Well, All three lines of Meishan pigs have farrowed now!
The Iowa State (which is the most common line but all Meishan pigs are rare) the extra rare Illinois state (my favorite) and finally the USDA lines!
We are very pleased with these pigs. Even me, the non-pig person on this farm is pleasantly pleased with these hogs.
Our pastures haven't been damaged by them.. They are calm and so docile.
They only time they make a noise is when they heat cycle. If it wasn't for that I'd forget they are even here!
Seriously! We have a total of 40 Meishan pigs here now. Adults, juveniles and piglets on our property. 40!!! I can't believe there are 40 and it's quite. Peaceful even!!
Well... Until the geese or sheep see us! 😂 they are not so silent!
We are very very happy with the growth rates of the outcrossing if the Iowa State and Illinois lines! They are growing faster than the Iowa state to Iowa state breedings, outcrossing with other Meishan lines is important to such a rare breed, any rare breed! However, Iowa State to Iowa State is still growing faster than Kune, GOS or AGH! And Thankfully so!! I hated the growth rate on those pigs.
We are looking forward to seeing the growth rates of the USDA lines that have just been born these past two weeks!
This is very exciting for us, having the last of the 2 research herds and being able to see first hand how all 3 lines compare.
Here is more about the history of the Meishan Meishan History: Perfection 5,000 years in the making
Above .. Just look at that perfect Meishan face 😃😃
Maybe you think they are ugly. Weird or just don't get it! Ugly or cute they are the
only pigs I could ever tolerate now.
After raising AGH, GOS, A couple of Kune (slowest growers ever!) as well as Looking at other breeds on farms I just couldn't imagine even putting up with any of them after these sweethearts!
Yes... I called pigs sweethearts!
Only these pigs though!!!
Here's an Introductory video if you'd like to see meishan pigs in action!
So yes, Gotta make my mine Meishan 😉
We are so very blessed to have been given this rare opportunity to work with this breed and to be able to save the last ones from the last 2 research centers so the breed may continue in the USA without all the extensive inbreeding that can happen when there are no records of the breedings. It's a wonderful bonus to have such nice pedigrees on the USDA hogs!! Which we are able to pass onto others who want to be involved in this amazing pig! With 6 unrelated boars, this breed can be saved, with proper management, from the perils of inbreeding depression which takes away from the wonderful qualities this hog brings to the table! To prevent excessive inbreeding and trait loss on rare breeds a registry is extremely important. You can check more about that out at the American Meishan Breeders Association
I never thought I could be excited about raising pigs ...
But watching this breed,, seeing how different it is than any other pig I've seen.
It is exciting!!
After trying SO many different breeds of poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits, etc, etc, it's nice to finally have a breed of livestock that lives up to what we expected of it! I admit I was skeptical after researching so many breeds to bring them home and discover they were more seller hype than reality.
Here's one of the first post my husband, The Bald Man, (a.k.a. Mr.Meishan) did on them after bringing the first line home Put the 'me' in Meishan
We still had a couple of Kune and AGH at the time you can see in the pics because we weren't sure how it was going to go.
Very blessed indeed!!
They have even been good for our marriage .. Cause now I'm not constantly complaining about my husbands' pigs! 😂😂😂
Great pigs,, fantastic low input livestock!
Happy peaceful farm days....
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