Decided to get 2 Pigs to raise!

[linkedsilas]

I work with 2 pot bellied pigs at work. I am a zoo keeper and the pigs are the animals I also train. So I have trained them to do a lot of behaviors using the clicker training method.;
Their diet is VERY varied and VERY calculated. I think they eat better then I do,

 

[EmAbTo48]

We have 2 yorkshires, a sow and boar, plus 2 Pot belly pigs. My boar and sow are seperated in different pens they have 10 acres that is fenced in for them to roam around since I can't stand the muddy mess they make if left in small pens. My PBs are in a smaller pen, but I have them out most of the day with me so there pen hasn't gotten to bad yet! My PBs eat WAY less then our Yorkshires. But our yorkshires are full grown 3 years old and we breed them for meat piglets that we sell.

I would say your pen you have them in now will eventually become a swamp of mud LOL!

Pigs our a lot of fun, but I am more keen on our PBs

 

[OkChickens]

Oh we just got a pretty good rain a few days ago and it is a MUD PIT! My Wife is excited to have ham, bacon, and sausage soon!

Any Idea on Their Weights?

Nate

 

[Debbiesflocks]

Its really hard to tell from just a picture but they should be close to ready. I just had my 2 done last Tuesday. And from the pics posted i would say we had close to the same size pigs. Back in December. I would guess mine were about 250lbs live weight. I will know in a couple days when the cut and wrap man calls me to see how i want them cut. He always gives me a hanging weight when he calls.

your pigs are looking good. not over fat should give some great meat.

 

[HEChicken]

Nate, I'm curious about the cut bottom wire - how does that help keep them in? And has it continued to work since you posted that pic?

 

[OkChickens]

Nate, I'm curious about the cut bottom wire - how does that help keep them in? And has it continued to work since you posted that pic?

Yea it has worked so far! They got stabbed a few times and now don,t even go near the fence when they roll around in the mud! They always have feed an water and shelter to be it.

Nate

 

[Debbiesflocks]

The bigger pigs hanging weight was 188 and the smaller one was at 179. So that would put them at about 250lbs live weight give or take a few pounds. My fresh pork will be ready next week and my smoked meats will be ready in 2 weeks. Hickory smoked Bacon yum yum yum

 

[OkChickens]

I would like to get about 200lbs hanging weight or more of each pig. I love fresh Sausage and Bacon. My wife named the girls Jim and Dean!

Nate

 

[Debbiesflocks]

I don't know how big i would let them get, we took one to over 300 live weight once and she was bad. 220 lbs is ideal live weight to butcher. Most folks butcher at 225 to 250lbs live weight. I dont remember the weight but at a certain weight they stop producing more meat and start packing on more fat. The Quality of the bacon and hams start dropping. The amount of gain for pound of food will also start going down. Its all up to the grower on how big you want them. I prefer quality over volume. We did eat the pig we let go over 300lbs and was so glad when she was gone. We tried giving fresh pork to any one who would take it..

 

[nthehunt]

most feeder hogs start producing more fat than muscle at about 275-280lbs