Meet Tia and her cousin BobbyT3. Tia is the daughter of a major star in the Holstein Show Circuit. And her father is an acclaimed Angus bull. She is very calm, and friendly. Docile. Her cousin the steer is also a gentle fellow. They are both a good size too. Almost three months old. Nice looking animals.
When they are settled and doing ok they will join the black and white beef herd. Though I will definitely breed Tia to Carlos next year – her temperament is perfect.
The hog prices have taken a dangerous dive in the last few months. Only two months ago these pigs were worth $40 dollars at auction, now they are getting between 10 and 15 dollars.
This is the reason for them not selling so well this year. None of my reading tells me this is a long term trend so I am going to hold tight. But there is serious panic running through the smaller hog farmers now. The big producers are smashing the little guys to bits.
It means that these two litters will be sold at a loss and I have decided to take the ones I am raising for meat into the abbatoir earlier: at 100 pounds instead of my usual 200+. This will cut costs considerably and is actually more attractive to the average family. I am calling it the Mini Roast program and I have quite a few people interested. I have also decided to bite the bullet and continue breeding. I know of a number of small producers who are getting shaky – feed is still expensive – the losses are huge. You cannot breed let alone feed an animal for this return. There is no money in it this fall. The massive mega producers, with newly developed, high tech, mammoth farrow to market companies, big even by American standards, have come on line and are producing huge amounts of cheap pork. More than ever in the history of this country. Production has spiked. But demand is the same – exports have not increased but supply has leaped ahead. Late summer is also the months when hogs go to market so with these two things combined prices have crashed causing a slide into ruin for many.
As long as my girls don’t have too many huge litters and I can still pass off a few pigs for my friends to raise for themselves and raise a little meat for myself and some for Jake we will continue. But I still want to stay small. Small is best for me.
But I am making no money at all – in fact the pig budget is most unhealthy and I will be borrowing from my vacation fund for pig feed this winter to get us through to the spring when they will start to sell again. I am not ready to quit.
The cows are doing OK though. The cows have paid for themselves this year. Not a huge profit but enough to invest in these two.
And feed them all until next summer.
I have some sad news. Yesterday morning Lurch died. (For those who are new to the Fellowship: Lurch she was one of a litter of piglets rejected by their mother – many of them died young but wee Lurch was a fighter and even though her legs would not work properly she refused to give up). Lurch’s adopted mother Lori had a wheelchair made for her and Lurch would run about the house on this with her useless back legs laid above the wheels.) Lori told me this morning that Lurch – who she had renamed Maggie – was fine yesterday morning, ate, went outside in her chariot for her exercise then Lori laid her on her bean bag for a rest and when she looked at her only minutes later Maggie had stopped breathing. Her heart just stopped.
Lurch whose name was Maggie has died.
Some lives are not long but this does not diminish their importance. Just like relationships. Sometimes a little is long enough. Wee Lurch will always be embedded in this summers memory.
Much love
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
57 responses to “Meet Tia and Sad News”
So sad to hear about little Lurch/Maggie. But she did know love and care and nourishing in her short little life. There’s a lot to be said for that, and also a lot of praise goes to you for making that happen for her. All lives matter. Wishing you much success with your breeding program, both pigs and cows.
Fingers crossed for your Farmy plans. Have to have a plan. I am glad that Lurch whose name was Maggie did not suffer in the end. A beautiful story is Lurch whose name was Maggie.
I am heart-broken about Lurch. I was hoping that with a good foster home, he would survive. I am so sorry. But you know what? He has touched lives so far from him – as far as in India. That is something huh?
I hope your monetary situation improves. I have been through tough times myself, but I know that “This too shall pass”. This too shall pass.
Farewell Lurch. Beautiful new calves. You now have two aunts in your herd. Tia means aunt in Spanish. Probably a good idea on the tweens. It will be expensive to get them through the winter. Pork is sure to rebound. Wish we were closer. Bill makes a wonderful ground pork stir fry with green beans, garlic and ginger. I refuse to eat it unless it is organic/grass fed. Be well.
Sad news, she was an inspiration to all who knew her. Helping to care for her was a big part of my summer joy and will be missed. Such an inspiration. Sorry Cecilia.
