Advocating for a Humane Food Process

Why do vegans attack the small farmers that so lovingly and dutifully care for their animals?

This question has perplexed me. Yet after recently receiving negative comments through both of my farm pages, it is one I have come to ponder.

While I have never even slightly considered the possibility of veganism, I do understand and appreciate their position on the plight of animal welfare. As a volunteer for a horse rescue, adopter of unwanted horses, cats and dogs, I take the humane treatment of animals to heart. In fact, I consider myself an advocate for animal welfare.

But to vegans, that isn't enough. They consider all animals to be part of the pet population. I guess that is where we part ways.

You see, I don't view livestock as pets, but as a vital part of a food process that was originally designed by our creator God to provide nourishment to our bodies.

A food process we have sadly drifted away from. The fast paced demands of our lifestyles have separated us from that process and has allowed for the corporatism to gain a foothold on the manufacturing of our food. One that doesn't care about the humane treatment of livestock, much less your health.

Drive through any town during meal hours and note the amount of people in the fast food drive-thrus. Folks this is not real food you are eating, but something created by a process driven solely by profits, not ethics.

Honestly I'm not sure we can ever change our current food system, we are all guilty of creating. It would require a change in lifestyle I'm not so sure many would consider.

But my suggestion to vegans is this...instead of bashing the small livestock farmers that are trying so hard to keep a healthy, humane food process, advocate for a lifestyle changes. For example, cut back on meat consumption in your diet, skip the drive-thrus for lunch by taking a few extra minutes in the morning to make your lunch at home, cook dinner at home and eat with your family, teach your children to cook, buy as much as possible from your local farmers and lastly expand your palate.

That is how you will ever truly make a positive change for our food process.

Bringing Home Your New Piglets Part 1

                                                           

Pigs make a great asset to the small homestead. They can be used to produce meat with little investment in feed, time, or labor if managed correctly.  They are also able to provide additional income through piglet sales.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering your purchase.  

1. Are you raising them solely for meat production or also for breeding? You can purchase a mixed breed piglet reasonably cheap. However if you are seeking an outstanding quality in taste, try a heritage breed or mix thereof. These breeds excel in their red meat, and flavor unlike commodity pork. 

Another consideration is choosing between a lean or fatty meat type. The lean meat is touted as being healthier yet with less lard. Many people mistakenly believe lean meat doesn't contain marbling. Marbling contributes to flavor. These lean meat breeds provide some the best tasting pork available. Lard breeds provide a more fatty type meat product, as well as their lard which is used in baking and cooking. In recent years, utilizing lard has regained popularity. 

When considering adding a breeding program to your small homestead, be sure to invest in quality stock. Anything less is not contributing to the genetic poll of that particular breed. To be sure of what you are selling, we recommend purchasing registered piglets. While it is important to know the farm your stock originates from, records speak for themselves. Without registrations, you do not know the lineage of your stock. Due to bio security reasons, we do not recommend visiting pig farms. Taking the precautions necessary to keep your livestock safe is vital to maintaining healthy livestock. Instead, we recommend utilizing registration records and recommendations from previous buyers in selecting which farm to purchase your breeding piglets from. 

                                                 

                                                             

2. What breed? Choosing a breed is dependent upon the reason you are raising them. If you are showing in the fair, most commercial breeds such as the Hampshire, Yorkshire and Duroc dominate that market. However if you are raising them for your family and considering breeding, we suggest raising an endangered heritage breed. http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/conservation-priority-list#Pigs

These are breeds that excelled on small homesteads back in the day of our forefathers. Heritage breed pigs are hardy, adaptable, easily manageable and better foragers. Be sure to take their temperament into consideration. While most pigs are fairly friendly, some are more docile than others. While there are few heritage breeds not listed on this conservancy list, many of them have been "improved" in their genetics resulting in more of a commercial pig than those of past. These changes were made to adapt to the intense indoor farming practices of today's large pig farms. 

                                                                   

3. How will you raise them? Raising pigs in a small pen or barn is quite different than raising them out on your land. Pigs need ample space or they become bored, and destructive. One mistake we made when purchasing one of our pigs is that we did not make sure he was raised in the way we planned to raise him. In other words, he was raised in a barn. We brought him home, put him out to pasture and he did not fare well. We had to bring him into our barns and adjust him slowly to life outside. It would have been much easier to purchase a pig that had been raised outdoors. 

If raising your pigs outside, they will need shade and water. Since pigs do not sweat, they need access to a mud hole or pond in the summer. They also need protection from the wind in the winter. A small shelter filled with straw during the coldest part of winter will suffice. 

Pigs make a big mess when allowed to free-range. Therefore fencing is another must. Electric is the less expensive option however it is higher maintenance and will not always work with smaller pigs or piglets. Though they can be trained to the electric, one strand will not be enough for them. Woven wire is another option though a strand of electric must be added. Pig panels are yet another option though costly, work well for smaller (feed out) type pens. 

In our next blog, we will talk a bit more in depth about fencing, maintenance, spacing and rotational grazing of pigs. 

-Jim and Steph Pauley

Always an Adventure

This morning we woke at what seemed the crack of dawn with the time change to meet a buyer. A farmer from Maryland drove the distance to purchase the last of our remaining piglets. I find it intriguing to have conversations with others that have the same interests and goals. Many of our customers do, so it's always a pleasant time. 

After he left I was able to drag farmer hubby away from the farm for a trip to Tractor Supply.  I guess it was the place for farmers to be early on a Sunday morning as the store was busy. Of course we don't just get what we need and get out of there. We strolled through the store to check out the chicks, homesteading magazines and newly stocked spring items. 

While there, we ran into a man and his daughter that are members in our 4-H Horse Club. I had spoken to them at our meetings a few times, my son showed with them at the fair and I had seen them both at the school. We got talking about horses and the kids. He mentioned a horse for sale that would be a good barrel racing candidate for our son. His daughter had ridden the horse and leased another there. She rode horses at this farm daily. Then he asked if we wanted to go. Sure, why not?

We followed him out to a magnificent horse farm. My definition of magnificent comes with the requirement of a quality built barn on the premises... I'm kind of a barn snob. The farm had hundreds of acres with a few rental houses.  

After showing us the cute little mare, he took us out on the gator so we could find the other horses. 

My view from the back of the gator.

Found them at one of the far pastures.

Getting closer

And here they are. 

We spent two hours there and could have easily stayed longer. But the work back at the farm was calling.

It's true what they say about this area...you never meet a stranger. 

Lack of Motivation

Today is one of those "lack of motivation" days. 

Yes we farmers have them too. 

It usually happens during the winter months. The days we have to peel ourselves off the computer to go outside to do chores. 

Getting all the gear on is a huge feat in itself. Long pants, two layers of tops, wool socks, insulated bib overalls, coat, hat, gloves, boots. That's a lot of clothes and it weighs you down even more.

But when I finally get there, I am greeted by this and I wonder what took me so long.