pigs in the near future mostly for myself and this helps with some of the aspects of infrastructure. I'm curious if you have a recommendation for a specific breed. Also what kind of shelter would they need, if any?
I started with mutts simply because I didn't want to be out much $ if I killed them. There are some heritage breeds that have a better foraging instinct and can bulk up better with forage but they take longer to finish. If you want a good meat pig that finishes well, look at duroc. I like the Hampshire breed due to them being more docile.
Our farm is in East TN and we have 125 acres 17 in pasture the remainder in forest and reclaimed old homestead. We have lots or rock and sink holes...do you think that pigs would still thrive in that environment? Thanks!
Absolutely! I would just watch some of the sink holes to make sure they couldn't get down into them and not be able to get back out.
Red Tool House - Homestead thanks!
What month do you start looking for piglets? I am seriously considering trying a pig or two next year. Great video as always.
Robert Steinbrecher we breed our own but I would start looking in the fall for a reputable farmer that farrows piglets early in the spring. You could put a deposit down early and probably get pick of the litter.
Get at least two, they're very social animals and they do get lonely if you only have one.
Red Tool House - Homestead thanks I will start looking around me for breeders.
TheodorEriksson yes from what I have read they are very social animals. I will more then likely get 2. Thanks for the input.
Do you need to register your pigs with the state or county?
Jumpoff A no. Our county does not require any farm animal registration
When the government starts requiring the registration of livestock, a revolution is overdue.
Yeah, that would definitely be too much.
Red Tool House - Homestead registration can be a damned nuisance, but if there's a disease outbreak it can really make a difference in stamping it out. I guess it depends whether you expect a new disease to be quarantined out and eradicated or you expect to just put up with it.
Aren’t hogs sometimes mean? I remember as a kid visiting a farm and being warned to stay away from the pigs.
They need to be respected like any other large animal but I wouldn't say they are inherently mean. Some confined hogs can be ill-tempered and sows will be protective of their piglets.
Do you ever have problems with wild boar trying to recruit your females?
Nancy, we don't have wild boar issues around our area. They are very scarce.
Another great/helpful video, thanks! We started with 14 pigs this year and are liking it. Question, you said you only overwinter sows I think, if I heard right then how are you breeding them, artificial insemination or just using young boars then processing (or some other method)? Thanks again.
Yes, you are correct. We only keep sows and breed via AI. We have done several videos on our AI process and explaining why we chose that route. Thanks for watching!
Why no goats
Fencing is WAY chesper