Looking good Chris ! That's a bummer about the ruptured boar . The wheat field in the background looks great ! We are all along for the long ride and keep up the great work !
I do AI at the house with the dogs. I don't order any chilled or frozen anymore. It's not worth it half the time it doesn't even work. But, if you can extract from a male on premise, and use that, it's a lot easier and better than natural. At least with dogs anyway
Good to see you at it Chris! We're expecting a litter June 10th. You're right, AI is challenging. We've gotten decent at it. Hopefully our new boar will throw some good pigs too.
I moving around a little can't do a lot , On a commercial farm with the setup for it AI is fine but small scale it's just too much trouble for me anyway
Finding good pigs is just hard too many people raising them just don't have a clue what they're doing or even what kind of hogs they have . Most of my customers come from word of mouth because like most growers I don't advertise online , try asking at the feed mill and the processor usually can tell you who has good stock . The local livestock agent would probably know too
Hey guys, With your background and the history you have in the hog business would you consider doing a video on the hog business and what it looked like prior to when big confinement (the current system) took over in the 90's. Where and how the finished pork product originated and all of the channels it passed through to get from farm to fork?
Great advice as always my friend. So many nuggets packed into one video - only hope folks will listen to you as well as we have. Thank you for all of your help. I’ll give you shout soon to catch up amd shoot the bull.
I have a question for you Chris. I am kinda new to feeders. Two pigs from the same litter. Both guilts, cross is York/herdford. Fed the same feed. One of them is pushing 300 lbs the other is probably 225. I wanted to butcher then at the same time but I don't think the smaller one is going to catch up before the larger one is too big. Fed the same ration. Smaller one shows no indication of worms. She is just lean but otherwise healthy.
That's not unusual , she'll never catch up . There's just a little difference genetically even in the same litter and sometimes pigs string out , it common for mine to have 50 lbs difference between heaviest and lightest in a pen of tops . It's a problem even in a commercial finishing floor when they say a house of pigs weighs 250 lbs that's an average , some weigh 200 some 280
Hey Chris I appreciate all your videos and advice. I wanted to ask your opinion. I have a 2 year old sow that had 12 piglets her first farrowing and only stepped on one so 11 lived. This year her second farrowing she had 13 and has laid on several killing 1-2 each day and now only 6 left. She seems more careless raising this batch this year laying down quicker and stepping on them more often. The only difference is she weighs more of course but not over weight and she farrowed during a very hot time. Would you cull her or is there some logical explanation for what is happening.
That's a common problem it's normal to raise more in the winter because the pigs get under the heat lamp and away from mama . I'd probably give her one more chance maybe let her farrow when it's cooler but two short litters here because she doesn't mind the pigs and yes she'd be sausage and I wouldn't keep any guilts of her to breed
thanks for the video guys! You mentioned raising prices, how are the pig feed prices right now? I hear with the war going on, animal food prices are up.
They have been rising steady since 2020 there's several reasons why . Raising grain prices are going to make even higher this year it's already 27.00 a hundred now for hog feed
I been learning about landrace gardening where they do not venerate heirlooms but instead mix a bunch of varieties together and then select each successive generations for what does best on a particular ground without much tending to and are the most vigorous and best tasting. I think the same ought to be done with animals. I think it would be great to have a glouster old spot, Hereford, durok, large black, red wattle, Idaho pasture all mixed together in a boar and a couple of sows. Its pretty unrealistic and expensive idea probably but the genetic diversity I think is a valuable thing. Select for fertility and reliability of litters and good mothering once a diverse gene pool established.
That's been tried what you end up with is a razor back . Livestock tends to de evolve without management and lose most of the more desirable traits . You'll end up with a hardy animal but lose growth rate and meat quality, long horn cattle are a good example.
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Good deal I ordered some soybean meal. 2 weeks ago and it has yet to come in. Thank you for responding back to me. Have a blessed day.
Truth is knowing how to work and having common sense will get you through most situations . Most people don't realize how many different things you have to learn on a farm . All those things are scarce nowadays
Do you sell piglets ? I am raising crops on my little city lot but if I ever get some land will want some pigs. Good for me to stay aware of pig breeders in the same state as me.
