We have to castrate all the male pigs on the farm and if you’re wondering why, it’s because if the testicles stayed in place, you might come to find out that our meat tastes like actual urine.
I’m not speaking in hyperbole – if you happened to be among the 75% of the population that possessed this special gene and ate meat from an un-castrated male pig, you’d experience a phenomenon known as “boar-taint” and you wouldn’t be pleased.
This is why a few days after a new litter of piglets is born on the farm (did you know that all our pigs are bred and born right here on the farm with us?), we’re tasked with the responsibility of castration.
Despite it being an absolutely necessary part of the journey, we’ve never taken any of this lightly. I remember the first litter born on the farm 7 years ago and all the feelings we had in the moment.
I was so nervous about what it would look like and how it would feel to help that we called farmer friend to lend a hand. I watched on with a keen eye, refusing to participate until I could see it all happen in real time. To my surprise, I found myself at peace with it all.
The procedure is quick – just two small incisions through the skin and the piglet rejoins the litter in no time – no stitches or fuss involved. And it’s safe, too. In fact, we’ve kept close records (you know us!) and have found that our complication rate is stunningly low.
That being said, even the best of farmers will encounter the 1% from time to time. And that’s exactly what happened this week while we were showing Abby (our new employee!) how it’s done and realized that one of the piglets had a major deformity with its internal organs that was not repairable.
The three of us spent some time standing in the barn together, considering our options and processing the sadness that ultimately came when we decided collectively that putting the animal down was truly the most humane thing to do.
“It’s hard, but this is what farming looks like some days,” Greg shared. I looked at Greg and added, “The fact that we have all these big feelings, is one of the things that makes us good farmers.” Abby nodded her head in agreement and I could tell with those kind eyes of hers, a little wider than usual, that she was starting to understand.
Your Farmers,
Jenney & Greg
PS – What are you up to this weekend? If you want to come check out the Farm Store and experience the food we grow, please feel free! Pre-order ahead HERE, before we run out!
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