Thank you, for sharing your experience. Just started raising my first 4 Iberian Portuguese Black pig, and your videos helped me avoid some mistakes. 👏💪
We start our pigs in the barn for the first month with constant hot wire on the inside of their stalls so they learn to back up when they get shocked...after that they are on single strand solar pulse charger in the paddocks and they show nothing but respect to that fence 😂..really quick paddock changes though
I got value out of this we have been raising our first pigs 4 Idaho pasture pigs and we are just a couple hours south of you. A couple weeks is too long to wait for part two try to get it knocked out sooner haha
Everything you say is 100% true and valuable advice. Thanks. However.. A homestead raising pigs for family and friends is way different from commercial production. If a homestead is in no hurry and wants to maximize quality and nutrition, some small breed heritage pigs can be raised on pasture and scraps only. Humans have been doing it for thousands of years.
We always let the pigs out on the grain fields after harvesting. Double strand electric wire. The pick up all the dropped grain, fertilize the fields, and they will root up the field as well. We set them out their with the cattle, and the geese would hang out with them as well.
Interesting, I have spoken to several row crop farmers who used to do the same thing in the early 90s. Often, they said that the pigs were their primary source of profit for the year.
Great video. I only have four pigs but I own fifty seven acres of pine forest. I have my pigs in a hog fenced half acre with a single hot wire so they are well trained as to not lifting the hog panels. I am planning to run multiple three level hot wires through the woods and increase the numbers of pigs to twenty or fifty. The woods are an impenetrable jungle here in NE Florida with a heck of a lot that I am sure the pigs would love to eat. I currently feed them corn, apples and tomatoes. Please could you offer me any advice for my situation here, Dave. * * *
I know this video is a bit old, and you have made several videos on cover cropping since, but you did mention a few times that it reduces feed cost...Now this is obviously not grass, but a mix of legumes too. So my question is, will is still be worth it to add the extra production cost by planting cover crop is its not really reducing feed cost? OR is it reducing feed cost considerably because of it?
It reduces feed costs, improves, soil, and other things. We grow much more than legumes for the pigs though. That said, most producers aren't growing the best combinations of crops to reduce their pig feed costs.
Thanks for this video! So much good information. What would you say the carrying capacity for 1 acre divided into 10 paddocks with frequent movement? How about with 5 acres subdivided the same way? Is there an Econ of Scale that happens with regenerating forage?
I'll get to those issues eventually, but they are much more advanced issues and the answers depends on your goals, priorities, and what you are planting.
They do receive a grain ration to supplement their pasture diet. How much they receive depends on how much "quality" forage is available for them at a certain time of the year. The grain ration is a corn and soy based ration.
It would have been VERY helpful, if you actually SHOWED pictures of the different fencing options you spoke about. Also, they are called different terms in different parts of the world. It would also be more helpful if you edited in more things (pictures/footage) you describe only, as a rule going forward.. Just a suggestion, but more work for you, i appreciate that.
I get that. I showed fencing options that I used line the training pen, poly wire, and high tensile. I don’t have hog netting and don’t use chicken netting anymore. I try to show what I can when I can.
@@DowdleFamilyFarms Thanks for your reply. A lot of the required pictures and footage, you can get easily from the internet. Its that, or most of your viewers have to do it. One does it (you) or many do it (us all). Just saying.
Yes, but then there are copyright issues etc. I get your point. But spending hours getting permission and sorting through legal issues is even further hassle for something that doesn't pay anything.
@@DowdleFamilyFarms It doesnt seem to affect all the other quality channels. I suspect they dont have to get permission at all. They probably use clips under t'the fair use' act.
It depends on the processing weight. We go to 325-350 lb. live weight. Our average amount of grain is much less. That said, people new at raising pigs won't get anywhere near standard feed to meat conversion, especially if compared to confinement hogs.
Thank you, for sharing your experience.
Just started raising my first 4 Iberian Portuguese Black pig, and your videos helped me avoid some mistakes. 👏💪
I'm glad that I could help.
Fascinating Jim. Thank you. This is great information.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate the feed back
Very informative video. Thanks so much for sharing. Best of luck.
Thank you! You too!
Looking forward to the next video in the series. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.
Thanks for the kind words.
We start our pigs in the barn for the first month with constant hot wire on the inside of their stalls so they learn to back up when they get shocked...after that they are on single strand solar pulse charger in the paddocks and they show nothing but respect to that fence 😂..really quick paddock changes though
Nice.
I got value out of this we have been raising our first pigs 4 Idaho pasture pigs and we are just a couple hours south of you. A couple weeks is too long to wait for part two try to get it knocked out sooner haha
lol. Thanks! It takes some work to get them going!
