The DARK Side Of Farming - The Bad and Ugly Of Farrowing On Pasture

[@JeanHudson2022]

My Dad use to say if your going to learn, learn from someone who knows both ends of farming. Can't learn without the hard times. I think your a teacher. He also use to say grieve the loss and rejoice the living. Thank you for sharing, praying for you all.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Words of wisdom. Thank you. Appreciate y’all watching.

[@alicegilbert4186]

Good point

[@christhomas9387]

@@SheratonParkFarms Do you know anyone looking for feeder pigs?

[@robinwhitlatch4497]

Hi Chuck.. I am saying this to you as a friend & a fellow farmer who really wants to see you guys be successful. Not to be critical, mean or ornery. Maybe consider getting some of the metal quanset huts for the sows to nest & farrow in in the field. There are all different sizes made for animal shelters, they are easily moveable and provide shelter from the wind, cold and rain/ snow. You could put a bunch of hay inside for the sow to nest & farrow in. It would save litters from getting cold and wet and minimize losses of so many piglets due to hypothermia. Otherwise consider moving sows to the building that you used this winter to farrow the 1 sow for protection from the weather. If you don’t reassess and change what you are doing you will continue loosing a lot of piglets with late fall, winter & early spring farrowing without shelter and that will continue effecting your bottom line of available pork inventory for sale & income. Just some food for thought. Farming is like medicine/ nursing.. we have to constantly observe, reassess, plan & change the plan if it isn’t working as it was intended to do to achieve measurable improved positive outcomes for the patient. Patient = farm & animal management plan.

[@outinthesticks1035]

Had some neighbors who raised pigs " non-intensivly " . One guy used to put paired rows of round bales in a eighty acre field, with feeders around the outside . Had some real good border collies and sent them out to round up everything every month, sorted off all that were ready for market , castrated the little ones . Every five years he switched fields and farmed the old one . He bought scrub bush land and after five years of pigs it was good crop land Other guy had a 100 acre slough , each spring he bought some bred sows and a boar and turned them loose with a hot wire around . In fall after snow came he baited them into a catch pen , sold all the small ones and he still had the bred sows and boar to sell Both of them said they missed catching some , but even after a winter out they made pretty good sausage

[@bettypearson5570]

You had a very nice way of saying it. While wild hogs have proven that it is possible to just go for survival of the fittest and still have some survive, it is amazing how just providing a little shelter can totally change your survivability numbers.

[@philiplabrie3822]

There is a saying in Australia "If you have live stock you'll have dead stock" we can only do our best. This week I have lost piglets to snake bite and wild dogs so keep your chin up, we all love your videos and learn lots from you 😊

[@cathtf7957]

Snake bite and wild dogs sounds horrible. Keep your chin up. We don't have many snakes here in canada, only rattlers.

[@suzimasterson5730]

We have that saying here in England too. One of the few reasons I like England. No dangerous animals (there’s the adder snake I guess. Don’t see them really even in the countryside)

[@notcharliebrown9595]

Farming is one of those lifestyles that sees the extreme lows and extreme highs. Thank you for showing the realness of farming. Even when we think we are prepared there can be loss and we learn from it to try better next time knowing that next time still may have loss in a new way. Farming is rich in loss and joy. God bless ya'll.

[@jeannerogers7085]

Nice to see mama sows out in pasture. Even with the hazards of living outside, better than the ghastly 3x5' pens I have seen.

[@christian4ever672]

Our first year farrowing piglets here, and it has been a struggle, beautiful and heartbreaking as you say. We had one Momma do beautiful with 10 healthy piglets delivered and are almost at 3 months. We had a second momma reject her entire litter of 8 (was determined to savage them/remained great with us). We decided to take on the challenge of rearing those on milk replacer (expensive). We have gotten 7 of the 8 through to now - 7 weeks. No way we could have done it while taking care of an operation your size, but we are trying. We have leaned heavy on your know how this year, so I just want to say thank you so much for sharing the amazing work you are doing with your piglets. We are learning from you every day.

