What's in the Feed?

We believe that God intended cattle to live on grass.  After all, they are ruminants, grazers, grass eaters.  Because of this, our calves are pasture raised.  That means that they will be free to roam their pasture grazing on grass or eating hay until the day they go to the butcher.  This is not common practice in today's industrialized meat market.  Cattle usually are sold to feed lots at 700 to 800 pounds. For the last 180 days of their life, they stand on piles of manure eating grain filled with antibiotics and steroids.  Filling them with these antibiotics is the only way they can keep them alive in the feed lots and steroids bulk them up for more profits.  But do we really want to eat that in our meat?  Desiring something better, we have chosen a different destiny for our animals.

Our calves are raised on grass

and quality bermuda hay.

Along with that, they receive a little grain.

This keeps them coming in twice a day for us to make sure they are all healthy.

It also adds just the right amount of marbling in their meat.

The grain does not have medications in it. 

A local feed mill has helped us develop a plan for feeding them.  The percentage of corn will increase as we go along but the basic ingredients will stay the same.

And their feed won't exceed 2% of their body weight which keeps them in prime condition.

 So, what's in the feed?

Corn

Alfalfa

Molasses

Soybean Meal

Calcium

Cotton Seed Hulls

&

Grass ~ lots of grass.

The piglets arrive

6 crossbreed pigs

all brothers

5 weeks old

They are pretty little

& pretty cute!



J2 shows one piglet where the water is.

They will have to grow a bit before they can eat out of the big feeder and drink out of the new waterer.

They will grow though.

Boy, will they grow.

Jonah just loves pigs.

We're glad someone on this farm does

because we all love pork!



Preparing for Piglets

With fall coming on, it's almost time to get piglets.  Jonah can't wait.  Our country vet raises show pigs and has promised him any that don't make the grade.  But since we don't know when he will call and say "come get 'em" we needed to be ready.

Jonah raised 3 pigs last year and found that feeding time

 would be much easier with proper equipment:

1. a new double feeder that will hold 100 pounds of feed

The pigs push the flaps up to eat.  That way the food stays clean and dry.

2. an automatic waterer so they won't tip it over and wallow in the mud

3.  a new gate to match the others on the farm.

Notice we added 3 boards at the bottom to create a barrier for them when opening the gate.

4. Mom added a fresh coat of white paint to the fence and pig house.  We don't know why.  They are just going to get it dirty.  I mean, everyone knows, a happy pig is a dirty pig!