Raising Pigs in the Winter

[@andyjones6361]

Christine you are an awesome wealth of farming knowledge!! Great lady!

[@HeiferUSA]

We're so lucky to have Christine and her wealth of knowledge here at Heifer USA! 👏

[@danlemler]

You do a great job raising pigs. I am 69 years old. When I was a sophomore in high school I farrowed and finished 3 sows worth of pigs, the next year 7 sows. As a Senior 50. In 1999 I almost went broke after selling butchers for 8 cents a pound in 1998. I have lots of equipment that sits empty because the packers took control.

[@HeiferUSA]

As factory farms grow larger and more powerful, it has gotten harder and harder for small-scale farmers to establish and run profitable operations. We hope to educate and encourage farmers to create healthier local food systems. It's challenging, but so worth the work! Thank you for watching and for joining the conversation!

[@eivordonahue9131]

I feel your pain. The late 80s and the 90s were horrible for many farmers as the packers and bankers took control. It's time to fight back and find a new way to farm pigs.

[@FlamingoFieldsFarm]

My dad had to sell out his hog operation here in MI because of the packers as well. He had a couple hundred pigs but they had monopoly. As he said, when you have that many pigs, a penny profit each is doable but makes farmers like him go belly up. I ended up buying the farm for a dollar to pay all the back bills and gave him a life lease not to lose it. Now my husband and I are plunging into pigs again.

[@divinesarasaradivine824]

NICE PIGS,THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY INTERESTING VEDIO, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR PIGS, AND ALL YOU HERE!AMEN ❤

[@HeiferUSA]

Thank you too

[@Sam58598]

Good job. I am trying this on our farm in Africa, Kenya.

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks, Sammy! Good luck!!

[@bernaditemuthoni8398]

Also am trying can we share ideas please

[@Limbu_X]

Watching from Nepal 🇳🇵

[@HeiferUSA]

Awesome! Welcome!

[@SarahPerine]

I’m raising a fun mix! I have a Mangalitsa x Hereford boar, two Mangalitsa x Idaho Pasture Pig gilts, and one American Guinea Hog sow. I am very grateful for your example and videos!! My first piglets will arrive (hopefully) in 2023. I chose my pigs for their personalities, temperaments and size. I’m (mostly) new to pigs!

[@HeiferUSA]

How exciting! Please let us know how you like the breeds you're raising. Be sure to check out our Pastured Pigs playlist for even more advice on raising your first batch of pigs! We've got a new video in the works that'll make paddock moves super easy! ;)

[@SarahPerine]

@@HeiferUSA your videos are sooo helpful!! Many thanks!!

[@826bmp]

You answered questions i hadnt even thought to ask. Great video.

[@HeiferUSA]

Glad we could help! Thanks for watching!

[@danielboyd641]

That red pig is as the old saying goes.....A HAM! LOL😂

[@SarahPerine]

I have the same shelters and use pallet fork extenders! So fun!

[@HeiferUSA]

They really are SO helpful for our pigs! And moving them is a breeze with the pallet fork extenders!

[@BrouetteNordique]

Grest video like always !

[@marnettehabamungu4476]

Waouu congratulations from Canada

[@HeiferUSA]

Thank you so much

[@isaacsieberts9567]

love this from south africa

[@HeiferUSA]

awesome. Thanks, Isaac!

[@bobcat9314]

Thank you for taking us along with you..this is awesome idea..very creative.. Question 1) I want to use pigs for forest floor regeneration yr round, ..but smoke and sell my pork to pay for themselves... Do I want to force my pigs to forage to keep them off feed.. 2) how do I know when im pushing the pigs to hard..and they need help..to keep them happy hope that makes sense..

[@ИльяМуромец-е7л]

Молодцы!

[@HeiferUSA]

thanks for watching

[@yordanusmisapasanga]

Very good video👍

[@HeiferUSA]

thank you

[@glendajandulong3595]

Very nice...i liked it

[@HeiferUSA]

Thank you! Cheers! 🐷

[@mikefrench3800]

I love Christine

[@HeiferUSA]

So do we!

[@mountainhighangusfarms3853]

Thank you for the video

[@HeiferUSA]

You're welcome

[@JacobPhillips-h8r]

How cold is it down there when they fix go to bed at night

[@terri6342]

The pigs look great.

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks! They're really thriving on pasture!

[@Cristina-gw5zp]

I know this is an old video, great video, but I'm amazed that you're not afraid of getting bitten... they seem like nice pigs but won't they bite a finger or leg? I obv don't have pigs but I've heard. Also you're obv super comfortable with them but I'm sitting here nervous for you lol. Great system, thanks for sharing :)

[@HeiferUSA]

Like any animal they can attack if they feel in danger, but they know with us they're not in danger! 😅

[@kajersonvlog]

Are you guys using pre-starter, starter, grower and finisher feed?

