Bacon...The pig that came to Die Hard Farms...

It was a cold icy Monday and farmer Phil (Bull) went to the local sale barn to see if he could get a couple more bull calves to match up with "Rookie" a calf that was born earlier than expected.  Bull did buy a couple of calves, but sadly they didn't make it...  Also along with those calves came 1 40# feeder pig...Bacon.  I'm not exactly sure what the final bid was on him.  But, it was less than a night out a Mau's house so it seemed like a good deal.  Bacon was brought to farm in a feed sack.  He lived is a mini bulk shuttle with the badder removed for a little while till he got his own pen.

To say that this pig brought joy to the farm is an understatement.  Bacon was a creature who was smart, funny and entertaining.  He would "talk to you" especially when food was wanted.  He also would do lots of things that were more dog like than hog like.  He'd gleefully run about in a circle in his pen kicking up fodder.  When the weather was cold he would bury himself so far into the fodder in he pen you'd think he escaped.  If you scratched him just right he'd fall over and be looking for a belly rub. As spring came we would let him out with the steers or just to wander.  He would flop into the mud puddles and wallow.  He became quick friends with our other critters. Above he's pictured with Sarge.  

June 9th bacon went to fulfill his purpose on our farm....to become...well...bacon.  That's the thing with farms everyone has their purpose. I know its hard for people to understand.  Bacon's purpose was so eat his food and be processed for meat.  Sarge's (the dog) job is to rid the farm of vermin and herd the cattle.  The kitty's job is to get rid of mice and other pests.  The heifers job is to become pregnant and be sold to a dairy farm.  The steers will also become meat as well.   But, one of the greatest parts of farm life is those creatures are not all about that one purpose.  Sometimes, they are the thing that makes you laugh on a hard day.  Sometimes, they are the thing that you look forward to when out head out to do chores when the wind is blowing and its -30 degrees.

Below is an image of how much meat came from Bacon.  His dressed weight was 248#'s. 

Bacon did an excellent job of fulfilling his purpose for us.  The memories we have from raising him will last much longer than this meat.  I'm pretty certain that this won't be the last pig on Die Hard Farms.