12/28/2023 0 Comments Pasture pig feederThey love it and it’s satisfying knowing that they are getting some diversity in their diet. Yes, pigs will eat grass (and some weeds). You’re Going to Save a Ton of Money on Feed Here are 5 myths about raising pigs naturally that we have to avoid. 5 Myths About How To Raise Pigs Naturally Here are 5 things about pastured pigs that aren’t true on a small farm. When you look at the whole landscape, the big picture of your mini-farm, this amazing resource of fast-growing, inexpensive meat may be doing more harm than good. Like free-range chickens, for the small-scale homesteader, pastured pigs may just be better in theory. ![]() The question is, for those of us on small acreage, is raising pigs on pasture part of a sustainable, homestead system? And can you raise them in confinement and still be respectful of how they were created to behave? And still, know that your meat had a better life and made a better product for your family than what you would find in a supermarket? Learn how to improve your pasture for free. For most of us, there simply isn’t enough pasture on our mini-farms to sacrifice large portions of it to the damage that pigs are going to do. Waiting for the inexpensive, equipment-free alternative ( frost seeding) allows invasive weeds to take over and erosion to happen. And we certainly don’t have the time or extra pasture to allow it to grow back before allowing other animals to rotate through. Let’s face it, most homesteaders aren’t set up to re-seed pasture grass easily. Many of us don’t have and can’t afford to buy and store equipment for repairing and replanting pasture. Weed seeds took over and grew faster than perennial grasses were re-established. The mud wallows they made spilling their water for pleasure every day created large areas of compaction. The ground was pocked with both shallow and deep depressions. (This goes back to that whole “how they were created” thing.) It took us one season of rotating hogs through our pasture to know that if we were going to keep that up, we wouldn’t have much pasture left for the cows at the end of a few more years. It doesn’t take but one season of raising pigs on pasture to realize just how destructive they can be. When the vast majority of pigs are being raised in unhealthy and unnatural living conditions, where they can barely move or follow their natural instincts, it’s no wonder we are searching for innovative ideas to return to the old ways of raising pigs… you know, the way they were created to live. I think it is so important to respect the “ pigness of the pig“. I love that folks are thinking more about the quality of life of the animals who will become the meat we feed our families. In order to ensure a high degree of animal health and welfare, sustainability, a closed soil-plant-animal cycle, and high-quality output, organic pig production makes an effort to provide housing and management conditions.Īnd I think it’s awesome. ![]() ![]() Also, if they totally tear up an area where their pens are, but we rotate those pens, how long does it take for the ground to recover–do they destroy that wonderful subsoil fungal and microbial layer? I’d love to have fresh bacon, but I’m not sure at what cost it would come in terms of providing pastures for our other farm animals to graze and browse…”ĭo you know what’s really hot right now? (Que the buzzwords…) Pastured pork. ![]() Because we’re a micro-farm, we don’t really have many areas that aren’t used year-round. They’re good for tilling soil, but I need to keep their manure out of our garden for several months before planting. “Can you write about homestead pigs? I’m really struggling to discern the good from the bad.
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