When pigs have access to forage, does it reduce the amount of grain feed that they eat, or just supplement?
It depends on the quality of the forage. It rarely reduces it unless the pigs have really excellent forage.
Everything you say is 100% true and valuable advice. Thanks. However..
A homestead raising pigs for family and friends is way different from commercial production. If a homestead is in no hurry and wants to maximize quality and nutrition, some small breed heritage pigs can be raised on pasture and scraps only. Humans have been doing it for thousands of years.
Yes. Meat breeds can be raised the same way. It depends upon how much fat and lard your family wants. 70/30 meat to fat or 30/70.
We always let the pigs out on the grain fields after harvesting. Double strand electric wire. The pick up all the dropped grain, fertilize the fields, and they will root up the field as well. We set them out their with the cattle, and the geese would hang out with them as well.
Interesting, I have spoken to several row crop farmers who used to do the same thing in the early 90s. Often, they said that the pigs were their primary source of profit for the year.
Great video. I only have four pigs but I own fifty seven acres of pine forest. I have my pigs in a hog fenced half acre with a single hot wire so they are well trained as to not lifting the hog panels. I am planning to run multiple three level hot wires through the woods and increase the numbers of pigs to twenty or fifty. The woods are an impenetrable jungle here in NE Florida with a heck of a lot that I am sure the pigs would love to eat. I currently feed them corn, apples and tomatoes. Please could you offer me any advice for my situation here, Dave. * * *
Pasture pigs taste so much better. 😋
Yes, they do! I'm a firm believer in that.
I know this video is a bit old, and you have made several videos on cover cropping since, but you did mention a few times that it reduces feed cost...Now this is obviously not grass, but a mix of legumes too. So my question is, will is still be worth it to add the extra production cost by planting cover crop is its not really reducing feed cost? OR is it reducing feed cost considerably because of it?
It reduces feed costs, improves, soil, and other things. We grow much more than legumes for the pigs though. That said, most producers aren't growing the best combinations of crops to reduce their pig feed costs.
@DowdleFamilyFarms you should write a book, people like me will buy it.
Thanks for this video! So much good information. What would you say the carrying capacity for 1 acre divided into 10 paddocks with frequent movement? How about with 5 acres subdivided the same way? Is there an Econ of Scale that happens with regenerating forage?
I'll get to those issues eventually, but they are much more advanced issues and the answers depends on your goals, priorities, and what you are planting.
One day, they're going to refer to you as the 'Pig Whisperer' 😉
lol. maybe so, but sometimes I feel like the pig shouter!
Do a video about the prows and cons of show pig breeds
It's coming soon.
Thanks
do you feed them corn and soy?
They do receive a grain ration to supplement their pasture diet. How much they receive depends on how much "quality" forage is available for them at a certain time of the year. The grain ration is a corn and soy based ration.
I have absolutely no intention to ever raise pigs... bjt this is an INTERESTING video!
Thank you!
If you had acorns you could finish the pigs with them like those fancy Italian farms
We graze our pigs in woods during the fall to eat acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts, and wild grapes!
Mmm. Good eating.
It would have been VERY helpful, if you actually SHOWED pictures of the different fencing options you spoke about. Also, they are called different terms in different parts of the world.
It would also be more helpful if you edited in more things (pictures/footage) you describe only, as a rule going forward..
Just a suggestion, but more work for you, i appreciate that.
I get that. I showed fencing options that I used line the training pen, poly wire, and high tensile. I don’t have hog netting and don’t use chicken netting anymore. I try to show what I can when I can.
@@DowdleFamilyFarms Thanks for your reply. A lot of the required pictures and footage, you can get easily from the internet. Its that, or most of your viewers have to do it. One does it (you) or many do it (us all). Just saying.
Yes, but then there are copyright issues etc. I get your point. But spending hours getting permission and sorting through legal issues is even further hassle for something that doesn't pay anything.
@@DowdleFamilyFarms It doesnt seem to affect all the other quality channels. I suspect they dont have to get permission at all. They probably use clips under t'the fair use' act.
Thanks for watching!
800-1100 lbs feed per pig is a very inefficient pig.
It depends on the processing weight. We go to 325-350 lb. live weight. Our average amount of grain is much less. That said, people new at raising pigs won't get anywhere near standard feed to meat conversion, especially if compared to confinement hogs.
thank you but i don't want to see you , i like to see more the Pigs
lol
If you are using grazon on the grass you have defeated your purpose to deliver harmless meat to the public.
We dont use any sprays on our pastures.