[@scottgregory4837]

Hi, I a lot of the pigs follow you around. I know they are not looking for food, so that makes me wonder do you give them treats? Thank you have a great day.

[@HeiferUSA]

No treats!

[@SarahPerine]

I’m really looking forward to you showing us a pasture breeding and farrowing operation. I’m bringing my sow into the barn to farrow so I can help keep her piglets warm and safe as she will farrow around December 19th!! It’s my first time (her third) and it’s five months earlier than expected. She was in with my 4 month old boarling and he turned out to be a young developer!! I thought she might come back into heat but she never did!! So everyone is late is on pasture but I’m bringing her in so the piglets will be sheltered better and mom will hopefully have better footing🤞🏾 I have seen videos from Farmbuilder and Sheraton Park Farms on pasture farrowing, but I’d really like to see how you do it! Thanks again!!😊

[@kathygahan6892]

new to your channel love the pigges

[@HeiferUSA]

So glad you found us!

[@christinemarcotte9544]

How do you feel about concrete floors for huts not being destroyed

[@DavoSan71]

This is so cool! Question: What's the cure of African Swine Fever (ASF). All my pigs died because of ASF. Thanks.

[@HeiferUSA]

Hi David! thanks for watching. We don't have that disease issue in our area, so we aren't sure how to answer. Try contacting a local vet or animal specialist in your local region.

[@okellojamespeter7638]

thanks for the great work ❤ How man times are recommended for a sow to take producing piglets

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunately, we don't farrow our own piglets so we are not well equipped to answer that question.

[@serenachen7103]

Hi, really interested your great job. My question is where can buy a baby pig for raising. Also how can I buy a whole pig for fresh meat. Thank you so much!

[@rickross199]

My question is always the same after watching every how to do winter livestock video I can find and it never seems to get answered unless I'm missing something. Livestock are improving pastures rotational grazing. In the winter however if you keep them rotating on your now dormant pastures how are they not completely destroying it by Spring?

[@glennalbrecht3932]

if you sow the paster with lagoons wheat rye and root vegies is it necessary to supplemental feed with grain ?

[@fidelsseecoomar3279]

Can you use the pig huts for sheep?

[@HeiferUSA]

we haven't tried that before! we have used our chicken schooners for sheep in the deep winter since we don't raise chickens in the winter time though.

[@SethLewis-tj4dn]

What does it cost to by couple of piglettes?

[@HeiferUSA]

Find local pig farrowing operations in your area to inquire about accurate pricing. We need to sell these hats!! stay tuned :)

[@gulsumdave5711]

Is it your policy to have the tails docked or is that something the supplier does to all their stock, if it’s the latter, and assuming you had a choice would you have the tails docked? As you move the pigs once a week, approximately what is the total acreage this batch will move through during their time on the ranch?

[@HeiferUSA]

Hi Gulsum! the pigs come with their tails docked from the breeder. We would probably prefer they didn't and are always looking for better suppliers. To learn more about how we move our pigs and how often, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJOzeYeajKairLs

[@BarryMiller-j3x]

can you put solor operated heaters on the waters

[@michaelfelder2640]

I think RFK Jr visited your operation this spring. M.A.H.A.

[@cassityart7001]

Are you moving the pigs? If so are your other padlocks geared with duplicate water system? Thanks.

[@HeiferUSA]

Hi Cassity! Yes, we move pigs. Check out our video "the great pig move" to see more information. the water tanks move with them.

[@michaelfelder2640]

idea: Thermal heat gain for winter: One time investment and labor saver; permanently fix that 4" PVC to the 'tops' of each hut. Paint them black. Repurpose a solar powered spotlight from walmart to power a 12v fan. The sun shines, heats the air in the black pipe, the solar panels ramp up and the fan pulls fresh air in and fresh, warm air adds the comfort in the huts. Unplug in summer. No need to keep track of those forklift extenders. An inve$tment yes, but our time is also precious.

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SarahPerine]

You should put links to purchase Heifer USA merch on your videos😬

[@HeiferUSA]

Believe it or not... We're working on that! Stay tuned for updates!

[@voka4959]

Hello. What is your feed composition and for what age?

[@HeiferUSA]

Hi, Voka. we use non gmo feed freshly milled using a ration by Ralco. Our swine #1 ration is 16% protein, we use this from arrival (~60lbs) to 150lbs. Around 150 lbs we switch to our swine #2 ration that is 14% protein and use that until the get processed around 300+lbs

[@2daughtersfarm]

I live in western New York, it's not uncommon for us to have 2-3 feet of snow for a couple months in winter. Would it be possible it pasture pigs or is this a stupid question?