[@stevelee6688]

Sound in only one ear bud except at @1:50 when engine started and then stereo only briefly

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@tomellington-taterroadfarm668]

Crystal clear sound and video. Congrats on all the new piglets

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks!

[@mllee2008]

You and yours are definitely in my prayers. ❤🙏🏻🇺🇸 **video looks and sounds great. I didn't hear any wind whistling.**

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for the feedback

[@sixoaksfarm1556]

Be surprised how many you can save with a small tarp, a few t posts and some string. We farrowed 800+/Yr for a while, all on pasture.

[@davehughesfarm7983]

Not in muddy Missouri you didn't

[@sixoaksfarm1556]

@@davehughesfarm7983 yeah because mud doenst exist anywhere else.. Buy smarter pigs,.

[@dallasburgess5329]

17?? Insane, very well done Chuck- We'd like to thank you for your advice via your channel! It's been very very helpful to our little farm. Our best Sow Petunia had 13, no stillbirth, no crushing. Born late winter, in the hay, in the snow. She's a champ 🎉. Our second sow, Princess, had 10, one stillbirth, 2 crushed 😢 and one just went missing (Eagle I think...) - but she is way more protective, so there's a trade-off. Keep up the great work!

[@finley-b8h]

Wow your piglets look a lot like ours @ freedom ranch homestead dramatic piglet birth a learning experience

[@ravenwoodacres-homegrown]

I second the use of a hog hut or a-frame. We sometimes farrow in winter here and couldn’t manage with our our farrowing pens. Much easier to catch and castrate when they are less than a week too. As for counting, we don’t count it, if it didn’t breath. Has to be live births! Also there could be medical reasons for all the mummified piglets. Might want to look into that.

[@dwighthires3163]

That is amazing to have an average of 14 piglets. You should be very encouraged. So sorry that you feel down about what you did. I believe you did a great job! You are doing really well. You do not need to call this the "Bad and Ugly" you are doing a fine job.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks Dwight. Always appreciate your comments!

[@virnaflowerfarm]

I can feel for you I didn't think a sow was pregnant and AI her a week and a half later she aborted 16 fully developed piglets. She had had a foot injury so I just assumed she had not got breed. We learn hard things. We lost all but 4 out of 10 from our momma that last year didn't lose one. We have them in the barn in 8x10 pens with 2x8 space for the piglets no weather involved. This is our 4th year and by far our worst. First time needing to pull but I learned a boutique a small pelvis on a gilt from watching your video when you lost all but the 2 from your guilt and had the vet out. So even when you don't feel like you are the person to teach us you are. You care about the animals and that makes it hurt. Thank you for shared the hard things so we see the reality of the ups and downs of farming.

[@yeagerxp]

Well done . Informative 👍👍👍. Thank you for sharing. Be safe🇨🇦

[@arlandoking2978]

Keep your head up my friend, it’s going to get better,enjoy what you and your Wife have done praying for you guys.🙏🏽

[@joycedemolle4565]

Oh my goodness. Baby piglets are so adorable. Awww so sweet. Congratulations on all piglets. ❤

[@Wakeywhodat]

In the beginning of the video it was just the left channel. Outside of that, very crisp and clear. As for the losses, live and learn I suppose. I’ve learned a ton from your videos and we also learn from you when things don’t go as planned. Thanks Chuck!

[@christophermullen5877]

Man we just got a handful of pregnant soldiers yesterday, this video keeps it real. We are looking forward to new life on the farm but are preparing ourselves for the loss too. We love you guys! See you soon!

[@christophermullen5877]

Sows, not soldiers...

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Good luck with them. Hope all goes well. See y’all Saturday!

