Piggies FINALLY Arrived and Beauty of Corn Pollination

Its a few months later than expected but we FINALLY got our piglets.  Last year we got two, this year we doubled that number due to interest in the meat.  We already pre-sold three pigs worth of meat and are keeping one for ourself.  Here's the line up, TWO males (called a Barrow which is a young castrated male) and TWO females (called a Gilt, a young female not of breeding age)-

Just a quick note- the reason why males are castrated (removal of testicles, usually at a very young age while piglet is still nursing) is because an un-castrated male (or boar) can be very aggressive towards other animals and people.  Swine are EXTREMELY strong and can be very dangerous if ill tempered.  Also boar's meat taste differently due mainly to the sex hormones present in their bodies (not injected hormones as hormone injection is illegal in swine production but their natural sex hormones).

Just as last year, these are Hampshire/Yorkshire crosses.  They are about 9-10 weeks old ranging between 30-50lbs (this is a guess).  One difference from last year's piggies, these guys are very shy and not as social yet.  Their favorite spot to stay is under some overgrowth instead of in the shed, they keep  cool there atleast-

They seem to spend more time foraging than I remember last year's piglets.  They are eating their favorite hide out-

Along with foraging, they are receiving a natural feed mixed with soybean meal (to fill their protein needs).  More on pastured pigs nutrition HERE if interested.  Pastured pig overview HERE.  The kids help me make the mixture-

We will have these pigs a shorter amount of time than last year, sending them off end of November for processing.  We will see if they get near processing weight by that time (typical processing weight is usually 200-250lbs).  Again, if that seems crazy they grow that fast in 4 months, its how God made them.  They grow fast naturally.  As I said before, the use of growth hormones is illegal in all swine production.

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A quick acknowledgement of the beauty of corn... the pollination process to be specific.
I just saw recently that the silks are out.  This means that pollination is in progress which is what forms the kernels on the cob.

Though corn is pollinated by the wind (something we are learning more about every year), the bees like to take part in the happenings-

Don't take too much pollen with you little bee-

The pollen falls or blows from the tassels and is caught by the silks.  There could be thousands of silks on each ear.  Each silk is connected to an ovule that when fertilized becomes a kernel.  SO, each silk needs to get pollinated to produce a kernel.  Thankfully the silks are designed with small hairs to catch the blowing pollen.  These silks look like they already have powdery pollen on them-

The pollen grain begins to germinate immediately when its caught by the silk.  Only one pollen grain is needed to start the process.  It immediately begins to form a tube that grows down the silk, resulting in fertilization of the ovule within 12-24 hours.  This fertilized ovule is what becomes the kernel.  Please excuse my attempt to explain this neat process, it might not make sense (pregnancy brain is a real thing with me).... a better explanation can be found here- http://www.aganytime.com

To me, this is another testament of God's artistry in creation.  Also something to remember while you husk your corn, fussing at those stringy silks.... without them there would be no delicious kernels. :)