poor sqwushed piglet

[itsmecindi]

Rocky the steer was banished yesterday from the pasture, and I live for the day that we can cut him up into bite sized chunks and get even for all the mischief this steer has created.

Our sows all birth wherever they choose. They pick a location, and it's not always geographically preferable, but once they settle in, we provide some type of makeshift shelter for the week to ten days that they will stay exclusively in that spot with their babies. After this point in time they will generally blend back in with the rest of the herd, babies and all.

Hannah had her babies three or four days ago in the extreme southeast corner of the south pasture. I went out and gave iron shots and stretched a heavy tarp catty-cornered across the fence and propped it up front and pulled it tight with a t-post effectively fashioning a lean-to with a good pitched roof for water run-off.

At some point Rocky not only desecrated this holy place but he tore down the tarp, and stepped on one baby pig, crushing it. Fred was fit to be tied.

"He's lucky I don't have my gun with me or I'd drop him where he stands and let the buzzards have him."

This is a first. Usually Rocky stays well clear of a sow with new babies, primarily because she won't allow him near. Hannah is a timid sort and is easily intimidated, and I suspect he ran her off just because he could.

Being that we can't afford to have him properely butchered right now, we merely chased him out into the orange grove for the time being.

This afternoon I made up my mind that come what may, Rocky is out of here even if I have to give him away. My neighbors came down for dinner and we discussed it and they are going to buy half of him so that we can split the cost of the processing so it's only a matter of time before he can generate nothing more troublesome than a case of indigestion. I'll let you all know how he tastes. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

I sure wish I could find some one in my neck of the woods that sold beef that way still. When I was a kid thats where steaks came from, not the grocery store. I had hoped for a long time to find some one selling Angus by the 1/2 properly butchered. The closest I can seem to find is the 4-H bidding at the local fair and Its hard for me to always make the auction. Dave

 

[itsmecindi]

Put your name out with some of the local butchers in smaller communities around you. Let them know you're interested in buying a side (?) of fresh beef. We can't be the only people out there who can't afford the whole processing fee. Although I have heard that our area is high for that service.