The Cost of Raising Pigs

From cost to profit, through production, to yield, to sales, on a small scale, today we break down our pig operation by the numbers, the real cost and profits and prices of our pork produced right here on the ranch.
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Our Wyoming Life
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Join us on our journey as we leave a life in corporate america to come back to Wyoming and help on the family ranch.
Our Wyoming Life features our Wyoming ranch and our ranch family. Giving you a look into the workings of ranching from raising cattle to raising and harvesting crops. Erin will join you weekly out of the garden, showing you how she helps provide for our family through growing produce and selling at local farmers markets, and Mike will take you along as he tends to the animals and land of ranch, from calving to fencing to planting and harvesting hay.
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Please watch: "Calving and Technology on the Ranch"
• Calving and Technology...
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[@Ratlins9]

People like you are salt of the earth. You provide society with one of the most basic necessities for life, food. I hope your long days and hard work serves as a sense of accomplishment for you and your family because it is a noble profession.

[@briankh1086]

I am so glad your video showed up on my recommended. Great job and a great breakdown. I didn’t grow up on a farm, always wanted to though, but I did grow up in a farming town. Me and my dad would always go to farmers markets, local dairy farms and local slaughter houses to buy all of our food. Had little use for grocery stores, he used to have a saying, “If you can shake the hand that feeds you, you are eating right”, which is the gospel truth. My dad was a chef, and we never had a bad meal, something I still carry with me to this day. I hear people locally complain about the price of fresh local food, and while my answer is rather long, the short of it is, if you think that’s expensive, try paying for the “diseases” you get from eating the garbage out of the grocery store. Thanks Mike, and GOD bless!

[@craigschofield64]

Your living my dream, I would give my right arm to leave city life behind and go back to my roots unfortunately I am too old and crippled up to make that dream a reality. Leaving rural America as a young man was the biggest mistake of my life.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Keep your right arm please, you are more than welcome to live vicariously through us! Thank you - Mike

[@dj_ath]

Crazy Craig's RC's and 3d I've left the city and am about two years away from getting a ranch. It's gonna cost me everything to be broke. The numbers are scary. I'm not getting in it to get rich just to live in the country is good enough.

[@parkerfoy9707]

Ronald Swanson how are you able to do that without inheriting it or having a million dollars in the bank unless you are not buying farm able ground or not many acres

[@mommy2kdk]

@@parkerfoy9707 You don't have to have a ton of acreage to live the life. Check out Living Traditions Homestead. 15 acres, but don't use a lot of it yet.

[@diskgrind3410]

Same here. :( thanks for saying that.

[@fragelicious]

Thanks for not holding back. God bless you and your beautiful family.

[@DJ-bh1ju]

Finally... a farmer who comes across with some real numbers... The rest of them on KZbin hint that they don't make much money but none give real numbers. Until you. Thank you.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you for watching -Mike

[@dianneedwards2491]

He was right; your time is worth nothing but the reward is priceless.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Couldn’t have said it better. Thanks -Mike

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Mike, the day you stop "goin' sideways" on us is the day I stop clicking on your videos! I admire your willingness to show how much you care.

[@OurWyomingLife]

haha, well thats good then. Thanks Jeanette - Mike

[@kaycox5555]

Wow - enlightening....actually, as a city slicker, I never realized what is essentially a small profit (which has to be done with any industry) is made off meats....and then one must consider the emotional factor of dealing with the same animals throughout the same process and all the hard work feeding, caring, cleaning, geez. Thank you.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Its always interesting, over the years we have realized we wouldnt do anything else. By choice anyway - Mike

[@kyb4206]

Do you like being a city slicker

[@josheternal]

@@OurWyomingLife it's interesting to see how police are raised before they get their badges

[@debbieedwards5093]

I could listen to you speak and teach for hours.....😊

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Debbie:)

[@TheCondor300]

A good friend gave me some of his farm raised pork ribs... it was like night and day for quality... meaty and tender. I now will always try to support local farmers for meats, eggs and vegetables.

[@OurWyomingLife]

There is a difference. Thanks George - Mike

[@djjammindave]

This is such a wonderful video. Presentation, verbiage, imagen, in short, you covered everything flawlessly and with such a mastery, I'm pretty sure your animals appreciate the time being in your homestead. Wish the best to you, and your beautiful family.

