On Hogs Mourning

(The following is more of the hog conversation with another homesteadblogger.)

Original message from Purewater:

Hello,

You had asked me to talk to my ag teacher friend when I got the chance and ask about pigs mourning.

I finally got to talk to him and he said it is very possible for a hog to become depressed after loosing his mate.

He said it is never a good idea to butcher one pig in the presence of another. Even if they don’t understand what is really happening, they do sense that something is happening and they can pick up on the hormones that are released by the one being butchered. (He used a word that ended in phemes I think, but I can’t remember exactly)

He said it is common for pigs to get depressed even when they are just separated from their litter mates, but they usually come out of it quickly.

He said that Fred could come out of it, depending on how close they were and how long they were together, but he might not, also. The butchering side of it would have made it more difficult on him, but he could still recover. He didn’t know of anything that could be done to help him except keeping food and water in him. He thought there would be a real liklihood of him dying if he did not come out of it.

He thinks that pigs don’t really understand everything good enough to actually mourn like we think of it, but that they can pick up on more than we give them credit for.

Is he still hanging on or did you have to put him down?

In His Love,

Eric

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

——————————
Original message from farmgal35:

I kept meaning to tell you that he is gone. It has been about a week now. I was afraid it was something we did. I guess out of our ingorance it was. We got oreo for a $100 and the guy told us we could take fred too. He just gave him to us. They had been together for over two years. I have had everything go through my mind as to what it could have been. Everyone started telling that we should have kept him in a floored pen and that they can`t get be in their own mess and you have to be careful different things you can do can bust their hearts.

I really feel bad, it could may have been prevented. I wish I had known. I guess that is what we get for jumping into something we knew nothing about. I wish I had thought about asking you before we butchered oreo. At least he would have had a good home and wouldnt have ended the way it did. I know, I can`t say it enough but I only wish I knew. Thanks for asking about him. You are lucky to have someone to ask question to about things like that. Until later, sheryl

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheryl,

You really should not feel too badly. It was all out of your control.

This is how we all learn. If we don’t try things, we don’t learn! Sometimes the lessons are easy to learn, but sometimes they are difficult. But all things do work together for good to those who love God!

It sounds like you had some good learning experiences about pigs along with this bad one. I would have loved to learn about the butchering process! You are no doubt better in many ways because of struggling along with raising pigs, even if you don’t want any more soon.

If you have any ag related questions in the future about anything, let me know. We have two very good ag teachers at Johnson Central and I can pass it along to them. I’m sure you know way more about farming than I do, but if you want an ag teacher’s perspective on anything I am always looking for reasons to visit them!

Enjoy your new chickens!

In His Love,

Eric



——————————