Hanging Pork

Thursday 12/05 we loaded 5 pigs and took them to the local butcher. Loading 5 pigs when your facilities are really only at 75% is fraught with frustration and when one of you is built like a grasshopper (ie all skinny arms and legs and angles), one of you is likely to get knocked around a bit. I dread loading pigs. I always end up with a body part crushed, scraped, knocked or bleeding. This time I nearly got knocked out whilst hugging and waltzing with a 65 kilo screaming boar that didn't wish to go where I wished him to go. We got him in the end though.

On Monday we went and did a chiller assessment on them, happy enough with the amount of marbling and fat. We've had some good feedback from the people who ended up with half a pig each - "ecstatic", "bloody beautiful" and "best pork I've had in a long time".

Here's to Woodlawn Pork's future…..

Pigs and More Pigs

The January litter of 9 (which became 8) have grown so big! They live together in a paddock at the compound; another 50 days and they'll move on. Their mother has been to visit a boar at Haden to bring the preferred line back into the herd.

Coco loves playing with the piglets of all sizes!

Lulu exhausted after yet another breakout exploration.

Eeyore enjoying the overflow.

Seven newbies born March 14; 5 survived.

Should have checked the fittings before filling in the hole!

Lulu goes wandering. Again.

Eeyore

A few weeks ago we swapped one of our little berkshire gilts for a British large black. We made sure the journey to Killarney and back was a comfortable one for the travellers both ways. Once we caught our girl we covered the trailer with two layers of shade cloth; it was a hot day.

Lunch. British Large Black chops. Delicious. Have I ever mentioned that pork is my meat of choice. I think I have.

Our gilt meets her new friends.

The new gilt gets comfortable for the journey home.

Isn't she beautiful?

We called her Eeyore - for obvious reasons.

We've just moved one of the berkshires down to the cattle yards to await the birth of the next litter. She's quite comfortable. Poor thing doesn't know what's in store!

Still Cute

The piglets are growing so quickly! Poor Mama Pig is being knocked around - and she's only got 4!

How much longer?

Hello!

Eww, his butt stinks!

Coco is desperate to get in there and PLAY!

We Moved the Pigs

So sweet.

We moved Mama and the piglets to a pen of their own. They love it.

Coco is still desperate to touch one; so close this time!