[@cfredlees100]

Hi from costa rica. Our sustainable community and farm is the same sacrifice everyday. Hit me between the eye on this because I just came in from brining our first batch of hams. Decided to go even further from your/ our sales of meat concept. We are busy building a large smokehouse restaurant and butcher shop on farm. Being costa rica we will be providing farm tours and down home pulled pork BBQ with cowboy baked beans. We need the direct sales income not selling to local market live weight. No money in that. But i love to hear from your channel and learn too. Sometimes I get a tear in my eye knowing the struggle we both endure for this lifestyle. Sometime I see it in yours to!! God bless you Cliff

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, that is awesome all you do. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@AJGreen-cn8kk]

I'm a bit late to your site, but, so glad I found you. Just went out to the freezer for pork chops for Sunday dinner and looked at them a little differently. As a "city slicker" who gets his food from the grocery store, thanks for putting a human face on what you do for the rest of us.

[@warrehivesystem8191]

Thank you for this full farming and profit description.i see it is not easy and numbers are small comparing with other activities,but the pleasure of doing this is priceless

[@chuckallen9778]

Mike, you and your wife are hard working folks and that is what it takes to make it in the ranch life and you will make it if you keep working hard as you do. I was raised as a farmer, actually a custom alfalfa harvester, I know the work required to make a go of it. I wish you well my friend.

[@jgramsey]

Great breakdown, Mike! Thanks. I think a lot of folks are somewhat amazed at the economics of the ranch and it's great that you explain it all.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you John, its no secret but its good to see it all in one place. - Mike

[@TheAndrealee01]

I really appreciate the time and effort you and your family are spending on making these videos. It's really re-educating me about "where is my food coming from" and showing the amount of work that goes into making good, edible food.

[@lostnation5348]

I enjoy the truthfulness. You don't sugar coat anything. I worked on a farm years ago. But gave it up as the long hours and short pay took a huge toll. I commend you for raising your family this way.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, it isnt easy but the payoffs are worth much more than money. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@rummy6015]

Arguably the most informative farming channel on youtube! Keep up the good work!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thats a big compliment Trav. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@brianhubbard7606]

Thank you. The emotions show and that's a good thing. Most people have no idea were or how their food get on the plate. God bless.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Brian - Mike

[@grahamdeere9475]

Mike, thank you for your thorough explanation of numbers and the process behind the pork. Good to see we're on a similar track with our production as well! Could you please make a similar video for the cost of raising the steers? Thanks!

[@OurWyomingLife]

I can do that. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@USCGCoasttoast]

We just got two feeder pigs almost four weeks ago.You do get to love these little piggies.

[@sunw80]

I really appreciate when you make videos talking about your cost and profits.

[@Joesfosterdogs]

one of the best videos i have seen. your sober minded character is refreshing...people like are what you cannot buy...sincere, real, good folk! blessing!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much - Mike

[@robertshufflebotham5192]

we use to do it we sold 2 pigs a week 1 beef 2 lambs and 300 chickens every week 52 weeks a year . grate video robert shufflebotham

[@OurWyomingLife]

Oh wow, that sounds like a bunch of work. Thank you for doing it. - Mike

[@marcovelez942]

Definitely a big fan, love how well you articulate things. You express yourself in a way that not only sounds credible but heartfelt. It's funny cause I genuinely love your videos to the point that I've closed my eyes and imagined doing the same thing you and your family are doing and being happy... unfortunately my sad reality is that when I open my eyes I'm still working a regular job in Corporate America... but your videos allow me to dream and this is why I enjoy the content you put out. Keep up the good work 👌

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much Marco, quite the compliment. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@tinybigbus1873]

Now I understand the foreclosure pending banner hanging on the wall. Thank you the detailed break down.