[@arthurdewith7608]

The first 3 hours after birth are the most critical for sows laying on piglets and piglets wandering off and sleeping in a wet spot it’s at this time u should stay with the Dow as she is tired stressed and confused and will lay on her piglets

[@arthurdewith7608]

I farrow in groups and stay in the barn sleeping and chores or repairs and have a shop there to weld or whatever repairing equipment near by

[@devenlamar3900]

No narrowing videos this year?? Those are my favorites you do the best and I love those babys so cute

[@SweetBriarFarmMichigan]

Hey chuck, it must be something in the air this year we had a terrible farrowing of some berkshires. Lost an entire litter I was about to scream in the truck on my way to work that morning I was so disheartened.

[@flyinhawaiian57]

The video and audio sound good, just anytime you were using the lav mic it would only play through one side. In some parts where you were just using the camera mic for background footage it was playing in stereo, so I would imagine it's something to do with the lav.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

It’s a setting on the new mic system. The next video will be the same but I know what I did now. Thanks for the feedback.

[@brucehay4659]

The sound system has a problem. When you where talking you only came through on my left hearing aid and when you were close enough to the pigs they came through on my right hearing aid. I like your videos.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@homesteadinginmohavecounty1626]

I guessed way low! 😂 The thing about farming that you always have to remember is, where there's livestock, there's deadstock. And that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.

[@cajunnathan4586]

Have you considered building several sheds for the sows to ferral in

[@youtuber9046]

What happened to the farrowing huts from the old farm?

[@donaldfear7639]

Have you tried any kinda of small huts for them to get into or small metal Quonset huts just big enough for them to get into. Those would be easy to move around with the tractor.. might save your losses.. just a thought for ya

[@terri6342]

Good content. Great sound. As always thanks for your content. ❤

[@gnhfarm]

I'm using headphones, and only hearing audio through the left channel at start of the video. at 1:45 it switches to both left/right, then back to only left. Definitely some settings to play with. Looks great though!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@dangher5807]

God bless you and your family too. I love the way how you end every video

[@ikesimplekin8334]

Awesome camera. What beautiful creatures.

[@jmc8577]

17! Geesh. I'm new to breeding tamworths and told average is 7-8. Due in a couple weeks. So excited

[@jasondarling4602]

I would think about using farrowing crates so you could help if a problem occurred then maybe turn them out when their a few days old or if the weather permitted. I know " farrowing crate" is a bad word to some people but as you just experienced it can be a night mare without them

[@mariaolson5808]

Thank you for this video. We started farrowing on pasture last year and it can be challenging. We currently have 4 sows due all within about a week because a boar got loose. That wouldn't be so bad except that May is when our property goes through its annual flood and this year with warm weather followed by rain we are about 2 weeks farther along with flooding than the last 3 years. Things are going to get a bit cramped on the high ground areas.

[@otiskeithwatkins1679]

Back when we raised hamps, that was....us....let's say well over 40 years ago....we had a couple that typically had 15 and 16. We usually had 12 come up to age. One litter was 14 that made it. I miss my youth. I even miss some of the work.

[@Barbara-se8od]

Those little hams are just adorable

[@cindieryan446]

Great color and great definition.

[@angelzhomestead]

Sounds great, looks great.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thank you

[@eefbhoff]

investing in Port a Huts out of storm lake iowa. They are light and very strong. stake down. Farrow pigs in a snow storm and save them all. they can let you know where distributors are at. At a $1000.00 value per pig - your numbers. my question how can you afford to lose any pigs let alone a litter ? Good thing that boar bred those 2 . keeps the inventory about correct after a loss of an entire litter.

[@laurrwhit]

Amen. We love following your journey. I guessed 39, great number 👌🏻

[@terrykowaski1048]

First time tune in-love it look forward to future videos♥️❣️

[@kevinholbrook7174]

Hey 👋 Chuck! On your audio you need to check if it’s working on mono…. On my end I am listening through one speaker. Keep up the great work and I hope you and your family have a blessed day!🙏

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@harvey1891]

Sound was mostly in left ear. Picture was great.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

It’s a setting on the new mic system. The next video will be the same but I know what I did now. Thanks for the feedback.

[@iwantosavemoney]

Sorry for your lose my friend that is part of it we are learning also.

