How do you skin wild hogs?

People "How do you skin wild hogs?"

Us "With a sharp knife"

So I have been doing research around the internet and watching some video footage of others' attempts. I'm not writing this post to criticize others, in fact I'm  glad to see others out there skinning pigs. Wild pigs are wonderful to eat and can make many tasty meals. But I have found several key issues or common techniques that could be done better.

Field Dressing or Gutting a Wild Pig 

  Don't. It is not only easier skinning the pigs before gutting but more sanitary. Wild pigs have the unlikely possibility of  carrying brucellosis which will be greatly reduced with proper skinning.  The safest method we have found is to leave the pig ungutted hanging and then remove the hide. Remove the front legs. After that start the gut removal slowly from the top down so everything comes out in a controlled manner. 

Using the "X" Belly Skin Cuts to Start

  This method is so common. In fact, it was the method my father taught me. But there is an easier way, the "Y" method. While hanging, cut a Y down the hind legs and down the middle of the pig. Skin from the top down and then when you're working the belly your knife naturally falls in the right position to skin the front legs making the job so much easier. 

Removal of Head Last

  It is so much easier to remove the head first by slightly raising the head adding weight with the rest of the body. Let gravity be your friend and help pull the head away as you cut with your knife. Just a tip: this actually works on all animals. 

Removable of Legs and Ribs with a Saw

  The more sawing you do the more damage you do to your ice chest and packaging. Sharp bones can go through more than you think. Ribs can easily be done with a clever or hatchet. Legs can be removed at the joints. It is a difficult skill to master, but worth the effort to learn. 

We have a video available that teaches all these techniques, methods, and more that make pig skinning as quickly and easily as possible.

Check out our pig processing video by clicking here 

The best caliber of rifle for the knocking down pigs

  So I think we finally found the perfect caliber for knocking down pigs.  A great rifle for knocking them unconscious so then we can go ahead and cut the jugular, opening the throat to bleed out before we process.  I will actually call this an upgrade, because prior to this we were using the 22 rifle which didn't work as well as we had hoped or anticipated. So we decided to step up with a higher velocity rifle.

  The 17 HMR.  The particular one that we upgraded to was the Ruger American and so far I have been very impressed.  With mobile slaughter all of our shots are extremely close up, the livestock are in a small area of  confinement decreasing the chances of missing.  So it was a little tricky to adjust the sites to compensate for this short range.

  What I did was take the iron sights that were on the Ruger American which have the Ruger butterfly system they have been using for years and we actually flipped it around.  There is a set of two screws of the iron sights and I flipped it over to the other side.  This way it operates as a standard iron sight gun instead of the Ruger factory set up. 

 Most of the time we only shoot within two three feet for the animal, but we definitely need to know exactly where that bullet is going. With this new Ruger Rim Fire American 17 HMR we have enough velocity to get a really good knockdown and we're placing the rounds right on in the target zone. Which is always in the forehead right above the eyes.  This is a difficult place to shoot especially if the pig is moving its head around, but this placement is ideal to have the least amount of damage done to the meat. 

  This rifle did come with an adjustable trigger pull from 5 lbs to 3 lbs making the adjustment down to 3 lbs has really helped to make a quick shot on the moving target. Now of course this head shot placement during longer range hunting will rarely present itself for those out hunting  wild hogs, but I still think this would be a great caliber for hunting.

  Shot placement is going to be very important during hunting, because you are not going to get a bunch of long range knock down with this caliber.  With that all being said I think the 17 HMR would be an excellent caliber for kids just starting to hunt, because it has a powerful enough long range knock down with no kick. I think a BB gun has more kick than this thing. 

  If you do happen to get one of these rifles out to the field for pig hunting and are successful in bagging you a pig 🐗 to place in the freezer. Give our pig skinning video a watch to learn our tips and tricks making skinning a pig easier and manageable by oneself.  It will also teach you the final cuts that you will find in the store like Boston butts, pork chops, and ribs all without the use of any high dollar equipment. A high place to hang it and a sharp knife  🔪 is all you need. 

 Click Here for Pig Skinning and Processing Video Class 

  In our mobile Slaughter unit this has definitely become our go-to rifle and an upgrade that we much appreciate. 

Replacing the sink in a mobile slaughter unit

  Today we need to replace the sink for the mobile slaughter unit. The reason why we are replacing the sink on the mobile unit is, because we had to replace the floor. There was little bit of rot that had occurred underneath our division wall that separates between the back half of the unit where all the slaughtering is done and the front part where all of our meat processing happens.

