Post by Mitra on Sept 18, 2006 8:53:44 GMT -5
In more ways than one.
At 5:45 a.m., Max's friend Tim, who has a very big truck with a cap, showed up for a cup of coffee before helping load the larger pigs, Frankie and Louie Luau, for their date with the butcher. First we poured them out a sixpack of Bud-Light into their trough. They enjoyed it immensely, the two larger ones nerfing the smaller ones out of the way to get most of it. Things were calm. Max had built a very long ramp so that the incline wasn't so steep (it was too steep last year) and we got the ramp situated onto the tailgate of Tim's truck. With a bowl of yummies, which included grapes, powdered donuts and dogfood kibble, Tim lured Frankie into the truck without having to even touch him. We were amazed. Frankie was happy as a clam (hog) busy eating. My job was to keep him in there. I thought I could do this with a 6ft log across the back of the cap.
Then it was Louie's turn. There was no luring him, he wasn't buying it and he didn't care about donuts or dog food. It was time for the 5-gallong bucket over the head trick. Tim caught him, inspite of Louie's best impersonation of a rhinocerous (we call it swinocerous) and got the bucket over his head. The squealing into the next county began, although muffled somewhat by the bucket. Max had his tail and started pulling him backwards up the ramp while Tim pushed on his head with the bucket. They got almost to the top of this 8 ft ramp when Louie broke free of the bucket and lunged forward. Max refused to release his"death grip on his rat tail" and was pulled summarily off the ramp when Louie launched himself over the side. Max still didn't/wouldn't let go so in an instant Tim had Louie's head back in the bucket and the tug of war (his poor tail
) began all over again.
By this time Frankie was nearly done with the food which had succesfully preoccupied him to this point. He was getting distressed by Louie's squealing and Lulu's "I'm being filleted" barking. As Max backed up the ramp pulling, tugging and dragging Louie, Frankie decided he needed to get out. He rammed the log, which punched me right in the jaw but I threw my weight onto it to keep him in. He rammed it again but I was able to hold him in. It was getting really dicey because at that same moment, I also needed to be moving the log so Max could get past it with Louie. Somehow it worked out. There were some swift kicks to Frankie's head (imparted by Tim) to get him to go back into the truck so Max could pull Louie in the rest of the way. Once in, Louie had no fight left in him. He sat there sort of stunned panting really hard. I am worried that we got the shot of adrenalin through the meat that I so wanted to avoid. Once the tailgate went up and the cap closed up, both pigs were calm.
The guys left and I came into the house and woke up the girls for school. They missed the whole thing! It seems to have worked out better that way.
Max said the pigs sat for a short while and then they both laid down for most of the 30 mile drive. The unloading was very stress-free at a very professional operation (this is our first time using this particular place).
We have one month to come up with a better plan for loading the next two. We're pretty sure the first step will involve adding sides to the ramp so we have more of a chute. None of this diving over the edge business. Also, once you get one in, there's got to be a better way to keep him in there than a stupid log. My jaw is throbbing.
At 5:45 a.m., Max's friend Tim, who has a very big truck with a cap, showed up for a cup of coffee before helping load the larger pigs, Frankie and Louie Luau, for their date with the butcher. First we poured them out a sixpack of Bud-Light into their trough. They enjoyed it immensely, the two larger ones nerfing the smaller ones out of the way to get most of it. Things were calm. Max had built a very long ramp so that the incline wasn't so steep (it was too steep last year) and we got the ramp situated onto the tailgate of Tim's truck. With a bowl of yummies, which included grapes, powdered donuts and dogfood kibble, Tim lured Frankie into the truck without having to even touch him. We were amazed. Frankie was happy as a clam (hog) busy eating. My job was to keep him in there. I thought I could do this with a 6ft log across the back of the cap.
Then it was Louie's turn. There was no luring him, he wasn't buying it and he didn't care about donuts or dog food. It was time for the 5-gallong bucket over the head trick. Tim caught him, inspite of Louie's best impersonation of a rhinocerous (we call it swinocerous) and got the bucket over his head. The squealing into the next county began, although muffled somewhat by the bucket. Max had his tail and started pulling him backwards up the ramp while Tim pushed on his head with the bucket. They got almost to the top of this 8 ft ramp when Louie broke free of the bucket and lunged forward. Max refused to release his"death grip on his rat tail" and was pulled summarily off the ramp when Louie launched himself over the side. Max still didn't/wouldn't let go so in an instant Tim had Louie's head back in the bucket and the tug of war (his poor tail
) began all over again. By this time Frankie was nearly done with the food which had succesfully preoccupied him to this point. He was getting distressed by Louie's squealing and Lulu's "I'm being filleted" barking. As Max backed up the ramp pulling, tugging and dragging Louie, Frankie decided he needed to get out. He rammed the log, which punched me right in the jaw but I threw my weight onto it to keep him in. He rammed it again but I was able to hold him in. It was getting really dicey because at that same moment, I also needed to be moving the log so Max could get past it with Louie. Somehow it worked out. There were some swift kicks to Frankie's head (imparted by Tim) to get him to go back into the truck so Max could pull Louie in the rest of the way. Once in, Louie had no fight left in him. He sat there sort of stunned panting really hard. I am worried that we got the shot of adrenalin through the meat that I so wanted to avoid. Once the tailgate went up and the cap closed up, both pigs were calm.
The guys left and I came into the house and woke up the girls for school. They missed the whole thing! It seems to have worked out better that way.
Max said the pigs sat for a short while and then they both laid down for most of the 30 mile drive. The unloading was very stress-free at a very professional operation (this is our first time using this particular place).
We have one month to come up with a better plan for loading the next two. We're pretty sure the first step will involve adding sides to the ramp so we have more of a chute. None of this diving over the edge business. Also, once you get one in, there's got to be a better way to keep him in there than a stupid log. My jaw is throbbing.
. But even if we just killed on our property and had somebody else cut it up, it would help the tenderness and stress level for the animals. 
The shrieking was deafening! I have since loaded them in much calmer styles. I agree that the best of all worlds is for any animal to get used to the trailer. But I personally have no trailer, just a truck, like you. The backing method (with great food waiting in the truck) has been our method of choice. I will be interested to see how you improve things next time. Pigs are definitely a challenge. I have loaded sheep into a truck (opening and closing the tailgate) and thought that was fraught enough! 