[@d0gM3at]

I love this video. In fact I enjoy all your videos about ranching because of your open and frank nature with regards to the financial and profession related realities of being a rancher. Your videos are very informative and eye opening. Also in my opinion, you display a level of down to earth honesty, humility and humanity which resonates with me in a way that displays how much you truly seem to love and value your chosen path in life. With that being said, I would also like to state that I can only admire what you do at the end of the day. The reason being is that I get a sense that there is a freedom of sorts that is carved out by your own determination and hard work as a rancher. This freedom seems to be hidden underneath all those harsh responsibilities and realities you must endure and so it does not seem automatically apparent to the initial viewer when you are getting down to the brass tacks of the ranching business in most of your videos. It is a freedom that I feel is somehow not present for those of us (mainly myself) who feel trapped in the figuratively gilded and comfortable urban rat cage of city life and a typical 9-5 work and commute grind.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, we dont think it needs to be sugar coated. It is what it is and although we do get some slack for it we decided long ago to just put it out there. The freedom is hard to express, you are responsible for alot but at the same time, being able to do what you do makes it very therapeutic. Thank you - Mike

[@edgar_desouza]

Just stumbled on to your channel recently after getting hooked on a couple of dairy farming channels in the US and in Canada a few months ago. It is fair to say that your presentations have gotten me hooked on to your channel now. I have subscribed to your channel and wish you and your family the best. I have started with your videos from two years ago in order to get some background on how and why you got started and will work my way up watching your videos through these past years to the present.

[@waynegilchrist1596]

Oddly enough, very few people experience both the corporate and the ranch/farm life. Each has a different satisfaction level and for those in the know, there are no "ideals" in life but for the right mindset certain people reach a higher level of satisfaction. You seem to be one of them who's found his/her place and is well suited for ranch life. It's not easy in today's world to operate a successful business and ranching/farming as an owner/operator has seen a lot of people forced by circumstances to leave the business. In your case you seem to exude the confidence and mindset to succeed; I certainly hope so. Thanks for sharing your ranch life with us. Keep up the good ( and hard) work. Praying and pulling for you.

[@keersajuarez7768]

This is the best farming channel I have found. Thank you so much for all your information that you give!🙂

[@Randango]

Really enjoy the videos. Cool to see a way of life that most people have forgotten about.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Josh - Mike

[@j.c.anderson877]

Dear sir, Thank you so Mich for sharing. The way you describe your love for your land and what it means for your family, reminds me of the way my grandfather and great grandfather spoke of their land. My great-grandfather was a share cropper in VA and spent his whole life saving to purchase a large tract of land for his family of 14. I grew up in Baltimore City and I could never understand why anyone would want all that land and work. Now at 37 I am done with the corporate life and would love privacy, land, gardens, animals etc. My wife and I have learned a lot from your videos. Hopefully in a few years we will be ready for a new adventure Thanks again!!

[@gulfmedic1]

out of all the farming channels i have watched this is the best no one else explained the financial aspect of what you do they just show the videos great channel

[@mikeh7708]

As usual, well made video. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Most people have no idea what ranch, farm life is like or how close you are to not making a profit. And you are right, your time counts for nothing. Part of the down side of country life, but you can't forget all the up side. After you move away from it it is something that really sticks with you and (I) miss. : ) God bless you and your family.

[@OurWyomingLife]

The upside always out weighs the down. Thank you very much - Mike

[@chraleple9476]

A good friend of mine just started his first venture of raising pigs for profit this year. Him and has Dad has always raised a few pigs every year to keep for his own. But this year they went out and got 50. They've converted old shipping pallets into large pens, put up some cheap barbed wire fence, do the mowing and baling on ~30 acres for an old timer down the road who isn't able to anymore.They buy feed in bulk too but no skid steers for them. Loaded to the roof on their old Cheyenne and strapped down. I hope it really works out for them.

[@Gabbos]

I love, love, love these economic videos! I enjoy learning about everything ranch related, not just the hard labor stuff. The background stuff is just as important imho and I'm so glad that you're sharing it all!

[@OurWyomingLife]

I figured you would like this one. Thank you very much - Mike

[@jfraz3570]

Thanks for the update long time ago I realized the cost of farming, ranching vs profit vs time. Only special people can take on that commitment. Proud to have stumbled on Your postings

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much and thanks for watching - Mike

[@natehunsinger7037]

I love this channel. You bring viewers everything they wanna see

[@mikekahl5609]

You don't want to think about the over head, electric, freezers, water, labor. But we love doing what we do.

