Free-range pigs: not so free

[chromedome]

A friend of mine who raised Berkshires used to tell customers at the farmer's market, "Television is what people do if they don't have pigs to watch."

 

His hogs played freely in their field and rooted to their heart's content. One would occasionally test the limits and get out, but because of the geography of his farm (on a peninsula, sticking out into the river) there wasn't really anywhere they could go cause mischief. They and the sheep eyeballed each other with mutual mistrust from their respective sides of the dividing fence, and amusing encounters between them often became fodder for next market day's customer chit-chat. 

I used a lot of his pork. He also sold home-rendered lard, which labeled as "happy fat." He was clear when talking to his customers that it was lard, but he at least got the chance to talk to them and explain its virtues as a culinary fat whereas if the label had said "lard," they'd just have kept walking. 

[Martin Fisher]

9 hours ago, Thanks for the Crepes said:

I have to say I have never heard of spaying a pig

 

Yeah, not agricultural pigs—but pet pigs are often spayed to prevent the spread of congenital defects to offspring or to, supposedly, reduce the risk of some cancers.

Edited March 7, 2017 by DiggingDogFarm (log)

[Martin Fisher]

1 hour ago, chromedome said:

labeled as "happy fat."

 

Love it!