I'm trying to start a list of good breeders , have a lot of people contact me looking pigs . You should email me your information homesteadingthehardway@gmail.com
I've got three Duroc sow's should I breed them to a Duroc Boar or cross them with something. I'm breeding for meat. I was thinking about crossing them with a York.
York or Hamp either one would be a good meat cross . Honestly a proven cross bred boar would be fine but you can get a little better price for a straight cross
Mine are the SPC registered two of them are 98% pure. The farm I got them from has been growing them for 60 years so the have some of the best bloodlines in the nation.
Hello sir. I’ve been watching every video I can of ur. Love everything about them. I was just about to help my kids start a business growing an selling goats 🐐 or sheep 🐑. But after watching ur videos 🆎 pigs I feel in love with them !! But I just watched a video we’re you said we can’t make money 💴 raising pigs 🐖 might break even. But that’s not what I want for my kids to break even. !! So now I’m really really confused ?? Want to do pigs is what we want to do but making money is the hole point. !! My sister lives in Monroe nc. Was hoping u live close to her we really really want to talk an meet you an buy pigs an learn everything we can from you sir. You seem to have so much knowledge about these pigs 🐖. I’ve been watching an following a few other guy’s videos but ur videos hit home to me mr. Chris. Well hopefully when u did the video the times was not good 👍🏻 to make money 💴 praying 🙏🏻 time is better now with the pigs 🐷 to be a good business for my kids to get into thanks any information about my message would be greatly appreciate sir. Thanks 🙏🏻 god bless you praying for ur Health as I’m going though something to TTUL thanks 🙏🏻 I live in Columbus Ohio by the way.
You can make a little profit but you have to get setup first and build a market .Having a source for grain and Making your own feed is first and finding good stock is difficult. The videos you see saying they made thousands haven't figured cost, big difference between gross and net . I will say selling pork instead of pigs is a better way to go but again you have to build a market and a reputation. It's definitely not a get rich quick scheme and like any farm enterprise numbers make all the difference and it's easy to lose money . Good pens , good stock , good management and a little luck you can make it work
Thank you 🙏🏻 sir. For answering me back Last night. I forgot to tell you I live on 2/ aces with the house an garage in the middle so I will be using a 1 1/2 Acer. Was going have my son set up 6 to 10. 20x20. 400 sqft. Pens to rotate them my grass an soil is really really good grass grows really fast ! But hopefully 🙏🏻 it will keep them yard an smell down an not get tore up 🆙 if I move them weekly praying 🙏🏻 will help with food from the grass an then what would you recommend for a good food to give each day ?? P.s. can an do they like an eat hay. Because I can get it really cheap an easy right beside us ??? Last can we buy a really young durock just off mom an on regular food was hoping to buy one boar 🐗 two girls. ?? To start with can u give me a price there a RUclips guy in W.V. I watch a lot of I was thinking about purchasing from but I want to stick with who we fill comfortable with. An my kids don’t care to make the drive FOR HONESTY AN GREAT HELP AN PIGS ETC 👍🏻👍🏻🐷as I said in the first message my sister live in Monroe nc. !! Was hoping you was Close to her ??? I’m going to send you my cell phone number for you can text me anytime I’m not sleeping much because of some health problems I’m praying 🙏🏻 to go away. An also my email is. Hd2sprouse@gmail.com. Text is best but you can use any one ☝️ case u want price an location private. ? Well sorry for the long text message but to get it all out it took it lol Thanks 🙏🏻 mr. Chris. My name is Henry In Columbus Ohio. Be praying 🙏🏻 for you to god bless 🙏🏻🙏🏻🐖🐖🐷🐷
@@bulliesforlife1465 Unless you ring them they'll root the grass up in less than a day tbh , all you need to do for the smell is lime the pens and rotate so they can dry out . My hogs are on two sides of my house 30 yards away the smell rarely an issue as long as you tend to it. Remember pigs forage not graze so they destroy pasture and the salt in the urine slows regrowth
I've got two young guilts I've been wanting to start raising some piglets to sell and hope to make enough to keep a couple piglets and buy feed with the money I raise from selling the others. I can buy four doses of good quality semen shipped to my door for about $150... I have never done artificial insemination, but to me seems like it would be cheaper to do it this way rather than feed a boar all year any input will be appreciated much thanks
You can run two or three sows and a boar and make the money work . Just have to have good pigs you can get a good price for , the demand is there . AI is unreliable enough especially if you're inexperienced and don't have the setup that I wouldn't recommend it
They are beautiful 🥰 Chris ☺️
Thank you , I have high hopes for the red one
Looking good Chris ! That's a bummer about the ruptured boar . The wheat field in the background looks great !