[@OurWyomingLife]

I hate to think about it too. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@CutandShoot5x5]

Love your vids Mike! You have a beautiful family and I pray y’all will continue to enjoy & be blessed by the lifestyle you’ve chosen!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, we truly are. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@vascodagama7043]

Appreciate your openness and what you are doing.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you and thanks for watching - Mike

[@Koolguykai]

Amazing video as always! I really appreciate how your able to set up a camera and record all of this even with all the hard work your doing

[@OurWyomingLife]

Alot is done after kids go to bed, editing done into the night. Thanks for watching - mike

[@cathypierce2294]

I feel ya! I raised and showed beef. swine and sheep for years. The hardest part was when it was time for them to go! I must admit we never ate any of them ourselves!! They where always sold to market. They really did become part of the family! Love the emotion, it makes you a better farmer/rancher. Keep up the great work!!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Cathy, that means alot to us. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@tereseodonnell6989]

I used to add one bag of flaked corn to 4 bags pig food, flaked corn is a bit cheaper and its not much to change the protein -they love it, of course. They also love Taco Bell.

[@OurWyomingLife]

hahaha, Mackenzie figured out they like oreos too. Thats an expensive habit lol Thanks Terese - Mike

[@Warriorbob-im5py]

I learned a long time ago pigs will eat anything that plops into their pin, including people. I learned real quick to either not fall or to get up fast if I did.

[@barrettthompson5363]

Excellent video. Your honest look at ranch life empowers other small farmers to forge ahead.

[@SithLordmatthew]

No the cost vids are your best vids. Far to many people are clueless on costs of anything outside their little realm and lessons like these help to open their eyes. The free market is a wonderful creation of man where prices and costs are calculated and created instantly by true supply and demand factors that cannot be replaced no matter how hard some fools try. A hard ranch life keeps many out which benefits your family eventually with higher prices due to scarcity of the products produced. An easy ranch live drives the cost of land through the roof as more and more people chase the dream which eventually crashes and becomes hard again. How long does it take you to sell out of your pork and is 7 pigs the right number or should you be increasing that in the coming years.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, we will sell out of bacon and pork pretty quickly. Roasts and hams will hang out for a bit and the pork chops will last. We will probably run out by mid summer. We are talking about expanding a bit but we need to do some work in the pig area first. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@jamespetty9029]

Always love the numbers. Few will talk about them. See you next video

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you James - Mike

[@bradschrandt154]

Thanks a lot for the video Mike! I have thought of raising a few hogs at different times and really wondered what the numbers looked like. There are quite a few overhead costs to consider, but I still may try it someday.

[@OurWyomingLife]

There are and it can get way more complicated than I made it in the video but it is doable. Thanks Brad - Mike

[@JohnDoe-er4kh]

Mike, thank you for making these videos. I have always heard that there is not much profit from this business but I never really go to hear what the actual numbers produced. Your videos have been very valuable to me. It gives me perspective.

[@australiainfelix7307]

The numbers are interesting. Thanks. May God bless you and your family, and may you continue to prosper.

[@johnmurphy8259]

Great video Mike you also have to take in the cost of electricity to run your freezers to store the pork. It is great to see you and Erin take things to heart. You can really tell you two love what you are doing and three beautiful children. We are having smoked pork chops for supper tonight can white.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Theres that too, I didnt even think about electricity, of course that cost is shared by beef as well. Hope your pork chops are delicioius! - Mike

[@magicdaveable]

I have a small farm. I raise Chickens, Ducks, Geese. My production for income is Fertilized Rggs, Chicks, Ducklings, & Goslings. I also have all of my birds as meat. It has taken me several years to develop a system that can provide a modest profit. At times it is very hard work but also enjoyable working with my livestock. I am adding pigs and a small cattle breed next year. The up side is that I can produce all of my own food. I never intended to make a profit which actually providrs funds for feed and equipment maintenance. Oh and I almost forgot, this farm was started from scratch in 2012 after retiring from a "day job" at a Craft Brewery.

[@italiantroutaholic8926]

your time is not money ,but your time makes the money you need to raise your family!!!!