  The front half of the mobile unit didn't really have that much rot on the floor as the back half which is understandable. The back half is where the skinning and gutting of all the calves, pigs, and goats so naturally it gets the soaking day after day washing out all the gunk. The front stays relatively clean where just the final cuts of steaks, chops, are produced and everything is packaged up. So last year, we replaced the floor in the back half and so glad we did with all the mobile slaughtering we did. This year was the front half's turn to get replaced. 

  We took last week off due to the weather and had to do some rescheduling. Now we have about 3 weeks of catching up.  So we're going to be on the road a lot in the next 3 weeks with cows, pigs, and  I think we even have a few sheep scheduled on the books. We need to get this sink back in so we can get the unit back in working condition. 

  During this latest maintenance break down, there was one improvement that I'm so happy that we got done. That was rerouting the trailing in the inside of the unit instead of under the trailer frame.  We were continuing having an issue with tearing out the wires because the wires ran underneath the trailer. Every weekend, I was repairing those darn trailer lights. It is exciting to think that now this issues should be repaired for good.  

  The final thing we need to do before we are ready to roll is to fill the water tanks that had to be reinstalled after the floor upgrade. Our mobile slaughter unit is fully self-sufficient with everything we need to roll up on location and get right to work slaughtering and processing livestock all over the state of Texas. She is all put back together now and we're going to hit the ground running. There is hard week of work in front of us, but we're looking forward to it.  

Texas Viking Fest

We had wonderful time at Texas Viking Festival Yule Celebration this year. I got to pick up some new armor and watched some wonderful bagpipe performances. The Scottish Highland games were amazing, the kilted athletes did not disappoint with their contest of strength. The full contact knight fights were just brutal. So much fun. And the mead so much mead, Skol. 

Austin Area Grass Finished Beef Cooking Class

Now offering a grass finished beef cooking class in the Austin area. This can be a one-on-one cooking class or up to eight people. We come to you and teach this  grass finished beef cooking  bringing everything needed to demonstrate the basic cooking techniques for maximizing flavor and tenderness of grass finished beef. 

Normally this class will take between 2 to 3 hours depending on the number of people attending covering slow cooking, grilling, pan frying, stir fry, skillet cooking of roast, steaks, and ground grass finished beef.

We can customize the class for dietary options or restrictions such as low carb, keto, paleo, and carnivore. Just let us know when scheduling what area of interest you have and we can select  recipes that focus on that area. Also let us know if you have a dish or food item that interests you the most like burgers, tacos or spaghetti. We usually can make spin-offs recipes for these items. 

You can use the contact form below to reach out to us or give us a call at 361-772-2628

Trump suggest limiting beef imports but what about MCOOL

Why are we not seeing more media coverage about MCOOL?

 I don't know why with President Trump making headlines about not importing beef. The newspapers and other news outlets are not covering the Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling issue.

The American consumer deserves the right to know if the beef their eating was born, raised, and processed in USA.

The American rancher deserves the right to have their USA produced ground beef without foreign beef mixed in on groceries stores shelves.

The petition at www.demandusabeef.com   to reinstate MCOOL has over 380,000 signatures in less than a month. Signed by both cattle producers and consumers alike.

I am unsure if you can trust what the NCBA (National Cattlemans Beef Association) has to say about MCOOL, they dont speak for cattle ranchers or consumers. They are obligated to  represent the major packers members of their organization who benefit from not having mandatory label on beef. 

This is causing a quickly growing conflict within the NBCA between packers who want to buy cattle as cheap as possible and cattle ranchers who want a fair price for their cattle.

What does MCOOL mean to this cattle rancher

What does MCOOL (Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling) mean for me or how does MCOOL effect me?

Before I get into MCOOL, I should give you a bit of background about myself. I grew up Texas around cattle, my father had a diary when I was a kid. My Grandparents and their parents raised cattle and I'm still here running the ranch.

I am cow/calf producer what most people think of when you say cattle rancher. Basically I have a herd of moma cows with few bulls and they produce calves. I then sell the calves around 7 to 9 months old. Every year I get new crop of calves from the mommas. 

I sell to cattle to backgrounders or feeders through the use of sale barns. These backgrounders will continue to raise the calves until there ready to be harvested or raised up to be momma cows. Once sold I don't have any control of what happens to them. 

So, how does MCOOL effect me? Maybe I should be asking is how does imported cattle effect me?

First without mandatory labeling, packers are passing off beef from outside the US by tricky labeling. Maybe not tricky more like just dishonest. Why wouldn't that make someone upset? To have a product passed off as yours when it's not. 

It also overall cheapens my product. Bringing in cheap imports, lowers the quality of beef here in our stores. These aren't savings they passing on to the consumer. Not at all.  In the last few years the price of meat at the store has increases while cattle prices  have dropped. 