We are all along for the long ride and keep up the great work !
All I can do is keep going , never have know how to quit
Great to see you out again Chris. I was just thinking at least the crook that swiped your pictures knows quality pigs when he/she sees them.
I should have really messed with him lol I called him on the phone and he took the ad down
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay You should have asked him if he wanted to buy some real hogs.
@@MarkWYoung-ky4uc I wasn't overly pleasant to him to be honest , I may have made a threat or two maybe three
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay "Only the Shadow know???"
Very helpful. Chris. Working on a garden and greenhouse now. Thanks!
I really appreciate your videos. You make a lot of sense to me.
Glad to help
I do AI at the house with the dogs. I don't order any chilled or frozen anymore. It's not worth it half the time it doesn't even work. But, if you can extract from a male on premise, and use that, it's a lot easier and better than natural. At least with dogs anyway
Still think they don't need me in the middle adding extra steps lol
Good to see you making videos again. Love that young red belted boar.
Hopefully we'll get one up a week from now on , he is nice I'm very hopeful he'll throw some nice pigs
Thanks Chris
Appreciate the information/help.
Glad to help, thanks for watching
Good to see you at it Chris! We're expecting a litter June 10th. You're right, AI is challenging. We've gotten decent at it. Hopefully our new boar will throw some good pigs too.
I moving around a little can't do a lot , On a commercial farm with the setup for it AI is fine but small scale it's just too much trouble for me anyway
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay if it wasn't for my wife Lisa helping me I couldn't do it here. I'm keeping you on the prayer list.
@@PineyWoodsHomestead thank you , I'm improving a little but I'll never be back 100 percent
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay I'm right there with you Chris. It's frustrating I know. One day at a time....
first year of pigs here on me farm...what is a good way to find pigs in an area? It took me months to find the 4 I got and lucked into them
Finding good pigs is just hard too many people raising them just don't have a clue what they're doing or even what kind of hogs they have . Most of my customers come from word of mouth because like most growers I don't advertise online , try asking at the feed mill and the processor usually can tell you who has good stock . The local livestock agent would probably know too
Hey guys,
With your background and the history you have in the hog business would you consider doing a video on the hog business and what it looked like prior to when big confinement (the current system) took over in the 90's.
Where and how the finished pork product originated and all of the channels it passed through to get from farm to fork?
That's a good idea , thank you
Years ago I put water marks on the pictures of the last litter of puppies we had. So sad that it has come to that.
What bothered me the most was how sorry looking HIS pigs were , I know there was some fuel wasted going to look at them lol
Great advice as always my friend. So many nuggets packed into one video - only hope folks will listen to you as well as we have. Thank you for all of your help. I’ll give you shout soon to catch up amd shoot the bull.
Looking forward to it
❤ they're gettin big
Wish I had ten more just like the red one . Y'all have some good stock !
❤
I have a question for you Chris. I am kinda new to feeders. Two pigs from the same litter. Both guilts, cross is York/herdford. Fed the same feed. One of them is pushing 300 lbs the other is probably 225. I wanted to butcher then at the same time but I don't think the smaller one is going to catch up before the larger one is too big. Fed the same ration.
Smaller one shows no indication of worms. She is just lean but otherwise healthy.
That's not unusual , she'll never catch up . There's just a little difference genetically even in the same litter and sometimes pigs string out , it common for mine to have 50 lbs difference between heaviest and lightest in a pen of tops . It's a problem even in a commercial finishing floor when they say a house of pigs weighs 250 lbs that's an average , some weigh 200 some 280
Thomas Trowbridge has spotted polands.