[@Daynaleo1]

Mike, I don’t think anyone has or ever will provide such in depth information on the cost, production and sales of any livestock. And I fully understand the sorrow, as way back, I kept my family of 4 fed on rabbits, potatoes and sometimes a few carrots. My breeding stock had names, the most famous being Studley Stewright, a black lop mix the passed smooth out after servicing one of my females. I never ate my breeders, just the nameless offspring. Now I am retired, I am thinking about rabbit ranching again. I love the meat, and the 5 minutes pen to pan. But as I have aged, I feel more sorrow at the passing of pets, and peers. Not sure I could maintain the detachment required as the meat would not be “have to” and more “want to” if you understand what I mean. Best to you and yours. Dayne

[@lorabrashear1771]

Ive been a fan lately. Being in Washington state l can't go anywhere because I take care of my mom. Ive started to understand where my meet is not coming from. So i stop buying my meet at W world. But you are between my mom and my kids in Kentucky. One day I'll drive by and say hello. A friend has already found a fram to Market nesr my family. Thank you for opening my eyes.

[@rodneywroten2994]

thanks for sharing Mike. I don't know any body else than would explain that

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Rodney, and thank you for watching - Mike

[@ZeitoriHuiett]

Rodney Wroten excellent explanation

[@stanleyluce901]

You do a great job . I have done much in my life of what your doing on the farm ----never much money ---better you than me ---good to teach the kids how to work .

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Stanley - Mike

[@floridag8rfan]

I told you last week that video was one of the best you've done, but now I see I need to make some room in the top five. Did you get a little choked up there at the end, or was that my imagination? I'd hate to think I was the only one that got a little dust in my eyes. The emotional involvement is real; this is important stuff that too few appreciate.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Haha, I kinda have to wonder if you do have a top 5. That might make an interesting video or something. Top 5 as voted by you guys. hmmm. Thanks for the idea and of course thanks for watching - Mike

[@terribethreed8464]

It was a very good tutorial Mike. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this for us.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much for watching :) - Mike

[@steve647my]

You are doing the same thing that I wanted to do. I have had dreams of living on a ranch. You are doing what you are doing because you love it. It is great for the kids and a feeling of personal satisfaction by doing what you do.You are right about knowing where it came from and how it is raised and processed. Farm markets are fun to go to and a great place for the kids to meet other kids.Great Video's!! Until your next video remember " Watch the heifers,They can surprise you at any time"

[@OurWyomingLife]

They can be sneaky. Thank you very much for the kind words and thanks for watching - Mike

[@frankirwin2377]

Satisfaction. In doing a good job there with the kids enjoying a great experience along with their parents. Not many jobs offer that.

[@OurWyomingLife]

You are right, Thanks Frank - Mike

[@shellymb]

I learned about raising animals for meat as a child. My grandfather taught me how to collect eggs and process chickens. as an adult I started poultry farming small scale to have eggs and meat for my family. It was a comfort to know that the animals I raised were treated well from day one. I agree it isn’t a easy thing to send an animal to slaughter. I have had co workers ask why garden and raise chickens. I feel good knowing how my food was grown. As a hog yours had the opportunity to eat veggies, nose through the bedding and mud.. commercial hogs are raised entirely a enclosed building no bedding, just living over a sewage pit. They never get fresh veggies to eat or sunshine to sleep in.. probably no kids to play with either...Happy pigs mean better meat. Thank you for what you do every day. Keep up the videos.. love them!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Shelly and thanks for sharing. I'd like to think that we give our animals the best lives we can while they are here. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@jerrybeaver9212]

This honest look at your ranch is why your channel is my favorite Mike (that and my love for Wyoming) I look forward to every video you and Erin put out. Blessing to the ranch and your family from the beautiful north Georgia mountains -Jerry

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Jerry, have you ever visited Wyoming ? - Mike

[@jerrybeaver9212]

Yes I have Mike, My wife and I both retired in 2013 and the first place we went was Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons, the next year a cruise to Alaska, then last year we went to Glacier National park. We hope Jackson Hole sometime this year, we love Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado, three of the most beautiful places on earth (not counting the beautiful North Georgia mountains of course)-Jerry

