Does anyone out there know of anyone who raises pot bellied pigs? I would very much like to get a bred sow as soon as possible.

If not a potbellied, then does anyone have any information on any other "small" breeds of pig? I don't have enough experience with farm animals to feel comfortable with a 300-600 "porker".

On top of that, I have my doubts about being knowledgeable enough to process that much meat all at once without wastage.

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), July 06, 1999

Answers

Hi Jon:

I am the proud owner of PPBs, and you couldn't ask for an easier pig to raise (compared to commercial "giants" anyway). The ones we have now actually graze the grass along with our other critters, and don't "snuffle" up the ground like commercial hogs. They seem to maintain their weight through the seasons with only occasional extra feed in winter (that is, we don't feed them anything in the warmer months, so they take care of their own needs).

To find PPB in your area, place an add in your "recycler" or "advertizer" classifieds, something like, "WANT: pot bellied pig, prefer bred sow but will consider any. Ph:xxxxxxx" We placed an ad similar to this, and acquired several very inexpensively...of course, we're in the Ozarks and prices are quite a bit lower here. We also got about 15 additional calls that we couldn't respond to. The pigs are out there -- prepare for people to offer you their too-big housepets that have been neutered ("I'll give you Fluffy if you'll give her a good home -- please don't eat her!") -- and have a reply ready.

Anita E.

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), July 06, 1999.

Anita:

Thanks for the tip. Breeders take GREAT offense at the idea of these critters as livestock!!

May I ask what you paid, or at least a range?

Do you think an electric fence designed to keep sheep in would work on these pigs? Solar powered.

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), July 06, 1999.

Anita:

Also, how would/will these critters get along with goats and a new German Shephard puppy? Any information? Not to mention chickens.....

New house, now we're down on the farm......

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), July 06, 1999.

Jon:

I'm embarrassed to tell you what we paid for our PBBs -- since it doesn't seem real. The first sow (a family pet) was given to us; we got our first boar as a baby for $10; and then had an opportunity "too good to pass up" to get two sows, a boar, and six babies all for the princely sum of $30.....all this within the last year. Remember, please that we're WAY out in the country, and local folks were dumping unwanted pet PBBs in the woods a couple years ago when the petprices collapsed -- and that people here don't have qualms about eating these critters. A friend in Tennessee said that his neighbors turned loose a trio of young PBBs in a river bottom, and two years later came back to "harvest" seven very healty hogs for a BBQ (and left another eight or nine for the following year!)

Electric fence should work, since the pigs aren't as rough on fencing as commercial pigs -- if it will hold a goat, it'll probably hold a PBB! We have woven wire topped by a strand of barbed, and the pigs haven't really tried the fences at all.

Wild PBBs can and will bite if cornered. They can nip off a finger, nose, or take a goodly chunk out of a leg. (Check out those canine teeth!) Pet-raised or much-handled pigs are a lot easier on other critters and on people. Our current PBBs have never bitten, and they roll on their backs to be scratched. They run with goats, sheep, geese, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and Welch-type ponies. They will bully the sheep away from goodies by snorting and lunging, but they don't fool the goats. On a few occasions, the PBBs have found and eaten goose eggs -- but when the geese are setting, they are protective enough to chase the pigs away. I have never seen the PBBs eat chickens, chicks, ducklings, or in any way bother the other critters. Young goats, however, will use the resting pigs as "lauching pads" for taking a high jump.

Anita E.

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), July 06, 1999.

NOTE: PPB and PBB should be PBP. Durn typing fingers!

Anita E.

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), July 06, 1999.

Anita:

I've had to give up on my electric fence. Couldn't get it hot..

I'm about to buy some mesh fence. From your experience, would the 4 foot woven field wire ($79.99 for 330 feet), with the smaller mesh at the bottom and the larger at the top hold the pygmy goats and potbellied pigs, or do I need to go to the "No Climb" horse fencing with 2"x4" woven wire ($79.99 for 100 feet)?

I appreciate your opinion and help.

-- Jon Williamson (pssomerville@sprintmail.com), July 11, 1999.