Winter 2018, mild, mostly frozen, animals and people doing well. Above is one of the hogs exploring, and below are some of the cattle resting on their bedding pack, with hogs exploring at the left of the frame.
I wrote that last week. Winter has decided to come back hard in February, with below zero wind chills and several inches of snow last night, February 3rd.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased meat, or boxes, or halves, this winter. Your business is appreciated.
I added several new products, (Brats-links and patties, Breakfast sausage patties, Cottage Bacon, Canadian Bacon, Ham Hocks).
I also tweaked the Classic Pork boxes. Check them out and let me know if something interests you.
I am farrowing several litters in one of the hoop barns with farrowing huts. The sows get to choose which hut to farrow in, and also make their own nest inside the huts.
When it is this cold, I never have any trouble with a sow choosing to farrow outside of a hut, which can be a problem in the warmer months of the year.
I haven’t lost many piglets, even though its been colder than I would prefer, (below 20 F).
Except for one very big Landrace sow who chose to carry way too much bedding into her hut and farrowed on a very cold night. All her piglets died. My theory is whereas the other sows made a nest with at least a little room for the piglets to nurse, see photo below, this sow was so big with so much bedding, the piglets were simply unable to start nursing due to lack of room.
Posted by Curiousfarmer 
Curiousfarmer 