[@funkybuffalo88]

Looks and sounds great, but would have watched anyways. Thanks for the video.

[@jamesrutherford374]

Hell we barn raised our pugs and got aboyt the same #s watching the whole prosses. You did well... No reson to dought yourself. Good farming

[@h.s.6269]

Like others have suggested, perhaps those metal quanset(?) metal animal shelters would seriously improve the survival rate. They should be easily movable with a small tractor or 4 wheeler. Idk if it's in your finances to buy or not but perhaps a few simple homemade ones would do like the ones you've had before? What happened to the old ones? I try and watch all your videos but I must've missed a few 😅

[@Spence321]

Sounds and Looks Good!

[@JPLawnsMore]

You guys are doing awesome! What camera did you get??? Looks great!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks friend! I got the Cannon R10

[@JPLawnsMore]

@@SheratonParkFarms nice!!!

[@richardmckinney2646]

So on the audio... I use hearing aides, during your narrative only left ear picked it up (blue tooth) .Old footage both ears worked. Don't know if it has anything to do with your new equipment or not.Hope that helps you. rstr.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@myfirsthomestead9316]

Going to watch you guys anyway!

[@edschultheis9537]

I would think that you would have more live and healthy piglets if the sows were confined in crates in a temperature controlled building shortly (a few days or a couple of weeks) before they give birth. That would be a much more controlled environment, where you could have more ideal heating/cooling conditions and heat lamps on all of the newborn piglets. Heat lamps should be turned on in the pens ideally about a day before the sow gives birth. Cold piglets do not survive well. Also, in a closely confined farrowing crate, the piglets can separate themselves from the sow so that they don't get laid on inadvertantly when the sow lays down. The crates would allow you to control the sows in case they get mean as they are givig birth. This would give you an opportunity to put a leather muzzle on the sow so that she will not bite or try to eat the piglets. Some sows are very docile during birth. Occasionally, a sow can be very mean and try to harm the piglets. We did this with about 16 sows twice per year on our family farm. Breeding was controlled so that all of the sows would give birth within about a 3 week timeframe, twice per year. Finally, be in the building (even in the middle of the night) when the sow gives birth, to take care of any complications. Occasionally, you may even have to breath into the mouth of the piglet so that it will start breathing on its own. Clean off all of the afterbirth from the piglets with wood shavings (to warm up the piglet) Also, tie off the umbilical cord with a disinfected string to prevent bleeding and/or infection. All of this helps to save piglets. Finally, keep records of any sows that get mean when they are giving birth. Send those sows off to the sale yard so you don't have to deal with them a second time. There should be no second chances with sows. Ed Schutheis Washington state, USA

[@shaneraponi3393]

Beautiful video quality!

[@jamesdmagness]

Audio and video look great...but I watch it anyways lol Thanks for the hard work you do.

[@kimberlee3590]

They are so adorable! ❤ I am soo hoping my sow took with AI and we have piglets in July.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Hope so! Good luck

[@nancyseery2213]

I did not even get close! But then, I have never raised pigs. Or should I say I haven't raised pigs yet! Truth be told, I am thinking about a couple of feeder pigs, but have to wait until I have a better set up. Congrats on all of the pigs!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thank you

[@daubber51]

Robert,,(f Ont Canada) I have a Dolby Atmos soundbar,,,sounds top notch,,,👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻.

[@patrickcalhoon3512]

I’m only getting the left audio channel. Checked other videos, this one is missing the right channel.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@AgnesMariaL]

We had one nearly freeze to death. When I pulled her out of the nest, she was barely breathing, ice cold, but alive! I put her on the dash of the truck on the heater for a bit, then tucked her into my coat for the ride home. Well, I don't throw much heat, so when we got to our house, I made my man take her under his coat. It took about two hours to get her temperature back to normal, and I really think that being held close and feeling our heartbeats made all the difference in her recovery success - we even took her into bed with us for the first night! We wound up just keeping her with us and bottle-raised her on ordinary cow's milk. She's back with the others now, but is totally a pet!

