Transporting a pig

Leah IL · #1 09/09/05, 06:22 AM

This is our first time raising a pig. My question is, now that he is just about ready for the butcher, what is the best way to get him there? Are there crates made for this purpose? Do we have to build one? I am just afraid of doing something dumb and then showing up at the processor and getting yelled at LOL

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Misty · #2 09/09/05, 07:52 AM

do you have a horse trailer or pickup with stockracks? We haul our pigs in a stock trailer. If you have a chute, you can walk him up the chute to the back of a pickup and take him that way.
www.geocities.com/gonzalesshowpigs
www.geocities.com/buckshotboers2003

tyusclan · #3 09/09/05, 08:07 AM

If you have a small utility trailer you can get a cattle or combination panel and cut it to fit the sides and front of the trailer. Tie the corners together with some heavy wire. Once you walk him into the trailer, shut the tailgate and that closes off the rear end.

Siryet · #4 09/09/05, 10:21 AM

oh, and yea, invite the neighbors over and sell popcorn. Tell them "The SHOW"
begins at six or whenever you decide to load the hog onto whatever you decide to use/ LOL

Leah IL · #5 09/09/05, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siryet

oh, and yea, invite the neighbors over and sell popcorn. Tell them "The SHOW"
begins at six or whenever you decide to load the hog onto whatever you decide to use/ LOL

Now, now we will have none of that talk! I am sure it will all go smoothly and perfectly as I have read a book about pigs and how to load them LOL

beeman97 · #6 09/09/05, 04:37 PM

Leah,
Did that book explain that you should definatly start loading the hog a day before you plan on taking him to the processor? if not then you read the wrong book.
lol ,, unless you have a regular chute system designed then your in for one fun time trying to load em
If you can put the trailer in with the hog a few days ahead of time & bait it with his favorite treats then you will have an easy time of it.
A hog that does not want to go somewhere is not going to go & they are extremely smart when it comes to things changing around them, as well as sensing things are going to change. Good Luck & keep us posted on how it goes
Rick

Leah IL · #7 09/10/05, 12:16 PM

Thanks, Rick, I will.

It's funny, I have read so many books about homesteading only to realize that you know NOTHING until you actually have the experience. And I think I even read that profound thought in a book once- I just didn't realize it was true until now

Oshbrg · #8 09/10/05, 05:41 PM

As far as transporting the pig.... around here, the processer will pick them up for $5 each. Lots cheaper than buying or building anything to hall them in. Ask them if they offer that as a service.

agmantoo · #9 09/10/05, 07:49 PM

Leah,
Ask the processor if the pig has to be alive when delivered. If the facility is not very far away it may be a lot easier to deliver the pig dead.

Misty · #10 09/10/05, 08:41 PM

that is the true beauty of show pigs...they load so easy if the kids have worked them and taken them several places. It is just another show they think!! Then off they go.

Leah IL · #11 09/10/05, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Leah,
Ask the processor if the pig has to be alive when delivered. If the facility is not very far away it may be a lot easier to deliver the pig dead.

We just were discussing this today- I am going to call the processor and find out on Monday.

quailkeeper · #12 09/11/05, 11:43 AM

Thats how we have always hauled ours. We pull the truck up right beside their pen and then opened the gate and lure them with grain. Pour a little on the ground and then shoot him with a 22. Then we cut his throat and load by hand. My husband and I loaded a 300 lb pig ourself. We no longer use a processor and just butcher ourself. Much better.

Leah IL · #13 09/12/05, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleyz

I've seen people tie hogs for transport as well. Ever hear the term, "hog-tied". Take a few stout cotton cords, throw your hog on his side by grabbing an opposite hind leg. As soon as he lands on his side, sit down on his shoulders and tie his hind feet, then his front feet together. Then pull all the feet together at the center and tie them together. Now you got a hog you can transport in the bed of an open pick-up truck. Get some help and load him up. He'll lie more still if you cover his eyes as well.

Well then I'd have to charge admission, I think. The folks around here would probably pay big money to watch us city slickers do that

BillHoo · #14 09/12/05, 06:55 AM

While searching for websites with instructions on butchering hogs, I found a Ukrainian site where they lead the pig to the slaughter location by tying a rope to one of his front legs.

Tug on that one leg and he goes with it. I'm guessing, he might try to gnaw on the rope, but if you keep tugging, it'll keep him off-balance and he will have no choice but to follow the rope.

Alas, it was not until he saw the men behind the barn with their steely knives, that he realized something was amiss. By then, it was too late.

The site was very graphic. The pig was scalded and butchered on an old door made into a table. They used every part of the pig and let the chickens eat the blood that had spilled onto the snow.

Leah IL · #15 09/12/05, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillHoo

The site was very graphic. The pig was scalded and butchered on an old door made into a table. They used every part of the pig and let the chickens eat the blood that had spilled onto the snow.

I have seen that site- it is graphic, but really interesting. My 8 and 10 year old boys found it too interesting as a matter of fact

They don't see why we can't just do that instead of taking him in to the processor...sigh, they are probably right- maybe next time around!

gccrook · #16 09/12/05, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleyz

I've seen people tie hogs for transport as well. Ever hear the term, "hog-tied". Take a few stout cotton cords, throw your hog on his side by grabbing an opposite hind leg. As soon as he lands on his side, sit down on his shoulders and tie his hind feet, then his front feet together. Then pull all the feet together at the center and tie them together. Now you got a hog you can transport in the bed of an open pick-up truck. Get some help and load him up. He'll lie more still if you cover his eyes as well.

OK, I actually did this last year, and hog tying is not that hard, but trying to get a hogtied 250+ Lb hog into the trailer was not happening here. I ended up tuing a rope around the upper snout, and leading that way. Not a good solution by far. For the second round, we brought the trailer over to the pen, and worked it into the pen by opening a part of the fencing, so the pigs could go in and out for a week or so. When it came time for the second batch, they wlked up into the trailer to be fed, and we closed the gate. So much easier.

Paul O · #17 09/12/05, 11:12 AM

Your state may vary but I doubt it. No slaughterhouse will process a dead pig so you better plan on getting him there alive. There are folks that will load and transport livestock for a reasonable fee. The slaughterhouse should know of any in your area.
Good luck. Its really quite an adventure. One that stories are made from. Enjoy.

Paul

quailkeeper · #18 09/13/05, 10:52 PM

Its perfectly legal. In fact it is the preferred method here. Nobody wants to pay $25 for a single .22 bullet when they can do it themselves. It also makes loading a hundred times easier.

Paul O · #19 09/14/05, 07:10 AM

Quailkeeper
I'm surprised a slaughterhouse could/would accept a dead pig, even if it is legal in your state. Do you just bring in the carcass and have them gut it and all?
Paul
Maine

quailkeeper · #20 09/14/05, 12:01 PM

Yep. We shoot it and cut its throat. Once its bled out we load it and take to the slaughterhouse. Its gutted, skinned, and split in half immediately. How else would you have deer processed? I don't think it would be feasible to try and catch the deer alive and then put it in a stock trailer and take to the slaughterhouse.