Hey Chris I appreciate all your videos and advice. I wanted to ask your opinion. I have a 2 year old sow that had 12 piglets her first farrowing and only stepped on one so 11 lived. This year her second farrowing she had 13 and has laid on several killing 1-2 each day and now only 6 left. She seems more careless raising this batch this year laying down quicker and stepping on them more often. The only difference is she weighs more of course but not over weight and she farrowed during a very hot time. Would you cull her or is there some logical explanation for what is happening.
That's a common problem it's normal to raise more in the winter because the pigs get under the heat lamp and away from mama . I'd probably give her one more chance maybe let her farrow when it's cooler but two short litters here because she doesn't mind the pigs and yes she'd be sausage and I wouldn't keep any guilts of her to breed
thanks for the video guys! You mentioned raising prices, how are the pig feed prices right now? I hear with the war going on, animal food prices are up.
They have been rising steady since 2020 there's several reasons why . Raising grain prices are going to make even higher this year it's already 27.00 a hundred now for hog feed
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay yes, you are right! thanks for your reply. Cheers from Belgium
Keep these videos coming i love the pig videos
Thank you
What can be done about the flies?
The bugs you see flying aren't flies but not much traps and bait help . They're only a problem here early spring and late fall when it's cool
I been learning about landrace gardening where they do not venerate heirlooms but instead mix a bunch of varieties together and then select each successive generations for what does best on a particular ground without much tending to and are the most vigorous and best tasting. I think the same ought to be done with animals. I think it would be great to have a glouster old spot, Hereford, durok, large black, red wattle, Idaho pasture all mixed together in a boar and a couple of sows. Its pretty unrealistic and expensive idea probably but the genetic diversity I think is a valuable thing. Select for fertility and reliability of litters and good mothering once a diverse gene pool established.
That's been tried what you end up with is a razor back . Livestock tends to de evolve without management and lose most of the more desirable traits . You'll end up with a hardy animal but lose growth rate and meat quality, long horn cattle are a good example.
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay oh wow, definately dont want a razorback 😆
Do you ever mix some soybean meal with your cracked corn?
Yes , we make all our own feed . Soybean or bone meal , corn , wheat/rye and mineral and vitamin supplement. Mostly feed a 16 percent protein ration
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay Good deal I ordered some soybean meal. 2 weeks ago and it has yet to come in. Thank you for responding back to me. Have a blessed day.
I have no interest in pigs, but this discussion contains lots of experienced wisdom that can be applied elsewhere.
Truth is knowing how to work and having common sense will get you through most situations . Most people don't realize how many different things you have to learn on a farm . All those things are scarce nowadays
Great video as always!
Thank you !
Do you sell piglets ? I am raising crops on my little city lot but if I ever get some land will want some pigs. Good for me to stay aware of pig breeders in the same state as me.
Yes and I know some good breeders scattered around the state . When you get ready for some I can probably point you to some
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay ok great, thank you
Hey bud been watching ya videos and and subscribe to ya channel I raise a lot of pigs to and I'm from VA close to Carolina line
I'm trying to start a list of good breeders , have a lot of people contact me looking pigs . You should email me your information homesteadingthehardway@gmail.com
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay fair enuff bud we may be able to work somthing out and go from there IL email ya for sure
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay I tried to email ya but it won't let me bud don't now if I done somthing wrong or if it's on your end
I've got three Duroc sow's should I breed them to a Duroc Boar or cross them with something. I'm breeding for meat. I was thinking about crossing them with a York.
York or Hamp either one would be a good meat cross . Honestly a proven cross bred boar would be fine but you can get a little better price for a straight cross
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay thank you for the info
The Dooley's Of Michigan Have BLESSED Day
I'm in south Carolina an have started growing spotted pigs. Had to go up to Ohio to get them
There's several people growing Gloucesters in NC but I haven't been able to find SPC hogs anywhere
Mine are the SPC registered two of them are 98% pure. The farm I got them from has been growing them for 60 years so the have some of the best bloodlines in the nation.