[@kerstinmahnke8863]

Maybe a nice hud would help for them to have babies. They are in the dry and warm with hay or straw

[@hillbillyinthephilippines303]

First time viewer sound and video is good we just had a few litters here on our farm in the Philippines

[@meredithwhidden8712]

If the content is interesting and educational, I'll watch it. Video and sound are great for me.

[@autryfarris7523]

Looks and sounds great.

[@gottalovethephilippines5417]

G’day Chuck, nice video. What breed were the first and last mother pigs on this video? Cheers mate🇦🇺

[@dalegiles4091]

Hot Chuck Dale here in Arizona don't feel bad about losing a piglet or a letter we just lost one and it was a beautiful day. We were at the 72 hours and the mother you could tell she had been nursing and then she rolled up onto all 9 in the middle of the night and in the morning they were all smother things happen. Glad to hear I was in the top 8 with a pick of 42 I always watch your videos have a great day.

[@johnridgeway6718]

God Bless. Everything has risk involved.

[@JBTrapper93]

When do you castrate males when they farrow on pasture and how do you manage it with sows being around.

[@swannee69]

RE: video production, im only getting sound out of one side of my speakers, and i know its not the speakers

[@SheratonParkFarms]

It’s a setting on the new mic system. The next video will be the same but I know what I did now. Thanks for the feedback.

[@davehughesfarm7983]

We used to pig on pasture, could be a rough go in muddy Missouri..

[@davehughesfarm7983]

Brother and I rung and castrated pigs every Saturday for years..

[@fishawk90]

When I first started watching the channel u rarely spoke abt piglet mortality from birth. Not sure cuz those farrowing were done the same method or not but those sals seem to have less complications.

[@joshuaosgood6494]

Heya just found this video. Notice you said you have new equipment. Listening with earbuds, mich of your video only has audio in my left ear. Hope you can work that out!

[@andresmith6738]

Love your videos! What type (Breed) are your.... Sows? Boar? Thanks

[@leslieisthebossofyou1090]

Last year we had accidental piggies. About 40 from 4 moms. We learned a lot from that experience. Why all 4 gave birth is a terrible storm (out of spite perhaps?) is beyond me. We only have 2 sows left and 1 boar and we are hoping for babies in about 2 months 🤞. We are better prepared this time hopefully…….

[@davehughesfarm7983]

Thats when they pig..Always in adverse conditions..

[@regenesteffen2814]

Low pressure often brings on labor

[@scottneedham9765]

Great video. That’s a lot of 🥓

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Yes it is!!!

[@ryanpahl8299]

You asked for feedback on your new camera and audio. The first thing I noticed in this video is that the audio is not balanced in my headphones. it's only on the left side.

[@bdb1052]

I'm, going to watch anyway but the improvement on your sound quality is noticeable and welcomed 😂

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks!!!

[@pappamike6231]

We always used a barrow shed. Sure you had to keep it clean.

[@cathtf7957]

It seems to be very touch and go, wether they are giving birth and so on indoors or out. A lot of the piglets seem to get crushed by accident. Don't feel so bad. You try your best.

[@biofarmakolin]

Cześć , robisz i pokazujesz z żoną kawał świetnej roboty naprawdę gratuluję i oby tak dalej :) Mam do was pytanie , lochy podczas wyproszeń przebywają razem na dużym obszarze żeby każda znalazła sobie swoje miejsce do wyproszenia , ale zdarzają się różne wypadki pogodowe i są straty w prosiakach , powiedz czemu nie rozstawiacie po pastwisku budek dla świń aby mogły się tam schronić ? Mieliście porobione takie jak ma Jordan G. ale ich nie używacie dlaczego ? Pozdrawiam serdecznie :)

[@Sea-cucumber1151]

Haha I would probably be setting up lean to tarp tents over every one!😊😮

[@stuboyd1194]

Would the sows use a man made shelter to keep out of the bad weather with the piglets?

