Baby Pig. Now What?

[EE_Bota]

Have you tried rubbing his belly to see if he will roll over like a dog? We had a full grown sow that would roll over on her side while you rubbed her belly. She loved it.

I concur that Oscar will be less likely to roam around if he is fixed. Also, if you put some rings in his nose, it might alert your neighbors that he is domesticated and prevent them from thinking he is wild and shooting him.

Obed

I agree, he should be castrated. One could also put a collar on his neck like a big dog, which would be easier to see than a ring.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is castrating something I need to have a vet come out here to do? Or is it something that I need to bring him in to see the vet?

I'm clueless on how to do this, and keep burying my head in the sand instead of dealing with it.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[SandburRanch]

Is castrating something I need to have a vet come out here to do? Or is it something that I need to bring him in to see the vet?

I'm clueless on how to do this, and keep burying my head in the sand instead of dealing with it.

Thanks,
Eddie

---------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a school near that has a VO-AG department, historically it has been customary for them to come to your property for training of young FFA members in matters such as this. Don't know what modern day practices are though.

 

[jinman]

Is castrating something I need to have a vet come out here to do? Or is it something that I need to bring him in to see the vet?

I'm clueless on how to do this, and keep burying my head in the sand instead of dealing with it.

Thanks,
Eddie

Eddie, I'd check with the vet. Since Oscar is 100 lb, he's going to be a "hand full" to handle while doing the deed and may need to be sedated. That would probably best be done at the vet's clinic, but I'm just not sure. I can tell you that the one's we did when I was a kid were so loud they almost deafened me with their squealing. Who knows? The methods used now may be much better.

 

[Carl_NH]

Eddie,

I have been following this thread to with interest.. Great thread following Oscar - thanks for sharing. I too was wondering about the decision you are faced with Oscar and I was thinking maybe Oscar is going to find a lady and make off with her one day..

As far as castration, I think this is more of an "operation" now that Oscar is the size he is, so I would call your vet or speak to the friend mentioned earlier.. We banded a number of calves on the farm - usually a month or so old.

Banding doesnt work on pigs tho and at Oscar's age and size I would not attempt this and get a vet to do this surgically if you really want to go through with it.

Carl

 

[Bird]

Yep, with a hundred pound pig, I'd be calling a vet. I'll probably never forget when I was a kid, every time we had a litter of pigs, my granddad would show up and get out of his truck sharpening his pocket knife on a little sharpening stone (we called'em whetrocks) as he walked toward the hog pen. Dad would hold'em while Granddad did the operation, and like Jim said, there was a lot of loud squealing going on. I don't remember just how old the pigs were at the time, but I don't think any of them weighed more than 5 to 10 pounds, and I think it was closer to 5.

 

[EE_Bota]

Yep, with a hundred pound pig, I'd be calling a vet. I'll probably never forget when I was a kid, every time we had a litter of pigs, my granddad would show up and get out of his truck sharpening his pocket knife on a little sharpening stone (we called'em whetrocks) as he walked toward the hog pen. Dad would hold'em while Granddad did the operation, and like Jim said, there was a lot of loud squealing going on. I don't remember just how old the pigs were at the time, but I don't think any of them weighed more than 5 to 10 pounds, and I think it was closer to 5.

I've done it up to around 60 lbs. I used to work for a vet for a few years, and I assisted up to full grown boars. That was in the early 80's and things could have changed somewhat. Talk to a vet. Small time farmers may be helpful too. Big time farmers don't want anything to do with hogs that are not their own, due to herd health issues; fear of transmitting disease.

 

[EddieWalker]

More snow today, so Oscar and I went out to play in it. I drove the Mule, he chased after me, and of course, tried to get in front and play a game of pushing the mule. He always loses, but it doesn't seem to discourage him.

Eddie

 

[TBDonnelly]

Has Oscar made a prediction who will win the Superbowl this Sunday?

Don

 

[bindian]

More snow today, so Oscar and I went out to play in it. I drove the Mule, he chased after me, and of course, tried to get in front and play a game of pushing the mule. He always loses, but it doesn't seem to discourage him.

Eddie

Eddie,
Like thousands of kiddies around me today, we were all disappointed to see OUR forecasted snow go up the middle of the state to you and didn't come down to SE Texas, short of Madisonville and northern Huntsville. Something about a boundary layer of warm air at 3000 feet melted the snow and it just froze upon landing.

When I was nine, I got to go ride horseback and help on a cattle roundup for branding on my Grandpa's Panhandle farm. I loved all that, but ran when some of the guys were cutting the male piglets. Their squeals curled my blood.
hugs, Brandi