Haitis Creole Pig

[bluelacedredhead]

There was an article in Saturday's paper about the Creole Pig in Haiti and it's impact on sustainability for poor Haitian rural dwellers. I've read several articles online which all confirm the Creole pig's importance in Haitian agricultural history.

www.grassrootsonline.org/where-we-work/haiti/national-congress-papaye-peasant-movement-mpnkp

Seems this cute little critter was eradicated in 1982 during a Swine Flu Scare which started in the caribbean. It had devastating results on the economy of Haiti. Dumb move that one.

Anyway, I don't want to argue that point. But I just wanted to point out that the movement by Grassroots.org to reintroduce a Creole pig to Haiti appears to be a worthwhile effort to support in this time of restructuring Haiti from the ground up.

[flowerpower]

He is cute, but he'd be freezing his hocks off in the barn. If that one is full grown, they can't weigh that much. Maybe 200 lbs. Geez, Herman is 175 at least. And he's just a little pot bellied pig.

[rockguy]

It's a shame if the pigs were killed off to thwart the flu, that they weren't replaced with some other livestock. I you were trying to kill off a country, I guess eliminating their livestock would be a good place to start...

[bluelacedredhead]

They were replaced with large commercial whites from the U.S.A. Unfortunately, that type of commercial hog was susceptible to disease and required better hotel accommodations than they got in rural Haiti.

It's a lesson in keeping alive the heritage breeds, be they Animal or Vegetable, that evolved for a reason.

[flowerpower]

For the most part, pot bellies are pets here. But in Vietnam, they are used for food animals. And there is a small breed of pig from New Zealand called a Kune-Kune. They are a domestic breed also. People in rural areas need pigs they can man handle. They are letting the animals free range, but eventually they have to catch them. No one wants to tangle with a huge hog. Pigs can be pretty mean. And they are smarter and faster than most people think.

[bluelacedredhead]

Yep, nothing like trying to take piglets away from a 700 lb sow who would rather you didn't...You'd be amazed at how quickly she can scale a 4 foot stall door. We were,

[flowerpower]

That's one reason I never bred Precious. She's mean enough. lol Herman is a sweet boy. He let me clean his ears with Q-Tips last night. He likes it. When I tell him to turn around so I can do the other ear, he does.

[bluelacedredhead]

No, my Spam was not mean. She was a sweetie. She just wasn't ready to let her children go. Another week, and she was more than happy to be rid of them.

Mebbe I shoulda tried the "Spoon" threat? It seems to work for your porkette,