Lastly, I really dont like the idea of depending on forgein companies to produce our food supply. We have most of pharmaceuticals made outside the US now. This is putting many of our most important items in the hands our countries.

Sign the Petition to Support MCOOL 

Click Here

www.demandusabeef.com 

Does MCOOL have the Hotest Facebook Group Trending

So cattle men and women are scratching their heads asking "Does MCOOL have the hotest Facebook group trending?" (Demand USA Beef)

"What's MCOOL ?" You ask.  It stands for Mandatory Country of Origin labeling, simple really like "Product of the USA"  I bet you thought we already had that. Well on most products we do but not all. 

You might have seen "Processed in the USA"  on beef, so that means it came from America right?

NO. That only means it was cut up here. 

It's hard to believe that some packers would buy cattle from outside the US and try to pass it for America beef. 

Why not when you can buy a cheaper product and pass it off for a better one. Amercia beef leads the world in quality and taste of beef. Why, because here we have the resources and grain supply along the ability to store and transport products in all conditions. Sorry but others just don't have the development or  infrastructure America does.

So how did MCOOL get a Facebook group to grow so fast. Almost 3000 members in less than 10 hours?

Funny thing, I don't think it was intentional. I think it just naturally happened. A few ranchers started a petition last week to support MCOOL then one started a Facebook group and invited some folks and they invited some folks so on and so on.

The pure force behind it, is that people not only want to know where the food is coming from but they also don't want to depend on countries outside the USA to produce it.

I was one of the first people to join and invited many others to join as well. It was amazing how many and how fast people joined up. Thank you. It is an important issue to me and I hope we can get this labeling corrected soon.

236 Shares and 50 Likes under 10 Hours

Sign the Petition by Clicking Here

Demand USA Beef Facebook Group

Quite Still of Winter's Day

Today was so still, it was as if time had stopped. I never seen a day where there was no wind. The pond was so clear without a ripple or wave in sight the reflection was stunning. Crystal clear water was dreamlike so much that I had trouble believing what my eyes were seeing.   Hauntingly quite with not a chirp from even a crow. A day like no other.  

December 2017 Snow

Texas Ranching in the Fall

The haunting  song the post oaks sang today as the wind of fresh norther blew on tree tops. Fall was at it's best, how grateful am I to see it's wonder. In woods on the land with cattle.

I know that only a few are chosen to get to feel life this way, God has looked down on me with great favor.  The sound of the leaves rustling at my boots and the smell of dirt still damp from last weeks snow. The creak and whine of those oaks as they swayed. 

I liked to dance and she didn't like that

I liked to dance and she didn't like that

I wanted to spend time with my family and she didn't like that

I wanted to travel and she didn't like that

I wanted kids and she didn't like that

I wanted her to stay and love her anyway

 and she didn't like that

I guess that is about as close to irreconcilable differences you can get, so after fifteen years and life of growing up together we shall now part ways. Was a many of growing pains along the way but that is life. There are no fairy tale ending or happy ever afters. That's why they call them fairy tales because it's not real life. 

Not that we couldn't  have had a happy married life, but should have prepared more for problems that would come along the way. We should have shared the load of solving problems. Her problems should have been mine and mine hers.  

With a fairy, hand in hand

“Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a fairy, hand in hand,

For the world's more full of weeping

 than you can understand.”  - WB Yates 

I reached out and took the fairy's hand and into the wild we went. What wonders did we see behind most every tree. My soul felt renewed and my mind dreamed larger than ever before. It was the happiest I had ever been. Then the fairy let go of my hand. 

The wild of the woods lost it's light and fear set in my mind for now I was alone. The fairy is far gone from sight. I am left to find my way. But darkness will come before the morning light.  I can not blame the fairy for I am the one that took her hand. I am no human child and the wild is where I feel free. 

I know the fairy's only purpose was to lead me where I need to be. 

*The thoughts I had after reading the "The Stolen Child" by WB Yates and wife filing for divorce.  

Calf with Watery Poop

Calf scours that awful nasty watery poop that all too many calves get. One of the leading causes of death in calves under 30 days old.

Causes

Bacteria infection like E coli
Virus infection like Rotovirus

Myths

Decreasing the amount of milk replacer powder when mixing a bottle decrease the chance of scours.

Allowing the calf to eat hay in the first 30 days increases scours.

Bottle feeding plain water to a calf after a milk replacer feeding will help prevent scours.

Feeding plain water to a scouring calf helps with dehydration.

Not only are these not true but can actually help to promote scours.

