-5C. Crikey, that's cold!

Yesterday was -5C.

While the frost lacings on everything, and the murky misty fog gave a magical effect overall, it was just a touch on the cold side. So Rayburn lit as soon as Lester had finished milking, and I went back to bed. Yes, I did. Electric blanket on, and I hunkered down. Lester, meanwhile, manfully carried on with farm stuff, applying himself to the ordering of the vegetable seeds for the Back Veg Plots.

A word about the pigs, who are now no more....

Max, the boar, and Mum Pig.....

... our two adult Tamworths, who were not inclined to make any more piglets.

We had said at the beginning of 2016 that if they did not produce youngsters by the end of the year then they would have to go.

They didn't.

So they have.

But they had had a lovely few months out on the veg plots, digging up roots, tilling the soil, then resting in the sunshine, but time was going on, soon it would be the cold weather, then on to the New Year, and then early Spring when the pigs would have to be put back into their pens.

I knew they would not like that, not after having been free range out on the veg paddocks,
the financial cost was becoming a drain on our finances,
and still no sign of piglets.

Then it became time. The weather was dry, and fire wood was gathered.

Out of the courtyard the big tractor came.

I was handed the rifle.

Extra rations this morning..... milk, pasta, and bread.

Max to his food trough, Mum to hers, both close to the fence.

Everything calm, everything peaceful.

Rifle handed to Lester.

High velocity bullets put in the chamber.

Quietly he moved the barrel to within an inch of Max's forehead.

Max still happily munching his food.

In less than instant it was done.

Mum Pig still happily eating.

The same we did for her.

A pause, then, to let things become still again.

Then they were lifted over the fence,

the tractor just about managing to carry each one,

although there were a few scary moments when the tractor wobbled about a bit,

as if to tip over, but it didn't, which was good.

Then along to the fire, which was lit.

No butchering for these pigs.

Max would not have tasted very nice anyway,

and we felt too affectionate towards Mum Pig to eat her.

So Max had to be quartered so that he could be moved into the fire,

then Mum Pig was moved, still intact, to lie beside him.

This was not done with tears of emotions, but with respect for these two pigs.

They had lived together, made piglets together, argued together, and played together,

just like a well established married couple.

This had to be done.

And as they lay in the fire, side by side,

I thought that this was the best end we could have given them.

So no more pigs for the moment, but later on this year we shall be buying weaners to bring on, but we shall not have any more adult pigs. It was a grand experience, though, to have piglets, and I treasure the experience.