Forest Pigs with a Permaculture Expert

Bobby Tucker uses pigs to clear forest and create a disturbance. This land is being prepared for future silvopasture to graze sheep.
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[@movinon1242]

That was jam-packed with useful information. Spending a week or two with this guy would be like a university -level semester.

[@pacman9713]

So true, the guys a genius in his own rights. love to see passion and knowledge like this.

[@KaleidoscopeJunkie]

A lot of great info. Bobby has clearly investigated the long-term intricacies of a successful regeneration.

[@seanm1690]

Josh.. awesome content in this video!!! I’d love to see more like this.

[@YaoEspirito]

They like to eat ticks and poison ivy! Wow! What a blessing.

[@buteos8632]

Great interview, thank you!!!

[@nilesfreebury]

Great profile. It’s really informative to his all the variations in his particular system

[@JoshPiland]

Great info, appreciate you both! Thanks for sharing!

[@christahodgson6710]

This could and should be used on the west coast currently to manage some of these large forest fires that are causing so much damage. Talk about a green deal!

[@allanturpin2023]

Nice interview Josh. Thanks.

[@moomoocho1196]

Hi Allan…

[@T_157-40]

Excellent and what an outstanding job!

[@colemckenna6931]

Wow, I learned like 15 new things! This was a great video and awesome content!!

[@HeirloomBuilders]

Another great video of Bobby and Okfuskee Farm! I was just pulling up some turnip cover crop to snack on with my kids while we moved the cows this morning and was thinking about how well pulling up root vegetables illustrates the concept of creating macro-pores in the soil that Bobby was talking about. I’d love to collaborate on some big picture stuff sometime

[@petefraser3013]

Great information. Thank you!

[@paddylandreville8501]

Thank you for posting, I absorbed a tremendous amount of knowledge just by listening to you, much appreciated.

[@pacman9713]

Thank you both for all the information and knowledge. LEGENDS!

[@Playlist4213]

Some extremely good info in here, thank you guys! Subscribed.

[@dawndonham7035]

Very good idea! I’m in the woods in Montana, so have different plant growth, but this may work for me to try and control nap weed and yellow clover in the area. Thank you!

[@conorbyrne1427]

Very enjoyable. Thank you.

[@Beecozz7]

WOW, I'm glad I watched that! Very interesting.

[@mrssperry6562]

Brilliant idea!

[@jimmcintyre4390]

Wow. Great video.

[@titchc3657]

Cool guy, very informative.

[@lendanhoke9066]

Idaho Pasture pigs have been fun to raise for me currently. I'm almost a year in and I'm about to open up a silvo Pasture for them in the forest. Excited to see the outcome!

[@GOAT_GOATERSON]

But they don't disturb the ground as much as other species, right?

[@lendanhoke9066]

@GOAT_GOATERSON I mean, the babies will totally do it for fun, kinda like teething. And the adults will do it when bored/hungry between meals. The only time I notice mine not rooting whatsoever is when I excessively overfeed them and the have plenty of things to do (get in the pond, play around) It's important to remember that pigs are pigs. IPP's are super docile, nurturing, build great human relationships, are wonderful siblings and parents to one another, and so much more. But they are still pigs. They'll still scratch a place bare and eat almost anything that wouldn't eat them first.

[@GOAT_GOATERSON]

@@lendanhoke9066 hmm, I asked because I know other pig species literally destroy/plow the ground really nicely because they have really pointy snouts

[@lendanhoke9066]

@GOAT_GOATERSON yeah snouts definitely aren't as pointy, they don't root as deeply initially but they will still do pig stuff. Even with their snubby noses

[@gptech2444]

This was fantastic.

[@gerardhavercroft5148]

Awesome. That's a really fascinating management. The more I look into modern management methods the more excited I get. Getting to a point where I can't decide precisely what direction I want to aim myself in as I try to make a career in agriculture

[@malthus101]

make some money. buy some nice private land. turn it into a perma-culture food and animal forest... hide out from WW3!

