Awhile ago, I mentioned my husband and I might start raising pigs. Well. I must tell you that we now are, indeed, pig farmers. Hang on, we haven’t morphed into swine operators; we have acquired just two pigs, targeted for consumption.
My husband dubbed our piglets Herman and Ed. We were talking to our middle son one day and let him know of our recent addition. “Hey dearie, guess what, we got two pigs and Dad named them Herman and Ed.” Because my son and his dad are on like, sport-centered-minds, he immediately responded, “Herman Edwards.” No question, it was a statement.
“How did you know?” I wondered out loud.
“Mom. I know Dad.”
This perception between father and son goes on. Through the years they have had an inside sports language that has left me baffled. From time to time they discuss players and coaches, analyze games and talk stats. Herman Edwards is a sports analyst for ESPN. He’s witty, intelligent and well-spoken, always shoots straight from the hip and, on top of that, wears colorful argyle socks, so he has a sense of fun, which comes out occasionally as he speaks. My husband has always appreciated his particular take on sports news and our son knows that. Hence, Herman and Ed.
Well, it just so happens one of our pigs is a female. She’s Herman and is doing well. The other one, Ed, came down with the sniffles and coughs. We acquired them during that heat spell a little while back, a poor time to purchase two pigs, but we had plenty of fresh milk available (a number of cows were due to have calves and they produce nutrient-rich milk) and wanted to take advantage of the extra bulk that would put on our porkers.
To save some money we are doctoring our animals on our own as much as possible. The other day we were at a graduation party and a vet my husband knew was a guest there. I had a hunch my husband was going pick his brain about our ailing pig and I didn’t want him to bother the guy at the party.
“He’s here to relax!” I whispered in my husband’s ear as this guy sat down across the picnic table from us. We chit-chatted; he was very personable and knowledgeable. We talked pros and cons of wind turbines and discussed a solar heating system he and his wife had installed in their home, cutting down on their electricity costs considerably. They had an issue with a critter digging holes in their yard and everyone at the table had an idea on how to deal with it. There was a slight lull in the conversation as we ate.
“Hey, we just got two pigs and one of them is coughing. Any clue as to what we could do or what’s wrong?”
I looked at my husband in amazement. (And poked him under the table.)
The accommodating vet was unconcerned. He proceeded to give us a detailed list of possible reasons. On the way home we decided we didn’t want to risk losing Ed. Actually, my husband needed our regular vet to check on a cow anyway, so our vet was called out. While at the farm, doc and my husband gave Ed a shot with instructions that one dose per day needed to be administered in the next four consecutive days. Wife was designated helper, of course.
Every morning, after milking my husband would measure the specified amount, fill the syringe, cap it and hand it to me. He’d grab a piece of plywood and pin Ed in the corner of their pen with his snout in the smallest part of the V. Once in position, we’d switch, he’d take the needle and I’d handle the plywood, holding it for all I was worth against the struggling, now-growing Ed. His nice round backside was a good target for the shot, which took seconds.
He is getting better, we can tell, and they’re both growing and getting feisty. When I bring “treats” such as left-over corn on the cob, apple cores, watermelon rinds or the fresh milk, they both look up at me in anticipation and tackle the offerings like, well, like pigs! They also are starting to put their front feet up on the first rung of the gate to more closely inspect me as I tend. And I them. Their round, flat snouts, curly tails, short legs and compact bodies are so different from a calf, heifer or cow!
Herman and Ed. They’re here for a season and a reason. That’s life on a farm.
(“He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” Romans 14:6)
Categories
