The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Greg on October 31, 2011, 08:06:11 pm
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Don't get me wrong...
My OSB's are for the table.. But do they benefit from human interaction..
I'm a first time pig keeper and enjoy spending time with them, giving them a good scrub with a brush and a tickle behind the ear...
But is it best to leave them alone .. ??
Greg
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I think it's better for them to know humans so they don't get freaked out when they are A) put in the trailer and B) unloaded at the slaughter house and see humans in white overalls and get freaked out.
Thats just my opinion :) my lot love fuss and really enjoy being around humans (except 1) i'm no expert by any means but i go by my gut :pig:
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we fatten up weaners for the table too
i would say
But is it best to leave them alone .. ??
DEFINITELY NO!!!
we love playing, rubbing bellies, brushing and enjoying their company
thats the enjoyment and i'm sure their happy life means better tasting meat
:pig: :pig: :love: :love: :pig: :pig: :love:
Mx
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..... Mmmm thanks Welsh Lass.... :)
My wife thinks I'm a bit bonkers... I go down to the paddock and talk to them.. And give them a tickle and a banana..
I just think its good that they've enjoyed their time..
Greg
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Friendly pigs are happy pigs if you ask me. We had a nightmare loading up the last lot we took to slaughter as they were NOT human friendly :( took us hours to get them into the trailer grrrr the ones we have there now will happily follow us in :)
Not only for slaughter process is it easier :pig: i think it's nice to have them friendly and it's nice for humans to sit and enjoy their company. I've got piglets that are all destained for slaughter yet they love having their bellies scratched and being hand fed goodies
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Pigs are very sociable animals and love all company, the only thing is it makes it harder sending them off, had many a tearful farewell in the back of the trailer prior to a trip to the butchers, but i make sure each one gets a kiss and a hug before going. i know it has to bedone and that while they were with me they had the best life i could give them and were loved and thats what i tell myself!!
So keep having your chats and tummy rubs and enjoy your pigs while you have them.
mandy :pig:
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Mandy...
I don't think you can ask better than that..
Brought a tear to my eye..
As long as we can give them the best life and they have enjoyed themselves than that's good enough for me..
One of the reasons I've decided to have pigs is that I think that's important that my children value and enjoy eating meat... My children don't seem to have any issue with the pigs and why I've got them.. I just want them to enjoy themselves before they go...
Greg
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My son loves it that we raise our own pork :) he says it's good that he gets to play with them and get muddy and covered in pig. When we send them off he is fine with it and helps us to seperate the meat when it comes back :pig:
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Not like me to be controversial, but.......
Pigs don't NEED interaction with people, no more so than a cow or a chicken, I agree that it helps if they are used to people being around and not scared of people plus playing with them may relieve their boredom.
However, talking to the pigs, spending time with them etc etc is more beneficial to people than to the pigs - its a good therapy - I have spent hours watching mine in the past - but at the end of the day the pigs don't NEED people to be around.
Form an orderly queue for the hate mail please.................
:bunny:
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I don't NEED cake but i love it................ :yum: :yum:
just like i love my pigs (both in the paddock and in the freezer!!!!!) ;) :D
;D ;D ;D
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My two kune kunes just love attention - they like a good scratch, and follow me round the pen for a fuss. But, they are a bit shy with anyone else.
If they were for eating, they would not be named, and I don't think I would fuss them quite as much as my two resident girls, other wise come slaughter day, I would be in floods of tears. Anything for eating, I do not get too attached to - or try not to.
I can see no reason not to give them attention, if its making them, and you, feel better. Just do not get too fond of them ;D
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We name and fuss over all our 'table pigs' - taking an animal to slaughter will never be easy whether we name them or not. When weaners arrive, they're just like young children without their parents, so I'd imagine the attention would be beneficial for them (though, indeed, maybe not strictly speaking needed), and generally dealing with pigs is so much easier when they have plenty of friendly interaction with people.
If you want an excuse to have fun with your table pigs, here's one: happy pigs taste better ;)
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I'm sure I get more enjoyment out of interacting with the pigs than they get out of interacting with me! But it's difficult not to think that they do like the attention when I see them hurtling towards me over the ground, ears flapping, plus squeaking and grunting in welcoming when they see me coming round the corner (has ALOT to do with the apples etc we bring them but hey who's judging!)
:wave: :wave: :pig: :pig:
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I love my pigs. I love tending to them, I love their company, rude and bargy as it may be and I love eating them. My pigs go happily into the trailer on slaughter day, follow the man in the white coat without a qualm and if I feel a bit treacherous at least I know they went off unafraid. Enjoy your pigs, I say, from weaning to bacon!
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Sylvia, I couldn't agree more! :pig: :love:
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I spend time everyday chatting to our two, they love a scratch and a brush. I would like to think that they enjoy spending time with me. :pig: ;D
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Don't get me wrong...
My OSB's are for the table.. But do they benefit from human interaction..
I'm a first time pig keeper and enjoy spending time with them, giving them a good scrub with a brush and a tickle behind the ear...
But is it best to leave them alone .. ??
Greg
A happy pig tastes better & grows better than a misreable & stressed one .
One of my pig farming pals who had 40 odd stys used to hang a large dunlop none steel toe etc wellie in each sty on a heavy poly prop rope at about three foot six from the ground for the pigs to play with .
He also used a fairly stiff sweeping brush to rub their backs whilst he talked to them.
I've spent hours watching them knocking the wellies around and biting at them.
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We give our pigs back scratches etc. too. One reason people buy our pork is because they can see what a happy life the pigs have had. There is also evidence that pigs which are well treated grow better than those which aren't - so there's even a commercial benefit. I find it quite therapeutic after a tough day at work to have a quiet chat with our pigs. So go for it, Greg!
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Don't get me wrong...
My OSB's are for the table.. But do they benefit from human interaction..
I'm a first time pig keeper and enjoy spending time with them, giving them a good scrub with a brush and a tickle behind the ear...
But is it best to leave them alone .. ??
Greg
If they have some sort of interaction with you they will be easier to handle when it comes time to load them.....for the slaughter house.
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Why do we feel the need to justify our desire and delight in giving attention, affection and fuss to our livestock?
Actually, I don't feel the need to justify it, but I do have to keep telling people that I know they're for eating and I'm okay about that - and will send them when the time comes. (Not without a backward glance, far from it. But I send them away knowing that I couldn't have had them as pets, and that they've had as happy a life as it's been possible for me to give them.)
Some are not for sending away - Hillie will never go through a mart, she owes us nothing and we owe her freedom from distress and a dignified end when it comes. But she's paid for her suppers through the milk that's fed so many calves, lambs, hound pups, people, chickens, made so much butter and cheese, etc.
BH used to be a secret 'fusser' of his livestock. Now that I am on the scene he's as open about it as I am. And the more I see of other farmers, the more I discover that many of them, too, enjoy giving their livestock a bit of fuss and attention.
I heard that stroking a dog or a cat lowers your blood pressure - I'm sure the same must be true of playing with pigs, scratching a cow, whatever. So not only is it enjoyable for them and for us, makes them more manageable and taste better, it's good for us too!
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Sally
You are so right says she who was sat out in her waterproofs in the straw and the rain outside the fatteners house scratching their tummies and watching them gallop about in their new deep grass pen, you never saw such pleased piggies, despite the weather and the mud felt good to be alive and i think it did lower my blood pressure ;D
Mandy :pig: