A Pig's Tale - Sows living the alternative lifestyle

Erin Ehinger from Dykhuis farms in Michigan invites you to look inside a barn with pen gestation. She explains why her farm transitioned from stall housing to pens.

[agforthefuture]

Excellent video. Thank you for being an advocate for the industry.

[PippiLongsox]

I've been to Dykhuis Farms. The family and farm employees care for their animals humanely and are excellent stewards of the land. The farm has not only a printed mission statement, but also a list of core values that focus on caring for people and the environment--so much that prospective employees line up at the door for spots on the staff. The family believes in using their gifts to enhance their community, and they walk the walk.

[jarcher]

Manure storage is designed to minimize those gases. My family’s barns are flushed under those slats 6 times a day (think giant toilet) to remove all of the waste. Other designs fill part of that space under the floor with water capturing the gases, then that water is flushed out every 3 days or so and then refilled so there is always enough water to cover the manure. The wellbeing of the animals and workers are vitally important to us because they are OUR animals and well…we’re the workers!

[shellymb]

I thank you for giving these animals a more humane life where they can practice normal behaviors compared to farrowing pens. I believe the aggressive behaviors that you have seen while in pens will improve with future generations. In Europe they have managed pigs for
generations in pens. Compare that to the US where pork production has not even concidered selection for decreased aggression as every animal lived in isolation its whole life without asses to interact with others. selective breeding and environmental enrichment is the key. Dont know if its possible but considering a type of bedding that could encourage rooting.

[WandaPatsche]

Knud, I am a hog farmer and we only use antibiotics for a specific reason. We have a vet that oversees every drug we administer. There are different types of MRSA and MRSA in hogs and humans are not the same. And the research that has been done shows that there is NO increase in MRSA infection with those people who work with hogs. I am concerned about resistant bacteria also but am assured there is very little/no risk with hogs.

[speedyguy]

nice short educational video sad to see most of these negative coments from people that have no idea what they are talking about. it is atough buisness to be in cheers to all my fellow producers. look in thr mirror with pride for we with the good Lords help and blessing are feeding the world

[chickenfryer]

What about the gases from the decomposing manure stored under the barn? Doesn't that effect animal well being as well as the health of the workers?

[knudoboy]

how much antibiotics used? How many resistant bacteria like MRSA found in employees and pigs?

[genarorodriguez]

I currently work in a hog barn and wow i want to work with you guys only problem i live in Missouri

[AmarSingh-fvwf]

Hello I am very pleased your farm structure

[MrBagginsEsq]

I here straw in the pig pen allows for the pigs to expierence the natural behavior of plowing! Just a suggestion! Looks pretty clean, but I think something needs to distract the sows so they don't fight!

[MrSwine]

now in 2020 this concept start to go globally

[bond]

Hello Erin
what your advice that you can give me cause i want to start as hobby farm with pigs but i don't know nothing at the moment about them and if i wish to buy three for you at the age of month to two months old different blood line can you help me? i live in Ontario Canada Brampton area thank you for your time and may the good lord bless your farm i love it thanks.
John

[beandavid]

I liked the video. Your treatment looked so much better than the abuse at Hormel farm video. What happens after they give birth? Do you change them to a different location? To a restricted pen?

[speedyguy]

Dear Monica I can tell you have made up your mind by reading your comments I will not try to change it I will not waste my valuable time on someone like yourself. I will leave you with this one last comment however our good Lord put these animals be it pork beef chicken or fish for us humans to butcher and eat for the nourishment of our bodys. Got a couple of nice rib eye steaks on the grill right now better go and check on them.CHEERS!

[tapshoe]

Thank you for doing the right thing. Why can't every other pork producer care for their animals. Just seeing the sows in cage confinement is torture. Your facility looks clean and the animals look comfortable.

[OfficialJong]

It's not perfect, but pen gestation is far better for sow welfare than gestation crates.

[mrbluetit]

if this was an Asian woman telling the western world how she is different to other farmers because she takes care of her dogs for the yulin festival, people would be utterly outraged.

[rw]

Carl Icahn was just talking about individual gestation cages for pics. They cant even turn around for months. He wants mcdonalds to address this.

[motherofcatfish]

Would anyone be okay with treating dogs this way?