[@OurWyomingLife]

Well if you ever come though you are more than welcome! Thanks

[@jerrybeaver9212]

Thank you my friend, and if you ever make it to Georgia you are more than welcome in my home -Jerry

[@tomsikes9064]

Hey Mike and Erin. I get it, as a professional floor cleaner my goal is to measure the time put into a job,before doing it. If I have the right setup and pricing on say 600sf and work quickly. It looks like I made 150$ an hour in the 2hours of work,But then there’s load time, off load time and set up time. If the job goes smoothly great. Then there’s breakdown and reload time. And, you guessed it, off load \ clean up and put away. I don’t lose money because it’s my time in my business. But it’s time consuming. You guys are inspirational, don’t blush, it’s true. Thanks for all you do.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Tom. You did make Erin blush however. Thanks for sharing and understanding. -Mike

[@wanasakungo7859]

I like you Mike, I like your pragmatism and honesty...

[@CharlieParker1959]

you more than complete your goal you are one of the most enjoyable to watch informative channels on KZbin...God bless you and your family my friend.....

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Charlie, always love your comments. Thank you for watching - Mike

[@johnwilimczyk4188]

great info profits are always hard and slim but as you said you pamper your pigs great job and good fortune in the coming year

[@OurWyomingLife]

Every lit bit counts. Thanks John - Mike

[@AlexisHernandez-hv9dg]

God bless you Mike and your family

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Alexis - Mike

[@DXWXMX44]

Mike you are a nice transplant to the ranch life - a ordinary rancher wouldn't probably have the communication skills to make these videos. In a similar way, I was a carpenter/remodeler for 53 years but not a book writer or video maker. I did get 25 tips published in Fine Homebuilding. This economic video about pigs was really interesting to me, clear and straightforward. I think it's a valuable thing you're doing - and if I'm not mistaken it looks like it's enjoyable and comes easy for you. Thanks.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Well, I wouldnt say its easy but we do enjoy it. Thank you very much - Mike

[@tcrasey]

This was very good, you have a way of explaining it that anyone can understand.

[@robberntson8934]

$300+ per pig profit is pretty darn good! We sold freezer lambs for years. These were lambs that we saw from the day they drew their first breath to the day they left for freezer camp. Still hated to see them go, however, we felt , and feel that they had the best possible stress free life with one bad day at the end. All, in all.... that's the best that you can do.

[@OurWyomingLife]

That makes me feel better, I've been getting alot of "why do you bother type stuff" and you are right, we do all we can but in the end it is what it is. Thanks Rob - Mike

[@hpritchard1000]

I have an accounting background and you are very much the accountant-farmer. I think what most people would not accept is that you don't take your labor into account when figuring cost. But they miss the whole concept of farming or ranching, you as a laborer just doesn't count. Keeping the videos coming, they are very informative.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Yea, we did another numbers video, the cost of ranching. People really got on me about that there too. Gilbert told me early when we came here, your time isnt worth anything so you better love it. Thanks Harold - Mike

[@hkharryfunk]

This is by far the best answer I have ever received for a question :D . Mike, you are a legend!

[@OurWyomingLife]

I figured you might like that. It was a good question, cant leave it laying! - Mike

[@emmacarpenter1941]

Thank you so much for your video. I love that you and your wife did not come from a ranching background. We hope to start our farm in the next couple years (hopefully less) and while my husband has some experience in farming I do not but it's a dream I'm willing to commit to!

[@jimmiecrackedcorn3251]

Mike and Erin. Do you all miss the corporate life? Thanks for all the info, extremely helpful. Solid love and for what your doing, and wish you and your family the best of health.

[@jerrynix5206]

Well that is why pigs use to be called the mortgage lifter back in the old days you always could make money with the family pig! Guarantee the ranch wouldn't be the same without pigs they have such great personalities! Thanks for the Breakdown Mike!