[@l0gic23]

Excellent video and topic. Off to find a playlist, wish me luck!

[@TheMagicalHaven]

Lots of great information for someone who is new to both permaculture farming and raising pigs. We plan to forest pasture our pigs when we get them this year, and our woods here in NH are full of ticks, so I have to ask what, pray tell, did he mean by "the pigs soak up the ticks"?

[@icryostorm3727]

great video

[@MistressOP]

another good one!

[@boats4394]

Very cool guys thanks for the valuable info.

[@johnnovick1643]

This is the way things should be. Raising healthy happy animals for nutritious delicious food all while keeping up the health of the land.

[@homebuddha]

Bobs wealth of knowledge on land management and livestock integration as a tool on unmanaged land to convert to fertile pasture was so injecting and riveting. I’ve always considered purchasing 50acres unmanaged vacant raw acreage, having goats clear it out but their infamous Houdini reputation and fencing maintenance and costs to fence raw property has always left me hesitant. I love goat meat, curried my fave! But Pigs on the other hand seems so much easier, they do a bit of plowing which is fantastic. Their fencing requirements don’t need to be permanent which is great for migrating kangaroos, koalas etc here in Queensland Australia. I love the idea of just 2 hot wires. I’m terrified of overgrown unmanaged land for snakes, vermon, rodents & bushfires and I think with good thought and planning you can get an overgrown land nightmare looking immaculate. Thank you to you’s for this video. Educational and inspiring. I remember watching your trellis video and before that when you began increasing your market garden Josh, that was 4yrs ago. How times flown 😊

[@PraiseAladesohun]

Thank you for this video. Please where can I get this type of fencing for my pigs and price per plot?

[@chaco973]

Good video sir, lots of information

[@virgilfisher1869]

I'll be returning to the farm next year, this is just what I have planned to do. But I will be replanting for hogs as they will be my main enterprise

[@EarlybirdFarmSC]

Very good information. Thanks for sharing. Did he mention what breed he raises?

[@littlehousebigfamily2001]

American Guinea Hog + Aussie Ball? It was a little difficult to interpret the second breed that it’s crossed with. 💙

[@kathychildress18]

Pigs are wonderful creatures

[@TheWinezen]

Great Video with a lot of useful information. THank you. Will this system work with Forest Raised Wild Boar in a more Tropical climate?

[@KimClark-1]

This was REALLY interesting! Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I would love to know how to clear land like this AND allow the animals participating to live out their natural lives without overpopulations or predator damage. Is that possible?

[@tobyihli9470]

You mentioned that seeding disturbed land that was previously unmanaged woodlands was expensive. Is there a grass or cover crop such as closer that can be planted and left alone until after it drops seed, greatly multiplying your seed efficiency? Even once it’s dropped seed it can still be grazed by livestock, right? If the seeds have dried on the stalk or stem long enough, and then eaten or grazed upon, much if not all the seeds will pass through the livestock unchanged, right? That would tend to disperse and fertilize the seeds, right?

[@salvatorelivreri]

This has been one of the most informative pig forest videos I have seen. As pigs are natural woodland creatures, what are your thoughts on not giving them feed? I am interested in very sustainable practices and no feed seems sustainable. I under they may not thrive to make a super profitable venture, but I don’t think they would die in there. I am fascinated by permaculture Mark Shepard’s method of STUN - Severe Total Utter Neglect. The creature has to make it or they don’t. But they become part of the land and its ecosystem. People tell me the same thing for chickens (another original woodland animal).

[@tamonearth]

@Bobby Tucker, do you have to check the pigs daily? Do they have any cover to sleep in. And do you have trouble with attacks from wild animals?

[@wildedibles819]

Nice mushrooms:)

[@calebengelbrecht7812]

What kind of fencing is that? My experience with pigs is that they will push it for fun, perhaps that one is electric?