Small is best for all of us and the environment. I admire your flexibility, caring and great business acumen.
I am so sad that she died. So sad. But so happy that she died comfortable on a beanbag chair after a morning walk. That is a good way to go. I am also saddened by the news about pork prices. And, honestly, a bit horrified by the scale of the production that is putting pressure on you. It is wrong. Oh dear, oh dear. Mercy Me…sang Marvin Gaye, and that was before it got to this! Hang in their. Your journey is a courageous one.
As all of the Fellowship has said, this is very sad to hear. Little Lurch/Maggie was so very charming and such a brave one. It was so special to find Lori, a very special person indeed, to treat her as a queen in her chariot. The only comfort here is that she did not suffer a long, protracted illness (so far as we know). She was well loved from the moment you saved her to Lori’s kind hands. None of us can ever hope for better (or even the same).
I would be glad to eat pork again if it came from caring farmers like you, but I haven’t served pork in years. I can’t stand the way pigs are treated. (I’ve watched Babe many many times.) I only hope this drop in prices is temporary.
Just yesterday I went to the store with my Eggland coupon in hand. But when I read the carton it did NOT say HUMANE CERTIFIED. Instead it said CUSTOMER APPROVED–or some equally garbagy spin. I didn’t buy it. Instead I bought Pete & Jerry’s Organic eggs–free range and humane certified. We consumers must really read words on packages.
As a Maggie, I’m sorry to hear and I was also rooting for petite Lurch. Tough little lady. C- this morning after dropping off my daughter at school I was driving through the urban neighborhoods of Portland (you’ve seen Portland and it’s weirdness), I saw an older woman getting coffee and walking her golden retriever and her kunekune!!!! Thanks to you and Tima and Tane, I know the breed! So cute.
Im sorry to hear that little Lurch Maggie has died, I think you gave her the best life she could have in her circumstance. It sounds like she went in a peaceful way. I like your determination on the pork situation hope things get better.
Hi, have you tried listing your piglets on a “speciality” meat websites. Some people want meat that lived a happy life instead of meat from a huge farm.
http://www.localharvest.org/features/heritage-pork.jsp
Here’s another place you can list the piglets.
http://www.eatwild.com/products/
I read your post most everyday, love reading about your farmy. The news about Lurch is heartbreaking, such a sweet soul.
How to bring tears to someone who has made a practise of not weeping! You do that so well. Well, Lurch fought a long hard battle with life and deserves the medal of honour. As someone else has pointed out, passing away on a nice soft bed after a good meal and some fresh air is probably the best way. I guess pork prices are doing a similar thing up here in Ontario; I have noticed, the past couple of weeks, marvelous specials at the supermarket. Yesterday I went in and poked around at a deli I have seen here the past few years and was told all their stuff is from local produce (local, meaning produced in this province), free range animals. They had meats, fresh and smoked, cheeses, eggs, milk, preserves of every description. Only problem is, their prices are far beyond what I could possibly afford ($20 for 500 gr of pure honey… twice the price of the supermarket). But the shop has been operating a few years now and there were lots of people in it, so they do have an active business. Perhaps there are shops like that in Chicago that would be happy to source your pork.
Your new cows are beauties and I look forward to learning of their progress! Hope you have a great day too. ~ Mame 🙂
Farewell little piggie, welcome pretty cows. There’s a documentary airing in Australia at the moment called For the Love of Meat……Matthew Evans explores all the things about growing and eating meat that you and others are saying. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to watch it but here’s a link http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/780689475958. He has a farm south of Hobart called Fat Pig Farm, and a website http://www.fatpig.farm/ so if you aren’t able to watch the documentary you’ll be able to have a read about his farm, philosophies and practises.
Will there be a calendar this year, that would help with adding a few pennies to your coffers. You need that *donate* button 🙂
Thank you for your post today – it’s so well written and briefly but precisely expressed how desperate the market situation is. I felt your sorrows and balefulness while reading. Let’s hope for the good times to return. Good luck, Celi. You are so brave. –
I’m so sorry for Little Lurchy, I will remember her at least as long as I wear my Tee with that cute pic of her and TonTon.