Treatment

There are hundreds of products on the market for treating calves with watery poop. Mainly because scours is so hard to cure. The success of treatment depends on amount of damage the calf has in the gut. Once a major amount of scar tissue develops the gut it just can not  absorb enough nutrition for the calf.

I have had success with the following. It first starts with giving the calf antibiotics and then feeding a alternative to milk or milk replacer for two days while not allowing the calf any water.

Click here for a link to my calf raising guidelines for exactly how I treat a calf with watery poop or scours. 

Related Post:

Bottle feeding calves milk replacer 

Why is my calf pooping blood

My bottle calf is pooping blood

Having a calf that is spotting blood or having blood in the stool or poop is common. Does not mean that you should not be concerned.

What is causing the bloody poop in the calf

It has damage in the lower intestines by either parasites or bacteria. Understanding which one is causing the problem is important to how you would want to treat the calf and repair the intestines.

Age of calf as a determining factor

Under calves under 250 pounds are less likely to have coccidia (parasites) the blood in the poop is caused by bacteria. 

In newborn to under three weeks old, it will be caused by bacteria infection damage.

Eight to nine months old the calf most likely has bloody discharge from coccidia. 

Treatment of bloody poop in calves 

For older calves with coccidia there is a product called Corid that is very effective in treatment.

For those calves under three weeks old a simple over the counter antibiotic will restore the intestines by killing the bacteria. 

For calves older than three weeks with bacteria infection especially with scours, I have found using antibiotics with scour treatment to be effective in treating the calves.

Click Here for my Guidelines for Raising Calves with my Scour Treatment included 

Related Post:

Why does my calf's poop stink really bad

Calf with watery poop

How often should I bottle a calf

Why does my calf poop stink really bad?

My calf's poop stinks really bad 

I am not saying that calf poop normal smells good, but there are those times when it really smells bad. Like something died. This is actually a very serious condition. Rancid smelling poop in calf is an indication that it is not digesting it's intake well.

Most of the time you will notice this in bottle calves, and a few novice with bottle calves will think it has something to do with type or brand of milk replacer. Somehow the milk replacer is not agreeing with the calf's stomach. It is not true. Something is going on.  Attempting to change or go to a different brand of milk replacer won't help the problem.

Now feeding milk replacer does have something to do with causing the calf poop to smell horrible and a factor in  treating the problem. You want to get this corrected right away. Poor nutritional absorption in calf will cause weakness and the organs to start shutting down quickly in a calf. Also weaken the immune system make the calf susceptible to a deadly rapid bacterial growth causing sudden death. Example: Blackleg

What is causing the poop is smell so bad

The calf's intestines are infected by a bacteria causing damage and poor nutritional absorption. E coli is common but also one of many bacteria that could be the problem.

How do I get my calf's intestines healthy again 

Active charcoal or charcoal can help in most cases. But the problem is if you administer antibiotics you going to low the effectiveness of the antibiotics.

I use a two step treatment method that has worked extremely well for my calves. The first part is to give antibiotics and the next is to substitute milk replacer feeding with a different product for a few days. It is also important not to allow them water during this treatment time.

In my guidelines for raising and caring for calves the treatment use for scouring calves is the exact same treatment.  

Chick Here for my Calf Raising Guidelines 

Related Post:
Why does my calf poop stink really bad 
Calf with watery poop
Bottle feeding a calf milk replacer

New Angus Cross Calf

Purchased a new little Angus Cross calf from the sales barn last Monday. She has been here for a week and doing great, didn't like the bottle much at first but she as came around.

Not the hardest the calf I placed on a bottle, she did want to suck form the bottle once I finally got it in her mouth. The toughest part was catching and holding her in place. By the end of the first week, she was running up to me get to the bottle.

Really nice to get off to good start with calf.

Children Doing Chores vs. Child Being Self Sufficient

This is just my opinion, I am in no way a expert on raising children. I read a few books, use some common sense, and talk with other parents just trying to do the best I can. Should a child have chores to do, be as self sufficient as possible for their age, or maybe a balance of both.

Self Sufficient

Simply put is doing as much as possible for yourself as you possible can. In the case of a child what is appropriate for their age. I don't expect a 3 yr old to cook meatloaf for his dinner, but then a know kids that graduate from high school and can't make a grill cheese or know how to turn on a oven. Do you want to get these kids involved with doing for themselves as soon as possible or do you want to be the helicopter parent cutting up meat for a sixteen yr. old?

But you got to have a balance with it as well, you can't just let a 4 yr old make his own breakfast every morning or all he will be eating is cereal. It's OK to cook them some bacon and eggs and when they are able too let them help. Get them involved in doing for themselves as much as possible.