[@OurWyomingLife]

That makes sense. Thank you Jerry - Mike

[@Jlind9335]

I still get teary eyed when the butcher comes. That first breakfast with your own bacon is "Best bacon ever" Most people just don't get it. Thanks for putting it into words, but I still bet they will never understand.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Well hopefully if they watch they will. Thanks - Mike

[@Fubar343]

As a trucker I drive through Wyoming weekly. It one of the most beautiful states. I can understand how that land could be so important to your family.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you sir! - MIke

[@ThriftyTruckers]

Appreciate the detailed numbers and video. Thank you for your dedication. We live in Florida and if we lived closer I️ would be buying meat off you.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much, my pleasure - Mike

[@tomrobertson3236]

With your corporate background , you probably see the per unit costs and think , if I increase total units........ Then the amount of infrastructure and work involved, then it's nah. Thanks for your honesty. Most farmers and ranchers are closed lipped when it comes to economics

[@OurWyomingLife]

Trust me I deal with the closed lip things and I'm sure I will get some backlash for taking about numbers. Erin and I were just talking about expanding a bit, but yes the infrastructure is an issue. Thanks Tom - Mike

[@scottgreenlee5207]

Mike, I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy your show! I am a city dweller who has done agricultural things from time to time. Mostly through rodeo activities. You are such a pro that it would not surprise me if you got your own national show of some sort. You could throw in some manufactured drama and become the next Duck Dynasty. LOL

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Scott, we are glad to have you with us. I'm not a fan of drama lol - Mike

[@JanVafa]

You are doing what you set out to! You are so right ... the emotions are a HUGE factor in being a 'successful' operation ... If you donrlove and commit to the life - you (and the ranch/farm) won't succeed!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Very nicely put, thank you very much - Mike

[@jonathanking6546]

Thank you for your honesty.

[@K9COP282]

MIKE, You're completing you goal with this video and a LOT MORE!!! GREAT VIDEO, MY MAN.. Keep em coming!!

[@OurWyomingLife]

You got it lol .. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@scottybabb6297]

I forgot to mention, thank you for these videos.

[@stevenleipzig]

Thank you for opening up like this Mike.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Steven, I do feel if you want people to understand it you have to give them some background. :) - Mike

[@koryleague8833]

Greatly appreciate this video mike. Makes a person think. Keep up the good work

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much Kory - Mike

[@paulsnodgrass5150]

This dude is a hell of a salesman.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Lol. I'm not selling anything here lol. Some of our subs just wanted to know how it works. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@falcon9158]

Very interesting! Thanks for doing what you do and sharing these videos with us

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Luke and thanks for watching - Mike

[@brentfarrow8125]

Gilbert was right if you pencil it out we work for pennies. But it’s something that you do because you love it.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Exactly right, thanks Brent - Mike

[@sungchoi8683]

I kind of understand and kind of don’t understand. How can you make a living when you do not see the clear picture of future. If I am 20 years old, I understand but... What do bankrupt farmers do? work for someone else’s farm?

[@mikenicholson2548]

Nice job Mike just always remember we don't do this for money we do it for the love of the freedom and the peace of a life that other people don't get or understand and the quality of life to raise a family some day we will meet and talk about this life style keep up the good work

[@OurWyomingLife]

You are more than welcome anytime, we can start on my shop first, and Erin says she has some weeds for you to pull. Nothing like working and chatting -Mike

[@glenkitzman3119]

Really appreciate the transparency of operations. Keep the videos coming Mike.

[@shanewillis2072]

This isn't farming, this is a hobby. You don't make enough to pay for the equipment you are using.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Haha. No it's diversity. It's another aspect to the many other things we do on the ranch including cattle and acres of market gardening. Thanks for watching -Mike

[@vuyokazidlamba900]

Thank you for sharing, just came accross this video. My dream to have a farm growing pigs

[@donaldhill2972]

Makes perfect sense. You love your family.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Yes, I do very much. Thanks for watching- Mike

[@787Earl]

the land is the lifestyle and without land lovers no one eats. Thank you for valuing the land.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks for watching Earl - Mike

[@haskapalaska3988]

Appreciated your well spoken and in-depth look at raising pigs. Subscribed :)

[@whitemountainslivestockcompany]

You nailed it we get attached to all our hogs. We figured on average each hog takes about 700 to 800 lbs of Feed to yo from wean to market weight (285 live)

[@crazycoyote1738]

Straight forward and honest. I wish you guys a lot of success and blessings. Don’t give up.