This barn has housed sheep, cows, calves, horses, geese and pigs - lots of pigs.
When Lowell bought and sold feeder pigs he would usually use the pickup and buy anywhere from 10 to 20 at a time and then they would be housed in this barn until he had enough to load a 2 ton truck to take to a feeder pig market (once a week). One year we had 10,000, yes, 10,000 pigs go through this barn and we didn't lose any! I think the reason we didn't lose any was because after each load of pigs went out one of us - usually one of the kids - would hose down the floor so that it would be clean for the next bunch of pigs. Lowell was very carefull so that the pigs wouldn't get sick.
One very cold winter we farrowed out several bunches of babies. We divided the barn using old carpeting and tarps so that we could keep the heat by the sows. And we used heat lamps. That was hard work and we decided we wouldn't do that again in the winter. But it was fun watching the baby pigs and educational for the kids. My favorite breed of pigs was the duracs.
So now the barn stands empty waiting for new windows and doors. And maybe another generation raising calves and maybe pigs. But it wont be me :)
2 comments:
It won't be me either!! Nice picture of the barn.
Hi Jane - I'm Jessica's mom, came to your blog by her sidebar! We do raise durocs and that is my husbands favorite. Most calm pigs, and not noisey! We still have about 20 sows and sell alot of young pigs to 4-Her's and then sell to many area people for hog roasts and filling their freezers.
Have a great holiday weekend.
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