[@angelfig6688]

I am looking into getting Duroc heritage breed

[@HeiferUSA]

Ooh, good luck! Let us know what you think of the Duroc breed.

[@suwil1000]

What type of feed in winter, is it gmo free. We are having hard time finding gmo free here

[@debraeaves6544]

we have just bought some property and we have an area that is swampy. We were thinking about raising our pigs in a place that would incorporate the swampy area. My theory is that they would use it as a wallow and perhaps from their rooting maybe we would be able to easily turn that spot into a watering area. Is my thought process crazy or do you think that could be a possibility?

[@HeiferUSA]

We would be reluctant to raise pigs in any kind of standing water for biosecurity reasons.

[@BarryMiller-j3x]

do you use solor hearers or other heaters

[@HeiferUSA]

Hi, Thanks for your questions! And no, we don't use any heaters in the pasture.

[@debireed6128]

Christine, do you notice if one breed/hybrid seems to produce the most meat?

[@HeiferUSA]

We haven't!

[@BarryMiller-j3x]

how do you people use your garden

[@rajmagar5205]

How often time do you change hay?

[@HeiferUSA]

hi, Raj. we don’t change hay. They get a new bale as needed. We add hay in their huts every night it's below 50degrees. We want the base of the hut to have a nice hay pad for the hay added each day. When we move the pigs after 5-7 days the hay from inside the huts stays there and we add fresh hay to the new area where we moved the huts. No cleaning/mucking out of the huts

[@SethLewis-tj4dn]

Id Love to have one of your hats how can i get one.

[@edwinmoore4560]

Berkshire and Duroc

[@dhanthapa5636]

Varry good iam from

[@HeiferUSA]

Thanks for watching!

[@leonardoaguilar5148]

Do you have experience of loosing pig?

[@roberteuell2155]

I'm raising feeder pigs, how is the best way to make money from them

[@BarryMiller-j3x]

do you feed veggy scraps

[@HeiferUSA]

Hi! Yes, you can feed veggie scraps!

[@BeckyDshome]

I’m raising two baby mangalesta pigs

[@HeiferUSA]

Awesome! We hope this information is helpful to you in your farming journey.

[@jorgfenske7072]

HI have u ever heard of feeding corn silage to pigs

[@HeiferUSA]

Heard about it. Never tried it though!

[@affarms1121]

Have you had any problem with wild hogs?

[@HeiferUSA]

nope!

[@timjustice2953]

What about ear tags?

[@e.lifefunnyvideos821]

i would like to visit, you please for the more knowledge

[@HeiferUSA]

Check us out online. thanks for watching!

[@devrodh3870]

Hi mam how much feed they consume to get 100kg and how many months?

[@HeiferUSA]

shoot us an email and we'll get an answer for you!

[@379jessika]

Hello, I would like to raise pigs.

[@HeiferUSA]

You can do it!

[@williamgreen6889]

I would love to expand my pig area Into a wooded area, but having them contained on poly wire only scares me. And using hog panel and poly is not an option at this time. To $$$$$$

[@Nightowl5454]

Arkansas winters are easy compared to northern climates.🤣

[@dhanthapa5636]

Iam from nepal can i apply to come thare i need work

[@HeiferUSA]

Check out our website for available opportunities

[@ray5farm482]

How many acres do you run the 100 head lot on at a time?

[@HeiferUSA]

we answer that question and more here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJOzeYeajKairLs

[@odbrown1]

i am planning on pig farming i will welcome your help and coaching.

[@HeiferUSA]

Great! We hope you find our content valuable in your journey.

[@Christine-om6im]

Do you ever get attached to a certain pig? 3:15

[@jeffsanderson2737]

I Reese Brookshire

[@toms6327]

Do you name your bad pigs

[@HeiferUSA]

We typically don't name our animals, but sometimes pigs will develop reputations for troublemaking and end up with some nicknames. We'll say hello to Old Stinker for you! 😂

[@nancyg7267]

no way that was a 65 gallon water transporter

[@ericoppong546]

I was thinking to buy 5 piglets if I can talk to somebody I will be very happy please

[@HeiferUSA]

Send us an email

[@markpennella]

Not bad video. Maybe do less talking and let your guest do the talking and instead of telling what you will be showing us, just show us. Keep up the great work.

[@marianne3024]

You’re welcome.

[@kishorkumardivate3678]

Hello sir I sended mail can you please check it ,

[@HeiferUSA]

You bet

[@kishorkumardivate3678]

@@HeiferUSA sorry sir why I should bet on you, Iam asking to see my mail ,