2008 Grand National Rodeo & Stock Show

Here is a picture of some of the Sonoma County kids after the awards ceremonies for the 2008 Grand National Rodeo & Stock show at the San Francisco Cow Palace.

There were some big winners this year and we are all very proud of them!

If you have a moment, please check out:

http://www.savethecowpalace.com/

Baby Hampshires Born 4/1/08

Piglet #1

Cutting the cord

(Carefully handling the piglet upside down helps

clear the airway, while we clamp and cut the

umbilical cord.)

Puppy Love

(Our Black Lab "Sophie" is very protective of

all of our little ones.)

Two perfectly belted Hampshires

(They need to have perfect markings in order

to be registered with the National Swine Registry.)

Allie delivering her 1st piglet (We named him Allen)

Davis' Hampshire gilt delivered her first litter of piglets on Tuesday, April 1st.

She was a good girl and started to deliver (Farrow) around noon.

She delivered 3 boars (boys) and 1 gilt (girl). She also delivered two beautiful stillborn babies. It looks like their umbilical cord was cut in utero. It is normal for a first time momma to have a small litter. She should have a much larger one next time.

A New Addition "Milly Raye"

JorDann took possession of her Dairy Replacement Heifer on Saturday 3/29.

Milly Raye was born on 2/26/08 at Rancho Laguna Dairy (Clover) in Santa Rosa, CA.

She is a silly little calf. She runs around like a big puppy dog, and the kids managed to halter break her in 1 day. She likes to go for walks, although, she is not quite sure about all of the pigs.

Junior Pig Herder!

Cole and his pigs started doing their daily exercise routine yesterday. We are gearing up for upcoming shows at the Cow Palace, Sonoma-Marin Fair, Sonoma County Fair and the California State Fair.

It is important to work with your animals before you bring them to any show. The cane that Cole is carrying is used to train and guide the pigs. In the showring, you will be judged on the pigs appearance, your appearance and how well you work with your animal.

Dairy Replacement Heifers

Our club is starting to receive calls that their Dairy Replacement Heifers have been born, and will be ready for pick up. We are looking forward to this brand new challenge. I will post pictures as soon as we get some.

Working at the 2008 Russian River Valley Winegrowers Crab & Fennel Fest

Playing with the Heifers!

This is my son Cole with his Pop-Tab container at the 2007 California State Fair, and with his Duroc pig "Ruby"

Cole started collecting pop-tabs for the Ronald McDonald houses last year after we visited one of the houses at UC Davis. He saw the large container of pop-tabs in the office and told me that he wanted to start collecting them. This has now blossomed into a countywide collection process, with numerous 4-H clubs collecting pop-tabs for Cole.

Ruby is a gilt (never had piglets). She is going to be bred, so she will be nice and pregnant, when Cole shows her at the upcoming fairs. Cole is hoping that she will have piglets around September 15th. It takes a pig 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days to have babies. After she has her litter of piglets, she will be a "Sow" (Momma pig).

Pig, Beef & Dairy Ranchers

Working at the 2008 Sonoma County Farm Bureau Crab Feed

This crab feed was spectacular! It was fun watching all of the kids work so hard. 4-H & FFA kids from all over Sonoma County get together and work this annual event. It is great for them to spend time together and get to know each other before the competitions start taking place at our local and state fairs.

The food, wine and auction items were fantastic!

Thank you Sonoma County Farm Bureau and their supporters for the wonderful evening!

Wait....That's not a pig!

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, we are also raising two Red Angus Steers for the 2008 Sonoma County Fair, and the kids should be receiving their Dairy Replacement Calves soon.

We are very busy!

got hamps?

This is me after delivering a litter of Hampshire (Black with white belt) piglets.

The kids had gone out of town, and left me home alone with a brand new momma. She was so good and delivered during the day. Although, I was awake all night ckecking on her every hour.

Hampshire piglets have got to be the cutest newborn piglets ever! I could just smooch them all day!

Welcome!

Welcome to the North Bay Junior Livestock Breeders Blog!

This is a new blog site, focusing on Marin & Sonoma Counties Junior Livestock Breeders.

We are starting to gear up for the 2008 Fair's. The kids are caring for their Steer, Dairy, Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Chickens, Rabbits & Cavies as we speak.

The kids I know, work hard every day of the year. Not only are the kids wonderful, but their parents continue to amaze me with their kindness, strong support, patience and love.

I did not grow up a rancher or a farmer. I grew up in "yuppy" Marin. I never dreamed that I would grow up and raise pigs with my children. I knew that I always wanted a horse, now I have 4 pastured. They sure are pretty to look at!

Our family moved to a small ranch about 5 years ago. After our son Cole was born with a rare cardiac defect, we had to make some life changes. We do not know what his life expectancy is, but we knew that we wanted the best for him. I guess that meant raising pigs!

The education and experience we have gained in the past years is something to be reckoned with. From Artificial Insemination (I thought I was going to faint!), to the pregancy (Gestation), to the beautiful labor & delivery of cute little piglets! If you choose to deliver the piglets like we do, it is nothing short of a human birth. The piglet arrives, you grab it and rub it with a towel, smack it's back to get the gunk out, suction the mouth & nose, cut the cord, clamp the cord and then put the piggie to it's mother's teat. The average Sow (Momma Pig) has anywhere from 8 - 14 piglets. The average delivery time is 2-4 hours, and they usually deliver at 2 a.m. Wow!

Last year for the California State Fair, we did a lot of research for our educational displays (which we won 1st place, thanks to the help of Yosemite Meats for their patience with our questions!). Davis' (my oldest son - 13) display title was "Rescue You, Pigs Save Lives". His display focused on Pig Heart Valves, Pig Skin (for burn treatment) and medicine. Pigs save lives every day, they are amazing creatures!

Well, I hope you enjoy this blog site. This is a new venture for us. We have 3 litters of piglets right now, and one on the way at the end of the week.

Jackie