Chores 

There are a few basics chores that I make every kid do. I refer to them as the required chores for being alive. They have no extra reward for doing them and no excuses for not.

• making the bed
• cleaning their room
• cleaning up their own mess
• washing the dishes 
• taking out the trash 

Now there are selective chores that my kids have the option to do if they want to. These will have some kind of reward or payoff if the kids choose to do so. It's not always money sometimes it's going to movies or out for ice cream. And sometimes it is just the reward of being productive. 

• mowing the yard
• cleaning the gutters
• picking up sticks
• bottle feeding calf
• fence stapling 
• moving hay

I know the last few on the list are limited to those of us with farm chores for kids to do. I'm pretty lucky to have my kids have the chance to help out around the farm. Not so much so I can get more things done, it is an option for them. I like it because it provides a real learning opportunity for the kids. Here is my best example. 

Bottle feeding a calf    

I arrange an agreement with my kids: they help feed and take care of the calves then they receive a percentage of the selling price of the calf. Usually about 15% of the total price the calf brings once sold. I don't do more because I have the expense of feed and purchase price of the calf plus veterinary care. It takes about 9 to 11 months of care for the calf, so the kids put in a lot of time and effort before getting paid. The calf's price is also subject to changes in market value as cattle prices go up and down. Sometimes the calf gets sick and doesn't make it leaving no profit. 

The dynamic of raising a bottle calf, provides my kids the opportunity to learn some real life lessons. They take a interest in it because they see the value in the process as well. Now I know a few people that mimic the same lesson with farmer markets. 

They don't have farm land just enough room in the back yard for a garden. They will help the kids grow vegetables and then sell them at a farmers market. Funny thing is I know kids that grow stuff they won't even eat but  will raise it to be sold like cantaloupe. It gives them wide range of growing skills and people skills from dealing with the public in farmers market.

I titled this post comparing the value added to a child's life by doing chores compared to a child being self sufficient and gave some nice examples for the positive of both. I think there must be a balance and along as the kid stays active doing some activity they don't have to do extra chores. They can be in the chess club, gymnastics, or play an instrument. Just as long as they get involved with in something and has fun doing it.  

Cow Adopts Calf After Losing Her's

I would like you to meet Texas and her new baby Poo 2. So I bet your wondering what happen to Poo 1. I will spare you the gory details about the coyotes getting it and ripping it apart, alive, at two weeks old.  I couldn't really give the play by play,  because I didn't see it first hand. Only found the aftermath.

So now I'm betting, you would like to know how there is a Poo 2. Well her story is not all that interesting, simply put her moma was too old. If I would have let her try to care for little Poo 2, she would have died trying.

So just like on Farmers Only, we got a match... Texas and Poo 2. It takes a little more work than a online dating profile or just putting them in a small pen to let nature do it's thing.  You must help the bond along. 

Like a redneck shotgun wedding, it takes some effort. I let Poo 2 have a day away from her moma but before bed I gave her pint of milk replacer from a bottle.  The next morning fed Texas in the chute area some tasty grain product. While she got her smack on, I gave Poo 2 a cup of milk replacer from a bottle. Then showed her Texas' milky factory or we in the buzz like to say "her bag. "

Ding ding, we have a match. Poo 2 grabbed hold of an utter nursed it down and went to the next.  I love happy endings. 

Texas Rains Flooding Out the Cattle Market

  I drive down a mile and a half of washed out gravel road leading to the heart of my main cattle pasture thinking of what is all this rain going to do the cattle price. To be honest, the price of cattle is always on my mind as with most cattle ranchers. With this recent deluge of rain all of my land is too wet to across even on foot, I'm left no choice but not to veer off the pasture road. There will be no brush clearing, making hay, cattle working, or any of the normal ranch duties for a weeks to come and the land dries out.

 So some may say I'm bored, left with nothing to do but think about these cattle prices. I looked an article from Bloomberg "Texas Floods Will Bring Cheaper Beef" It was interesting (not really) basically said since now it has been raining ranchers going to be restocking cattle. After a few years, cattle herds will be built back up and more beef supply lower meat prices... blah blah blah.

  There are so many other factors to raising cattle. It almost makes as much sense as saying how great things are going to get after the election.

  These rains in Texas are divesting and will have a lasting effect in the Loan Star State. The Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of emergency for 24 counties. CBS has done some great photos at: Floodwaters Overwhelm Texas. This flooding has taking lives and is in no means a joke nor anything to take lightly.

  With more flooding rains predicted to be on the way for the remainder of the week. I pray everyone stays safe. If the flooding has any real effect on cattle prices is unlikely but this is not the time to worry about that.