Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ally in disrepair and not well maintained, you can be sure the animals on it have not fared any
better. Dirt and manure are a normal part of any farm, but a good farmer keeps the farm in or-
der so it functions well. Animal enclosures should not have significant manure buildup, and
bedding should appear fresh and clean.
Once you have settled on a breeder, you can begin to think about making a purchase. One of
the best beginners' approaches is to purchase a couple of shoats in the spring and fatten them
for fall hams, keeping one for the table and selling the other, if you so choose. There is some
division about whether it is better to work with
barrows
(young, castrated male pigs) or
gilts
(young female pigs), though each has its advantages. Barrows tend to gain weight faster than
gilts, but gilts can accept more nutrient-rich feed and produce leaner meat. In general, either
will do, and your decision should really be based on the best-looking pigs available.
Early in the spring, contact the farms and breeders in your area to find out when they are
far-
rowing
— that is, when their sows will be giving birth. You will want to buy your feeder pigs
when they are in the 6- to 8-week-old range. This is a good time to buy your pigs because
their prices are at their lowest at this age, and they are easy to handle. As the piglets get older
and the farmer invests more in feeding them, their cost will increase. Sometimes it is possible
to pick them out before they are weaned and return for them later. If this is possible, you
might want to do so. Good breeders castrate their young male pigs as a matter of routine, so
this should be done, and the animals should be well healed before you bring any home.
What to look for when buying pigs
When you go look at the pigs, the farmer most likely will have all the young shoats for sale in
a single pen. Take some time to look them over. Healthy pigs usually will move far away from
visitors and then gradually approach as they grow more accustomed to the newcomers and
their natural curiosity takes over. Pigs that make no movement when strangers approach
should be viewed with suspicion; such listless behavior is often a sign of poor health or injury.
In general, crossbred or hybrid pigs tend to be more vigorous than purebreds, though only
when the crossbreeding is part of a planned breeding program. Ask the farmer about his or her
breeding approach; most will be happy to talk about their ideas about breeding because it says
much about who they are as farmers. If possible, you want to look at the parent stock as well,
to see what kind of animals you are buying. Look at all the pigs in the group. In your mind,
separate all the largest animals first, because you want to take home the biggest in the lot. Dis-
