Monday, March 31, 2014

Meet the New Pigs on The Block




Really, If I were a pig (just don't) I'd want to look just like Miss Gidget here

 

 

 

 
 Believe it or not we actually  do more here on South Pork than just fight back on raw issues all day. (Note to government)

We raise Beef. Tend Bees. Milk cows. Assist customers. Feed pigs. etc...

Speaking of pigs, check out these stunning gals we recently purchased from Deanne Holmstrom up in the beautiful rolling hills of Wisconsin last month.

Both are full blooded Red Wattle Gilts (virgin sisters)  who will soon be big enough to be bred by one of our registered RW boars. Wally and Max are drawing straws for the privilege as we speak. Perhaps we will split them up and compare the litters? Sounds like a good time to me.

Wally making eyes at the new girls


They come from some amazing stock (Sire side) from a few of the original Red Wattle breeders in our country like Clyde Grover of Northern Illinois, and Elvis Kirsch of Texas where the Red Wattles were rediscovered in the 1970's, as well as from some wonderful newer breeders (mom's side) like the Wickham Farm in Iowa.

As we gear up for selling our farm and working with the Prince Farming who plans to expand all our farm product lines, especially pork production, we needed to add to our current breeding stock. We fell in deep like* with these two the minute we skidded down the long snowy drive of their beautiful homestead.








Best way to move a couple pigs down a slippery slope?
Well, they don't call them hog panels for nothing.


But then again how fun is a road trip if the road is dry and easy to see? We enjoy a challenge and finding these two treasures was worth every mile. The Holmstroms are fellow dairy farmers like us and raised these girls with the gentlest of hands. They are super sweet (the pigs AND their owners), easy to care for and very content in their new digs in our barn. But what I admire the most is their deep mahogany red coloring. Admit it. They are stunning.

Gidget and Gizmo.
 
Tomorrow is their big day as they will be introduced to an electric fence. Once they master the skills (i.e. back up from the wire, don't go through the wire) and complete the written competency exam they will be assigned  a breeding group and moved to an even BIGGER pasture.

If all goes as planned we'll have litters from these girls sometime in August, which means lots more pork for folks to buy in February. A life cycle you can smack your bacon lovin'lips on!





* (genuine love won't come till we see what kind of mothers they prove to be, sorry I can be very judgemental that way)

13 comments:

  1. Well aren't those some pretty little pigs! Thanks for sharing and I can't wait until August to see the new litters. Fingers crossed all goes well :)

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    1. After a very rough winter, life is looking grand today. Had 60's weather yesterday and all critters are happy happy here.

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  2. I agree, their deep, dark red coloring is beautiful. I've always wanted to be a red head.

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    1. Me too Carolyn. Now I am so salt and pepper gray you could set my head in the middle of the DR table and I'd be mistaken for one huge condiment.

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  3. No wonder Wally has a big smile on his face.

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    1. Tell me about it. But if he doesn't stop ordering baskets of organic apples for them and putting it on our credit card we'll have to cut him off. (Not literally, just from the CC access)

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  4. Get Wally a bar of soap! LOL thank you for the entertainment with your fun blog. All the best. Pam

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    1. Fabulous idea. Think he'll be insulted if I use one of the bars made from our pig lard? Something tells me no.

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  5. Their color is outstanding. Just beautiful. Lovely gals. Good luck with the litters.

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    1. Thanks Kris. They are indeed a couple of poster girls. Had not to put them in bikinis and exploit the heck right out them!

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  6. Oh what a pair of lovely little girls. Wally, you will just have to bide your time Mister! Looking forward to seeing the piglets in August.

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    1. Hey there Martha! Good to hear from you. Don't suppose you could weave us some multiple booties for all those piglets on their way?

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  7. To quote Charlotte, "SOME PIG!" They are lovely! Wally looks bedazzled. :)

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