Pig/Goat Question?

[EddieWalker]

I started with one pig that I found behind my house. He was born wild, but after bottle feeding him, he became a pet. He is now six years old and lives in my front pasture, which is about five acres. There is a 3/4 acre pond in there and a few trees, so it's not a full five acres, but he spends most of his time during the summer in the pond, under some shade. Last year we added five horses to the pasture and another 7 acres that we open up to all of the animals during the day, then when they come back to the barn to be fed at night, we close the gate to keep them in the five acre pasture.

We also added 2 Nigerian pygmy female goats to the mix last year. They walk right through the three lines of hot wire like it's not there. The pig and horse get zapped hard by it, but for some reason, the goats don't seem to care about it. We added a third female goat earlier this year, then a month ago, picked up a young male for a total of four goats. The fence does not keep the goats in, they love being around the pig or following the horses around. They are very social and always stick together.

The goats have been great at eating the blackberries and other weeds that where taking over around the pond. They don't eat everything, but it's amazing to see how they clear an area that they do like to eat. The pig just makes a mess. With as much land as he has access to, it's horrible what he does to the land. When he passes away of old age, I will not replace him with another pig. This is the one and only pig that I will ever have.

Goats are great. We love having them and look forward to having more of them.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My Grand Dad was my hero when I was a kid; being the first grandchild, I was special. He raised pigs, but for the most part kept them penned. I know he used them to get rid of Johnson Grass; he would fence in an area he wanted cleared and turn the hogs loose on it. They would eat the roots, which of course eliminates the grass. He had a wheat field burn at harvest time one year; he bought a bunch of hogs and turned them loose in the field and fattened them out that way. He at least recouped some of his investment!

 

[cqaigy2]

In dry climates, the goats are difficult to keep in with an electric fence. You really have to turn up the voltage, im guessing something about the way the hoof is shaped, maybe less contact with the ground. Goats have an innate ability to know which plants/trees are the most desirable to you and preplan their assault on the chance they get out.

 

[CCWKen]

I threatened my neighbor with starting a hog farm. On the far southwest corner boardering of my property there's a mobile home park. Some of the tenants are less than respectful of other peoples property and would dump trash, broken cinder block and car parts over the fence. Every time I mowed over there I hit something with a loud bang. I told the owner of the park I was going to raise hogs over there if he can't control his tenants. About two days later he called me for permission to enter the property and clean up. There was 4-5 guys out there all afternoon picking up trash. So far it been pretty good except for some occasional wind blown items.

Oh, a 4' fence might be good for pigmy goats and young but that won't hold adults. I'd use 6' minimum. And they love to climb on cars.

 

[gwstang]

Page wire bottom & barbed wire top should keep both in.
View attachment 479629

Won't the goats stick their head through that and get stuck with the horns through?

 

[gwstang]

"We also added 2 Nigerian pygmy female goats to the mix last year." That is exactly what I want is the small type of goats. Milk would be great.

 

[gwstang]

I threatened my neighbor with starting a hog farm. On the far southwest corner boardering of my property there's a mobile home park. Some of the tenants are less than respectful of other peoples property and would dump trash, broken cinder block and car parts over the fence. Every time I mowed over there I hit something with a loud bang. I told the owner of the park I was going to raise hogs over there if he can't control his tenants. About two days later he called me for permission to enter the property and clean up. There was 4-5 guys out there all afternoon picking up trash. So far it been pretty good except for some occasional wind blown items.

Oh, a 4' fence might be good for pigmy goats and young but that won't hold adults. I'd use 6' minimum. And they love to climb on cars.

Ha, excellent idea on the pig farm...

I am wondering if the adult goats could have a lightweight chain or such attached to their collar and a lightweight object on the other end to keep them earthbound so they could not climb very well? That way they would stay in a 48" fence.

 

[sea2summit]

Won't the goats stick their head through that and get stuck with the horns through?

Yes.

Also if you keep them together the goats will eat the pig food which can be bad for the goats. I have two goats and two pigs right now, can't wait until I can convince the boss to get rid of the goats, they are fun to watch but that's about all they are good for.

 

[rox]

Beautiful pig/goat pic Eddie.

 

[rox]

Eddie, I really enjoy this blog, he pasture raised pigs, only gives them whey & something else he gets for free I can't remember. What he does is he plants, Like broadcast plants, legumes for his pigs. Also he plants apple trees and I think pear trees for the pigs. The apples fall off the trees the pigs eat them up.. You mentioned how your pig diggs up the pasture, well maybe you can get some ideas from this blog, provide forrage for the pig, then he won't be interested in going much in the areas you would rather he not dig up. This guy reminds me a lot of you.
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