[@Sean-ry4fi]

Hi Chuck, I hear you man. Our second year pasture raising pigs, in 2021 our guilt had her first litter in a nasty cold rain storm. I remember having to scramble around to get a covid test (on my dime) while I was forced by HR and had to miss 1 week of work (unpaid) ...still never got reimbursed by the govt or the corporation.in the the rain while she lost all 10 of her piglets. It was a lot to process our first time. By the grace of patience and me not giving up, and working with her and our young boar, we were able to get 16 healthy piglets, we only lost one (the runt) either got rolled on or something, but when I peaked in and saw her ears open looking at me nursing all 16 of her piglets it was one of the happiest times in my life. You are doing the right thing, letting them live in peaceful enviornment in their natural habitat. Maybe invest in building a few huts rainproof or mini pig houses (1 per sow/guilt), maybe you save closer to 90% of your piglets. Everything is expensive now, but maybe you could find a bunch of scrap material to build with for cheap. Good luck. I wish you all the best.

[@egrace3738]

My teaching partner's husband died of COVID-19 early in the pandemic. :0(

[@bryanpearce4440]

Sound only comes out of the left speaker.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@tonyclack5901]

I ran an organic outside breeding and fattening farm and did not lose piglets because of rain or bad weather as they had warm and waterproof housing with a wooden floor. They farrowed fine and lost the odd one. I don't see any housing for the pigs, are you farrowing outside with no housing?

[@jacobjohn650]

The audio is not stereo. Only left side

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. There is a setting on the audio equipment that we didn't have right. The next video will be the same way but after that we should be good. Appreciate the feedback.

[@TheSwartzFamilyHomestead]

Video looks better, but maybe try to use a higher frame rate setting

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for the feedback

[@lindseyhyden978]

Parts of the video only have sound from one speaker...

[@SheratonParkFarms]

It’s a setting on the new mic system. The next video will be the same but I know what I did now. Thanks for the feedback.

[@zakjones396]

I just lost 5. Still have 2 on the bottle and momma is feeding 2. Had 1 that was mummified. That was a first for us. I probably won’t breed her again.

[@pamelamercado6902]

Years ago we had a pig who had several babies they all died at birth Her second time around she had 12 piglets they were so pretty and I was so happy they were doing so good three days later I went out in the morning and unfortunately a pack of coyotes killed all the piglets and injured the mama I was so upset. I know things happen but sometimes it's hard to swallow

[@dalegiles4091]

Sorry about that I meant to say Hi Chuck

[@millionsmillions]

sorry if this comes off as crass but did you ever figure out what happened to that 12th piglet? assuming no body was recovered, would u safely assume some predator (perhaps of the aerial variety, though not likely given they're on silvopasture) maybe got them early in the morning/late at night, like maybe just as those storms rolled out of the area? and if not a predator, I really doubt it would've wandered off to the point of being lost/out of earshot from Mama, so what in the heck happened? I've experienced predation to a fatal extent upon various species of my livestock but that almost gives me more peace of mind than illness or just unknown fate when not everyone is accounted for. Very stress inducing. I hope that lil piggy went relatively painlessly, and also in a way such as to further sustain life.

[@coyroberts8356]

Prayers

[@Sea-cucumber1151]

They walk freely under the fence which seems scary that predators could grab them on the other side?

[@ericamundson4700]

Do you have a lot of digging holes like I do? if so how to remedy?

[@patrickpost4913]

Had a question wondering how many doses do you use when you AI

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Typically 3

[@patrickpost4913]

@@SheratonParkFarms thanks

[@mikeh8047]

Howd the red on lose all of hers?

[@SheratonParkFarms]

She had them as a storm was coming in and built her nest in the side of a hill.

[@hs5167]

What is the difference between mummified and stillbirth?

[@henrymiller3654]

Why not use hog panels U shape put trap over it ? That would keep pigs out of the rain.

[@theBakersonafewacres]

Video looks and sounds sharper but seems to take longer to focus when moving or zooming in and out. I don't care, im gonna watch anyway