Long Awaited Introduction . . . Runt the Pig

This is Runt the pig. The latest addition to our farm . . . though we've had him for a few weeks now. We decided that he was bolstered up enough that he would look OK for his photo shoot (ha! ha!). He has grown quite a bit since we got him, and has went from hiding in the straw in a corner of his small building to running out to greet us with all kinds of funny pig snorts when he hears us coming.

As far as breed goes, we think he's at least part if not full-blooded Hampshire. Right now he's kinda growing out of that scrawny little piglet look into the longer, muscled look of a good sized feeder pig. Ha! like I really know what I'm talking about . . . just comparing him to pigs I've seen at the fair and stuff. Plus things we've learned on line, from books, and family.



The hardest part of raising animals for meat . . . knowing that someday we will be the cause of their no longer being, and that their bodies will be in our freezer, and that we will fix them for supper. But I console myself with the fact that I know that I have given these animals a good life. They have decent, clean shelter, plenty of good food and clean water, sunshine and air, and plenty of scratches and pats when ever they would like them. And it also keeps us raising them, knowing that by taking good care of their bodies, we are producing good food that will help take care of our bodies.

Plus folks . . . who needs TV, when you've got a pig, cattle, chickens, and turkeys in the backyard. Their antics are constant and hilarious, and we've discovered that just how we like to watch our critters . . . the calves like to watch the pig. They haven't quite decided what he is, but run up to his fence to chat whenever he comes out of his building.  And then will just stand there forever watching him.