@@christiangunter2436 I think I talked to those people once a few years ago
Hello sir. I’ve been watching every video I can of ur. Love everything about them. I was just about to help my kids start a business growing an selling goats 🐐 or sheep 🐑. But after watching ur videos 🆎 pigs I feel in love with them !! But I just watched a video we’re you said we can’t make money 💴 raising pigs 🐖 might break even. But that’s not what I want for my kids to break even. !! So now I’m really really confused ?? Want to do pigs is what we want to do but making money is the hole point. !! My sister lives in Monroe nc. Was hoping u live close to her we really really want to talk an meet you an buy pigs an learn everything we can from you sir. You seem to have so much knowledge about these pigs 🐖. I’ve been watching an following a few other guy’s videos but ur videos hit home to me mr. Chris. Well hopefully when u did the video the times was not good 👍🏻 to make money 💴 praying 🙏🏻 time is better now with the pigs 🐷 to be a good business for my kids to get into thanks any information about my message would be greatly appreciate sir. Thanks 🙏🏻 god bless you praying for ur Health as I’m going though something to TTUL thanks 🙏🏻 I live in Columbus Ohio by the way.
You can make a little profit but you have to get setup first and build a market .Having a source for grain and Making your own feed is first and finding good stock is difficult. The videos you see saying they made thousands haven't figured cost, big difference between gross and net . I will say selling pork instead of pigs is a better way to go but again you have to build a market and a reputation. It's definitely not a get rich quick scheme and like any farm enterprise numbers make all the difference and it's easy to lose money . Good pens , good stock , good management and a little luck you can make it work
Glad to help if I can
Thank you 🙏🏻 sir. For answering me back Last night. I forgot to tell you I live on 2/ aces with the house an garage in the middle so I will be using a 1 1/2 Acer. Was going have my son set up 6 to 10. 20x20. 400 sqft. Pens to rotate them my grass an soil is really really good grass grows really fast ! But hopefully 🙏🏻 it will keep them yard an smell down an not get tore up 🆙 if I move them weekly praying 🙏🏻 will help with food from the grass an then what would you recommend for a good food to give each day ?? P.s. can an do they like an eat hay. Because I can get it really cheap an easy right beside us ??? Last can we buy a really young durock just off mom an on regular food was hoping to buy one boar 🐗 two girls. ?? To start with can u give me a price there a RUclips guy in W.V. I watch a lot of I was thinking about purchasing from but I want to stick with who we fill comfortable with. An my kids don’t care to make the drive FOR HONESTY AN GREAT HELP AN PIGS ETC 👍🏻👍🏻🐷as I said in the first message my sister live in Monroe nc. !! Was hoping you was Close to her ??? I’m going to send you my cell phone number for you can text me anytime I’m not sleeping much because of some health problems I’m praying 🙏🏻 to go away. An also my email is. Hd2sprouse@gmail.com. Text is best but you can use any one ☝️ case u want price an location private. ? Well sorry for the long text message but to get it all out it took it lol Thanks 🙏🏻 mr. Chris. My name is Henry In Columbus Ohio. Be praying 🙏🏻 for you to god bless 🙏🏻🙏🏻🐖🐖🐷🐷
@@bulliesforlife1465 Unless you ring them they'll root the grass up in less than a day tbh , all you need to do for the smell is lime the pens and rotate so they can dry out . My hogs are on two sides of my house 30 yards away the smell rarely an issue as long as you tend to it. Remember pigs forage not graze so they destroy pasture and the salt in the urine slows regrowth
@@bulliesforlife1465 my email is in the channel description. I know where some good pigs are not too far from you
I hope you’re staying safe in this heat. -KJ
Awesome
Thank you
Knowledge! 👍
Good American !
Thank you❣️
Thank you for watching
I've got two young guilts I've been wanting to start raising some piglets to sell and hope to make enough to keep a couple piglets and buy feed with the money I raise from selling the others. I can buy four doses of good quality semen shipped to my door for about $150... I have never done artificial insemination, but to me seems like it would be cheaper to do it this way rather than feed a boar all year any input will be appreciated much thanks
You can run two or three sows and a boar and make the money work . Just have to have good pigs you can get a good price for , the demand is there . AI is unreliable enough especially if you're inexperienced and don't have the setup that I wouldn't recommend it
@@HomesteadingtheHardWay thank you, you are a wealth of knowledge
I have been trying to call you
Don't have a signal in the shop