Animal Movement

Moving animals is difficult. You have to not only know, but understand, how they move. You have to anticipate how they could react at every corner. You have to always be thinking at least one step ahead of them. I know how to move cows like the back of my hand. Moving sheep has been an steep learning experience (keep them together! If you loose one, you could be done for it). And fortunately with pigs, if you just hold off on a meal they'll follow the food wherever. Patience is the key. The moment you lose your patience, all is lost.

Another thing, as I learned today with Chatty and Peru, is that animals really don't like what is not familiar to them. We were separating a group of 18 feeder pigs today. These are the ones that'll eventually go to market. There were two groups, and they were just too far apart in size to be together. The little ones were getting beat up and not getting enough food. To move them we took a large hog panel and just kind of cornered the little ones out. But as you can tell by the picture, they so desperately wanted to stay where it was familiar. It's was pretty comical. Eventually we were able to get them separated, and they little ones were very happy to be on some green grass, to eat freely without bitten ears, and to grow into piggies that we'll one day eat (Thanks!!)