[@naturallymandaree7]

Awesome content. We are working on cleaning up unkempt forest here in NE Oklahoma and looking to use sheep and hogs too I think. What does it mean the hogs "suck up the tics?"

[@bobbytucker9562]

My observation is that the ticks in an area are attracted to the pigs while they are there, then the pigs learn to eat the ticks off of each other. This helps add to our tick-disease resistance by eating the pigs later. The first sentence it based on anecdote, the second one is just being hopeful. The pigs are also removing a lot of the lower/waist-high vegetation where ticks seem to use as their main vectors for contact with hosts.

[@naturallymandaree7]

@@bobbytucker9562 wow thanks. I kinda love the idea of pigs eating tics-no matter if the help goes farther. I've never seen so many tics there are here!

[@Beecozz7]

@@bobbytucker9562 So, are you saying that when we eat pork that have eaten ticks we become more resistant to the diseases ticks carry?!? That is amazing !

[@bobbytucker9562]

@@Beecozz7 No, sorry to confuse, I tried to imply that statement was just a wishful hypothesis. I do see the pigs try and management external parasites on each other, but have seen no factual evidence to state that eating their pork will increase tick disease resistance in the consumer.

[@terencewinters2154]

Many old world European forest lands were managed this way . Herding pigs like sheep is much more eco friendly.

[@michellealmonte6595]

I wish there were more specifics on how much pigs need to eat. I have many many acres of woodland but I’ve been so afraid to take on pigs just because I’m not sure if I have it in my budget to support the additional feed. What does a pig need if they have an unlimited amount of forest to munch on?

[@bruceswabb7145]

Hope you’ve gotten more information on this. He has switched to a breed which forages more than the bigger breeds. But I would imagine you’re going to spend $200 per pig to get them to market weight in a reasonable period of time. Sounds like he had a couple of pretty inexpensive feed options also.

[@gisele6943]

Info on purchasing a few piglets for our homestead please.

[@dennistaylor3796]

How does feed efficiency compare to Idaho pasture pigs?

[@calebhuang1958]

What are pigs actually eating on pasture/forest?

[@mimi27513]

Great stuff! I have some forest in NC if you want to collaborate-

[@McCoyFamilyFarm]

Will the pigs eat and clear out autumn olive?

[@cazsantics525]

Question our land has Ivy can pigs eat that or do I need to get rid of that?

[@trent5098]

I've never heard of this root die back concept. When you cut a tall grass some of its root mass dies back? Is this true for all rooted plants?

[@dans3718]

Yes. The photosynthesis from the tops is cut back with cutting back the green leafy parts and the plant can't support all the roots, so it self-amputates as much as it needs to and that gets recycled by soil organisms. Some plants do this better than others though. Some don't recover well and just die. Timing of the cutback can matter too. Grasses on the whole are very good at this.

[@kenrehill8775]

@@dans3718 what are the benefits?

[@dans3718]

@@kenrehill8775 Soil building. Adds organic matter to the soil and feeds the microbes that do the work.

[@mercivelli]

@@dans3718 thanks for the helpful feedback and tips

[@libraryofpangea7018]

Suggestion, as a tool conducting ecological inventories- before & after would be a good way to bring higher resolution to how these changes are impacting biodiversity and carbon/nutrient cycles.

[@thomasreto2997]

Great video. Reminds me of Joel Salatin 🌈🤙😃

[@AaronLeeFilms]

Gravy overload.

[@freewillchoice8052]

Dont the bears and other wildlife come and mess things up? Such as destroy the fence or kill the pigs?

[@nebojsademir739]

Prosuto good wood in the area.

[@markpiersall9815]

If you have a cluster of plants neither sheep nor pig will not browse you could try sheep or goats. The other option is to seed the cluster of unpalatable plant area with turnip seeds. When the pigs dig up the turnips they will disturb the roots negatively.

[@markpiersall9815]

I wanted to say cattle rather than sheep.

