Bacon bullies explained by Minnesota hog farmer

Did you know hogs establish a hierarchy? Or that keeping farm animals in barns protect them from disease, predators and weather extremes? Wanda Patsche, a hog farmer in Minnesota, sat down with Michele to talk pigs. Watch their video to learn more about animal welfare, bacon bullies and why hog farmers do what they do.

 

Wanda, a grandma to six, mom of three and a swine farmer with her husband Chuck in the rolling hills of southern Minnesota, sums up pig temperaments. “I wish people could experience the things we experience. I wish they could see the fights sows have which are a natural response to their innate social hierarchy that determines who is the “king” sow.”

I asked her “What happens while the sows determine their hierarchy?”

“They fight until they injure each other. They bite body parts including ears, snouts, and legs. And sometimes these injuries are lethal. I wish people could hear the ear piercing screams we hear when a sow is attacking another. No, we don’t rush to grab our phones to videotape the pig attacks. Instead, we attempt to break up the fights, assess and care for the injuries, all while hoping not to be injured ourselves.”

Context matters in animal care. It’s not always pretty, as animals can injure each other and people working to care for them. Wanda, once a city girl, did a great job providing perspective in Food Truths from Farm to Table: 25 Ways to Shop & Eat Without Guilt. You can also see our Facebook Live interview here for a more extensive look at how bacon is raised.  Wanda shares more of her farm life on her blog, Minnesota Farm Living, and is on Twitter as @MinnFarmer.

Most of us are overwhelmed by animal welfare claims in the meat case. Get the context of animals care from farmers and ranchers working with the animals.