Right now, they are feeding on their paddock lot of mangels and sugar beet. As you can see, they have wasted no time digging these up and munching them! I have also been supplementing their feed with household scraps (I collect them from my work too), and cooked up pumpkins and potatoes. Hopefully we can get hold of some crates of kumara (a kind of sweet potato here in NZ). Last year we did this, and boiled up large batches in a copper boiler outside - it's too hard to cook up enough indoors in small pots! Previously we've also managed to get hold of excess milk from local farms, don't know if this will be possible but we will try. The pigs love the milk and it's easier than cooking up food.
So, here they are, 2 girls and 2 boys (no names - they are destined for the table!):
I have grown three pigs for the table and they were the best pork we had ever eaten. I used to use powder milk and bread I got from the bakery that they were throwing out and during the cold I would use hot water and mix it together. My pigs loved it! The dogs thought it was yummy too!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela
ReplyDeleteYes the taste is incomparable to any other pork I've had previously, especially the hams!
That's a good idea re. the milk powder.
Sounds like you need to add a housecow to your menagerie ;) Lots of spare milk! And then you get beef from the calf. Only drawback is the daily milking!
ReplyDeleteHi Ms Lottie
ReplyDeleteYes you're right, have been thinking about a house cow for some time actually.
YUM is all I'll say. Lots of pork, bacon and lovely ham on the hoof. I do like piglets though they are always so cute when they're little. But yes they're there for the table. Hope things aren't too wet for you down there Bridget. We are sodden here. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteLots of love to you and the family sent
Liz
How about a goat?
ReplyDeleteMakes yummy cheese.
Hi Dr Mum
ReplyDeleteYes that's a good idea and I intend to try making some more cheese soon. Would have to make sure the goat could not escape though (despite being tethered) - that means more fencing for G to do first!