[@wendyandwalter40]

Honestly, this video is interesting, but I much prefer goats. They do everything the pigs do, with much less risk of over-impact, massive erosion, etc.

[@arthurdewith7608]

But do the pigs gain weight for slsughter$$

[@kevinfilbin7688]

How do you keep the coyotes from attacking the pigs?

[@charleskittler4330]

Coyote on big pigs like this is a no go for the yote. Now small pigs would need mama pig to protect her litter from predators.

[@SallyGreimes]

Bear in mind pigs are screamers. If you have livestock guardian dogs that is backup to screamers.

[@grantquinones]

The large corporations control most of this sector and they could care less about the environment or the implications that come after their procedures and this guy actually cares intently about what he does and they're trying to shut him out of business

[@thedirtyhoehomestead]

Do you not have any predator problems? We have bobcats and coyotes.

[@tomhancock541]

where are the pigs?

[@greggunter5975]

go check out sylvanaqua farms in northern virginia!!

[@jenn2597]

Do you worry about coyotes killing and eating the pigs?

[@SallyGreimes]

He said piglets, yes, need mama. Adults, not stupid enough to test adult pigs.

[@devantemcclain7633]

5 to 6 pounds feed all together or each and thanks in advance

[@bobbytucker9562]

At that time we were feeding 8 mature AGH/Ossabaw pigs about 5-6 lbs of dry hog feed/cull trail mix a day, plus any produce/fruit waste at the time. The pigs in the video were over two years old and the laggards from among a group of 40 within a similar age. Although these breeds of pigs are not as profitable as larger/faster growing heritage genetics, their work on the land more than paid for their feed costs. This allowed us to maximize land impact benefits over the marketable life of an animal while limiting our overall costs. We often only fed a fixed smaller, fixed amount of feed to large groups (while incrementally harvesting the biggest in the group time). This might assume that we put more value on the life and work of the animal than their saleable meat product, but you can still make a buck and improve the land with the right factors.

[@billhohenzollern7161]

Try goats they will clear the forest undergrowth.

[@KeepOnSmashing]

I heard this meat good

[@BillyLemonZest]

I've heard that goats are much more difficult to fence. "If your fence can't hold water, it can't hold a goat"

[@lilacDaisy111]

Ah, neither of those breeds is available in Australia. We only have 8 to choose from, and it's illegal to import other breeds or semen. Berkshires are seeming like the ones.

[@arthurdewith7608]

Australia does not want to be overrun with feral pigs like southern United States u try to keep pigs snd goats in a fenced area it’s an ongoing struggle

[@lilacDaisy111]

@@arthurdewith7608 Yeah, it's why we just stuck with cows. They're easy

[@davidprocter3578]

Browse lines.

[@JUSTICEK]

I think he'd be better off doing his broadcast seeding on the last day the pigs are in an area - they would eat some of the seed but they'd work it in. Using seed obviously that has no fertilizer or chemicals on it.

[@kathymickle6915]

Wow lots information but super hard to follow. I guess way over my head.

[@Weirdomanification]

Well, then reach up and catch it.

[@thehealinghiker]

I want pigs to forage my land but I don't want to kill and eat them, I want to keep them for how ever long they live! Has anyone ever done this? Can pigs be pets and not sacrifice their lives??! Is it ok to have just one pig, or do they need company? I wish I knew more about pigs.

[@MrMoekanz]

Pigs need company. Never keep a pig on their own. I would advise against having them as pets. They are a massive commitment. Not like cattle where you throw silage over the fence every few days. Pigs are little work often. They are the greatest of all animals in my opinion, but are really really a commitment. You have to be there every day. You can't stick them in the kennel when you go on holiday!

[@thehealinghiker]

@@MrMoekanz hey THANK you so much for your reply! I appreciate you taking the time to answer, good to know because ya I can't be around ALL the time.

