- Error
Recently I went out to the Oatmeal area ranch to see my family and visit the latest infant Pygmy goat. She was a real cutie pie born to one I had raised, a single birth instead of the usual twins. After getting my need to cuddle her out of the way I went over to say my hellos to Princess Pancake, the Duroc pig. Pancake is almost nine months old, mostly red and REAL friendly. The flat front of her nose is saucer sized and getting larger by the day, she seems to be approaching the girth of a small cow.
She is quite the show and is madly in love with my son-in-law who is the only one brave enough to get in her pen. She leans on him and demands hugs; pretty soon she will be far too large to join in the space. Durocs are one of the largest domestic pigs and the rapid growth of the ranch princess attests to this fact. Even now I worry that if she leans too much she will crush the object of her affection.
I have to admit I am not an expert on pigs so I went to the Library in Bertram to do a little research on the net. Princess’s owners plan on impregnating her by “AI”, allowing her one litter of piglets prior to sending her to the Great Pig Pen in the Sky. I have mixed emotions about this, personally, all logic aside I can’t get use to the idea that something you have named and loved can become dinner. I understand the need but I have grown too really like this behemoth.
While visiting family out of state recently my youngest grandson asked about Princess. Last June when he and his brother and parents were here they gave the little piglet to their Uncle as a gift. My grandson named it Pancake and when I asked why he said, “Cause pancakes and bacon are my favorite breakfast”. I explained how big she had gotten and my grandson’s eyes got round and he asked if you could ride her like a horse.
After a lengthy conversation of the dangers of extremely large pigs I mentioned that she was going to have a litter sometime in the spring. I couldn’t decide what to say about Pancakes ultimate direction so I was glad when he asked me how many babies pigs usually have. “Well kiddo I don’t really know but several seem to be common”.
He let out a whoop and stated, “Whoo eeeee, then there will be lots and lots and lots of bacon once Pancake and the babies are gone”. Growing up in the suburbs apparently doesn’t hide a true rancher at heart.
