JUSTUSNAK...Summer coming to an end!?

[ksalvagno]

Would a neighbor be able to help you out with the potbelly pig? Why not try the butcher. I had a 10 year old animal butchered and had cuts of meat done and we found out that the meat was very tasty and also not too tough. We also did a 5 year old Boer goat and same results. The toughness was not any worse than a cheap piece of beef. So we were glad that we didn't just have jerky made from all that meat. Everyone warned us not to do that and we figured the worst that could happen is that we don't like the meat and feed it to the dogs. But it turned out that it was just fine. We use the slow cooker and marinade/grill the stuff with no problems. Plus the cost of butchering and cutting up the meat including packaging was half the cost of having the vet euthanize the animals.

It is a shame to have an animal suffering. At least you got the go ahead to have the male pig butchered. That is great that you are willing and can take animals in. Hopefully that 4 goat will go with the other 3.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

ohmigosh..i laughed ALOT about the 'tortured goats'... we get that all the time with our lamanchas so the first thing i say to people is "NO we didnt cut their ears off!" and wow they are great milkers so someone is getting a deal!

GREAT WORK on getting the duc/tam.... we loved our tams last year - big and meaty and oh the bacon!!! just go and make a lot of space in your freezer - you scored! i might feed it out on just corn for a couple weeks. that way you'll get a ton of lard and will shake off the bagged food taste.

and for the record i dont have any problems butchering PB pigs. for heavens sakes they are a meat breed.

but i know you'll do whats right for you.

we do have a hilarious story about some hard to place pigs tho.. some folks we know took in some 'special needs' pigs. we nearly peed our pants over it.. all we could think of was "hard to place? hard to place? just put a slice of ham right there on the plate between the eggs and the taters - whats so hard to place about that!"

but of course we never said anything to those folks - they were very tender hearted toward those pigs.

;-)

 

[justusnak]

OK, so here are the rescues......first..the PB female. I named her Miss Thang!

This is after her cocoa butter rub down....which she was NOT happy about! LOL
This is the other "pot belly" male....ummm, ok....meet Mr Bacon!

This is the "Pygmy doe" AKA...Alpine wether....AKA...Arty.

And last but not least...The "rooster"

 

[miss_thenorth]

That's an EE rooster--you can tell by the saddle feathers, long and flowing, also the neck feathers. EEs don't have big wattles.

 

[justusnak]

That's an EE rooster--you can tell by the saddle feathers, long and flowing, also the neck feathers. EEs don't have big wattles.

Thanks!! I wasn't sure..so now I know. He is walking with a bit of a limp, probably from being in a small 2x2 cage at animal controll. He can now stretch his wings, and walk around. He has his own space....5 ft x 8 ft....I will see about letting him in the run in a few days.
OFG...if I had someone here that would come to our place, and butcher her, I could help, but just can't do it. Im not sure how good the meat would be...being she is 10 yrs old...but at least we would have dog food, right!?? I have to waite a few weeks....and make sure she is NOT preggers! Her teets are hanging low...dragging...and when I try to feel her tummy..she growls! :/

 

[Farmfresh]

I would make some "aged" sausage out of the old gal. No worries about tenderness if you grind it all. They make hamburger out of old cows after all.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

you might want to call around.. there could be traveling butcher who works out of a truck... or do you have Amish around??

really there are still some "custom" butcher shops.. and dont rule out deer processing places. the place we take ours too makes the best bacon. we roll up with pork bellies and he's up to his ears in deer carcasses! since they make a lot of sausage its no big deal - and he's got his smoker going for jerky and such. i was surprised but very happy to find him.

you can go online and check your fish and game dept for deer places and ask if they will dress a pig. check for "custom butcher" in the list - or just call


i'm telling you - its worth it.

and its just fine if you cant do it yourself. everyone has their limits - so dont you worry!

 

[lalaland]

sometimes some rescue organizations go a little overboard - we have one for chickens in the mpls area - they make you sign an agreement that you will obtain "proper vet care" for any ailment.

well, you know chickens. I'm all for providing safe shelter, good food, treat for mites, injuries, etc. but I'm not about to pay for a hysterectomy for a chicken ! especially when there are kids in my neck of the woods that can't go to the dentist!

anyway, I vote for bacon and sausage.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

ut I'm not about to pay for a hysterectomy for a chicken !

we know someone who did this!! it cost $1200 and we've NEVER stopped laughing about it!!

oh geez... people are crazy. for sure.

 

[justusnak]

A hysterectomy for a CHICKEN!??? OMG!! NOW I have heard it all. I have a few hens that I love dearly...I hold them, talk to them, and they snuggle in my arms....but there is NO WAY I would put THAT kind of money, in a 3$ chicken!
Well.....I just came back from the barn.....the couple that just adopted the 3 Lamanchas came today to pick them up. They were excited to get the little Alpine as well. Whew! My Hay bill will drop a little now. I have to admit tho...I will sure miss those boys! I sorta got attached to them. OK, I REALLY fell in love with them. And, I almost adopted them myself! :/ However, I promised the hubby...if he gets me a pair of miniature cows...I wont do the adoption thing. I think he might SERIOULSY consider it. Now I need to sell a few sheep. Anyone looking for a small "starter herd" of Shetlands?? I have 2 Ewes and a ram lamb...very nice wool!