When I was a child, my parents raised pigs on our little farm. And, as an adult, we have raised pigs on our little farm. They are far from my favorite farm animal to deal with on the property, but on my plate they go really well with toast and two eggs over-easy!
Pigs have an idea of what they want to do, and its not always what the farmer wants them to do. So, we have to work with their natural tendencies. Sometimes, you have to move a pig from one area to another. Its not as easy as putting a leash on it and leading it. An untrained pig does not lead well, and I don't personally know of any farmer that takes the time to give much training to an animal that lives 6-8 months, from birth to freezer!!
The first thing you need to move a pig is...an empty bucket. Ok, technically, the first thing you need is a pig, but let's just say I am assuming that is already available! You will need two people to carry out the plan...the bucket-holder and the pig-steerer. Both people enter the pen...the pig should be interested in the bucket, as most the time, a bucket = food. The person with the bucket needs to place the bucket over the pig's head. When the pig realizes that no food is in the bucket, they will immediately try to back out of the bucket. Keep the bucket over the pig's head, and the other person must now place a hand on either side of the pig's hindquarters and steer the pig, backwards, where you want it to go. As long as the bucket is over the pig's head, it should be backing up...this is usually a fairly rapid process, so be ready! It is also a fairly loud process, as the pig will be unhappy...and unhappy pigs are loud pigs! Don't expect a straight path, either. Your route will generally look like you were being guided by a drunken sailor on rough seas! But...the point is...the pig gets to where its going without getting hurt, except maybe its pride. A little food or a back scratching will fix that.
No comments:
Post a Comment