[@l0gic23]

@@thehealinghiker get more opinions.... Check breeds... Wild pigs exist... Maybe something would work in your area.... No clue. Just recommending your own research

[@mannurse7421]

I have pet pigs and I wouldn’t recommend them. It’s like no other animal you have had before they are extremely intelligent and they don’t come with a loyalty and wanting to please their master baked in. They see you as an equal and while they aren’t as smart as you, you aren’t as strong as them.

[@thehealinghiker]

@@mannurse7421 very good description. I appreciate it! I shall not be getting any pigs!! 🙏

[@rchristie5401]

I guess no one sees the downside.

[@arthurdewith7608]

Eventually the forest dies out the grasses and weeds grow and u have grasslands that produce no oxygen or carbon but rather more methane from the livestock and u made a few dollars

[@jacobjohnson2934]

P

[@sethleach6867]

Hmmm......seems like it’d be easier to just burn it.

[@mercivelli]

Hmm... Lol

[@mlauntube]

I really wanted to watch this, but the wandering narrative to fill up 25 minutes of video with 2 minutes of content with the constant sound of pigs eating about as loud as the narrator... click away.

[@mayamachine]

Forest pigs was how colonizers used pigs, to eat all our native tree food, so women children and elderly would starve to death in winter...

[@Gabeking88]

??? I’m sure the natives would then just eat the pigs, they taste better too

[@alarmingtwitch7822]

People keep mentioning how the Indians used fire to control the vegetation like it was a good thing. Do some research. They completely changed the structure and makeup of natural forests and woodlands by burning everything. Entire coastlines and mountain valleys burned up. Only the species that thrive after burning were the ones that came back. You honestly think everything is meant to be controlled by fire? Only certain species are able to bounce back and they completely took over from the real native plants and trees that once covered our country. Acting like they were so noble and great stewards of the land is complete bullshit, regurgitated by the uninformed and preached like it's the gospel.

[@letterstotheelect182]

How irresponsible is it to run pigs 'as fast as you can' for meat production that are critically endangered heritage breed and a threatened heritage breed? This is a 'permaculture expert' that is being applauded. So greedily irresponsible.

[@bobbytucker9562]

In case others are confused as well, we are actually doing quite the opposite. I did make reference to how we initially raised pigs (larger frame heritage breeds) using the top-down playbook that maximizes profitability for pork production. The approach we have used over the past 8 years is based on smaller breeds that can be less damaging to the land, while slowly growing these out over several years (versus 6-9 months) using minimized feed inputs. This approach is not very profitable based on meat sales alone, but it does let us maximize the beneficial use of these pigs as land management tools that costs a lot less than using machinery (also potentially destructive) and hired manual labor. Also, I don't think I ever proclaimed to be a permaculture expert, but I do have lots of experience in this realm.

[@letterstotheelect182]

@@bobbytucker9562 the point is missed. The pigs you are running for meat are a Critically Endangered heritage breed and a Threatened Heritage breed. So what are you doing with these pigs to help their breeds recover? And to be truthful, we have a small herd of Ossabaw, 20 to be exact, because we believe in conserving heritage breeds BEFORE they are eaten to extinction or cross-bred out of existence. So to talk about regenerative and stewardship, owning these critical pigs and the threatened Guinea's, and not helping the breed with breeding and management, but publically boast of this irresponsibility, I find terribly irresponsible and devastating. To those confused, the livestock conservancy is an organization that seeks to help heritage breeds of animals survive from the bad breeding practices of modern farming methods, that have been neglected, exploited, or monetized so they don't exist anymore. The conservancy has a rank system of 5 levels for all heritage breeds which are the original breeds of all modern farm animals. Level one means safe and study. Level 2 is recovering. Level 3 is watch andeans could be in danger. 4 is threatened and the worst is critical, level 5. The Ossabaw is 5 and Guinea hogs are 4.

[@arthurdewith7608]

Eventually these heritage pigs adapt to the new environment grow bigger tusks develop more muscle and thicker hide and fewer babies and of course a pig that is stubborn Ed and hard to manage electric fence will not hold them in