our pregnant purebred berkshire berkley

about  a month ago, our berkshire boar—and only boar—bosko, was sent to slaughter, officially closing a chapter in pch history—or so we thought.  after weeks of enjoying bosko’s meat, and reminiscing about the good times, his spirit emerges again—an heir to the throne (shot of conception). 

berkeley, a female purebred berkshire we selected to remain in the program as a sow, is showing signs of pregnancy.  after oprah’s death, and the ceasefire called on the pch breeding program, it’s very exciting to be surprised with another chance at birthing piglets. 

berkeley’s litter, which were young and pudgy when i moved down to georgia, grew up to be the most fantastically delicious hogs i have ever tasted.  memories of certain pork chops, certain pieces of bacon, and certain sausages, are branded in my mind and my mouth forever.  these hogs represent my freshman semester as a farmer, and they form the foundation of my reference point.   

furthermore, personality wise, berkeley is one of the sweetest and relaxed pigs in ther herd.  she lives in a separate paddock with tammy, our herd’s matriarch, and sort of gets the shit end of the stick due to tammy’s dominance.  she has a kind look in her eyes that just begs for an extra pile of food to be poured on the side, away from tammy’s hoarding.  and of course, i always oblige.

look at that round belly.