tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5907508673638825023.post406333440564807193..comments2023-05-18T01:05:37.009-07:00Comments on From Freeways to Farmland: Living hog wildShawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04287884577441507850noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5907508673638825023.post-38280384161303196732012-05-08T12:34:41.687-07:002012-05-08T12:34:41.687-07:00Wow, seriously? I always heard that sexual maturit...Wow, seriously? I always heard that sexual maturity was earlier than that, but that's good to know. Also good advice about the boars in general. We're already having some troubles with our sows (blog post on that to come!), so I can't imagine dealing with boars like that.Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04287884577441507850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5907508673638825023.post-59934265847897142242012-05-07T20:38:43.274-07:002012-05-07T20:38:43.274-07:00In my understanding, there's no need to castra...In my understanding, there's no need to castrate if you slaughter right at market weight (~250). Taint doesn't happen until they reach full sexual maturity a bit later on. We did this with our three male piglets from this litter and their meat was delicious despite them having their nuts the whole time.<br /><br />Also, I highly recommend buying a bred sow and doing AI from then on out. Boars are a huge resource drain with very little payoff. They are gigantic, aggressive, and they eat a lot, growing huger and huger indefinitely (like lobsters!). And they get aggressive and/or despondent if they don't get to mate regularly, so one sow won't really keep him occupied. It isn't worth keeping them around just to impregnate a sow every so often. Maybe if you had a bunch of sows.Mezzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09225788875585903337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5907508673638825023.post-39543932954976997942012-05-07T10:56:02.360-07:002012-05-07T10:56:02.360-07:00I do hope to process the pigs myself. My dad's...I do hope to process the pigs myself. My dad's a butcher and will be able to show me a thing or two (although he lives 1000 miles away) but it will be an experience!Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04287884577441507850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5907508673638825023.post-60258702337703241252012-05-07T08:18:02.211-07:002012-05-07T08:18:02.211-07:00Becoming totally self sufficient for meat is a hug...Becoming totally self sufficient for meat is a huge deal man, congratulations. Anything you can do to remove your dependence on the industrialized food industry is a plus.<br /><br />I am still focused entirely on work and building up my financial resources so have chosen to get most of my meat from a local farm instead of the much cheaper chicken at Giant. They also got me in touch with a place that raises bison locally which has been an amazing find. <br /><br />The question is... I knew you process your own chickens and rabbits... but what about the pigs? Will you tackle that one or just source it out to a local butcher?biophazer242https://www.blogger.com/profile/11424893664805405582noreply@blogger.com