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Advanced Member
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| Well P2 is hooked with these Hereford Hogs. I've been looking for a year now. So I'd talked with our Chiropractor about options. He gave us a name of a Mr. Walker who has Landrace, Yorkshire pigs as well as feeder pigs. So we (hubby and I) came up with the plan on getting him 2 barrow piglets from Mr. Walker and let him grow them out. Which in turn would give me about another year to find producers of these hogs (Herefords). I found a farm to the east and it was a no. Found another farm to the west and it's a waiting list and then if he doesn't sell the piglets for meat then he'll call us in October 2010 (which would fit our plan to the "T"). I found several places up north but that's to far to be away from home and animals. So has anyone else had a problem along these lines? If so, what did you do to find the animals that you were looking for closer to your place? Thanks.
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New Member
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finding animals? no.. between stock yards, cragslist, contacts and farmers related mags no. and just a question..why are you going to your back doctor for pigs? 
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| I fell in love this summer with Wiltshire Horn sheep - about the same time Daughter fell in love with Texels. I contacted Am Livestock Breed Conservancy for the Wiltshire Horns and they sent me a list of breeders. One happened to be in PA, but had nothing for sale. For Texels, I went to the national breed society website and pulled down breeders. This time, I found a few ram lambs for sale in our state, but no ewes. We ended up going the same route as you - we decided to expand our conventional livestock for a learning period before adding oddball (expensive) stuff. So we bought an additional Shropshire ram and ewe lamb and we'll get the kids one more year or two of experience before we go off the beaten path. My advice, though, is to contact ALBC. I emailed them in the hopes that they would share their list of Wiltshire Horn breeders, and they responded with a list in just a couple days. Even if they don't track Herefords, they might be able to point you in the right direction.
Muddy Run Farm -- clean floors are highly overrated
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I have had this problem. My starter flock of sheep were Montadales, a breed of sheep that is ideal for my farm. They are big sheep, and they are "range sheep" meaning they typically graze from sun-up to sun down. It makes for excellent conversion ratios and they do well on my farm since I am free range due to the way this farm is situated away from roads.
But because of this oddity in the Northeast, there are NO montadale sheep here. Most Montadales are west of the Mississippi and I can't afford the time or money to haul sheep that far away just to keep the breed. Its unfortunate because Montadales birth really easily since their chiseled faces "pop right out" of the ewe rather then having their broad shoulders hang up like the Hampshires do.
I deliberately kept my pure breed Montadale Ram here hoping he will give me some lambs with that chiseled face quality to them at least! I want easy lambers, even though 80% of my flock is Hampshire sheep. Yes its line-breeding but I really would like to keep the Montadale traits in my flock.
So yes I feel your frustration.
******
Tell a welfare recipient they must work and they call their congressman. Tell a farmer he can no longer work and he commits suicide. No wonder 1/2% of the population feeds the other 99-1/2%!!
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| WOS...you've got to start somewhere. He knows a lot of people (in different fields) and he's a farmer too. There are not to many pig famers in our village. Like I said before, got to start some where and I started there and got a name of a person who loves to deal with pigs. He breeds pigs for the 4H/FFA program to the neighboring parish...even though they are Yorshire and Landrace.
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| Oh I forgot to also say when he gives a name, he would also buy from that person, too. That makes me feel better in a way. I know I could go to the Amite Livestock Barn to purchase a piglet or two, but I would not be able to see parents are speak with the owners either. I don't even know if the Kentwood Livestock Barn sells piglets anymore. But it's been a while since I went to each one.
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New Member
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our local auction houses have started to sell everything. they start early with "stuff" then move to small live stock and by night fall, it's cows. I was just picking on you.
Hogs are so stinking cheep right now it should be rain'n hogs.
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| WOS You pick? Nah...I understand (sometimes) and it was a good question to ask. Besides you never know where a conversation would lead you at the doctor's office...or even here... On top of that, I'm still under my cozy warm rock... ...But the weatherman was wrong we did not get down to 40 degress but 49...LOL...
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New Member
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yes, and this is a good point.
I have people say things to me like. "how can I find farmers." like it's some sort of club or lodge. LOL.. yep we got a secret handshake like the Freemasons and meet in the night in our little lodge.
Farmers do other things. I mean if I were looking for a farmer here I'd go bowling. then people look at me cross eyed
so I do get your point.
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Advanced Member
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I stay away from auction halls just as far as I can. You never know what you are getting (culls probably) and even if they are not, most farmers here do not deal with livestock auctions, which means you are getting livestock from people who don't really know what they are doing. That's not the genetics you or I really want.
But if all these cull animals are at the auction halls, what nasty stuff do they have? Foot rot? Pneumonia? Johnnes? Salmonella...and even if they don't, that bacteria might be in the stalls they have been in as they wait between homes. Do you really want to bring that stuff home?
As I said, I am real leery of auction halls and prefer to do business one on one. Typically speaking, farmers love what they do and will do your right. I have never been burned yet in all my livestock deals.
So you re doing the right thing Cweick, you just got to be patient. I waited 9 months for my starter flock of sheep, but I was glad I waited. Good genetics, right price, right number, scrapie certified, good sheep and all that. When a pig deal comes your way, you will just know its the right deal to make and make it. Good things come to those who are patient enough to wait.
******
Tell a welfare recipient they must work and they call their congressman. Tell a farmer he can no longer work and he commits suicide. No wonder 1/2% of the population feeds the other 99-1/2%!!
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