Our Orchard Pigs
Every August the De Weterings choose about six to ten pigs that are around 100 lbs to put outside in the pasture along with the cows. They will feast on the apples in the wild orchard; hence, the name “Orchard Pigs”. The pigs also help maintain the pasture better for the cows, as the pigs will root up the cow pies – those small patches of dried cow manure, so that the cows can eat the grass.
A little info about Pigs outdoors – Yes, pigs, like all of us, enjoy the freedom of outdoors. It’s sort of like Greta and Harry’s unlimited play yard compared to the play yard of the child in the city. Just like Greta and Harry, they need more supervision outside to stay out of trouble. The first summer the pigs pretty much destroyed the cows’ automatic water trough. It was just too tempting as a bathtub on the hot August days. This is also because pigs can’t sweat so they need to do something to stay cool. One way pigs stay cool is by wallowing, or rolling, in mud, but they also need a clean dry place to sleep – a bed of straw or a dry spot under a tree.
The black and red pigs are chosen for outside because they can handle the sun better than white pigs. The pigs have separate area in the barn where they can sleep and get the necessary grains and water away from the cows. They always seem to pick a spot inside the barn as their bathroom…must be too far to walk to the bush when they wake up from their sleep! That part of the barn is very dirty, which is why parents sometimes say “your room is a pig sty.” The rest of the area is very clean as pigs are generally very clean.
With their keen sense of smell, pigs love to root around in the pasture looking for yummy grubs, roots and other treats. Pigs cannot live off pasture like cows; they need access to water, grains and minerals, especially selenium. Our Southwestern Ontario soil is selenium deficient, a necessary mineral for pigs, so for many reasons just chomping through the soil is not nearly enough to keep a pig healthy.
Our Dog
Most family farms have watch dogs.
Our Cats
Spring isn’t spring without a new batch of kittens.