Another full day is winding down at Staples Farm. We started by weighing, vaccinating, and weaning our August 14th litter—our very first from boar Buzz Lightyear. These piglets tipped the scales at an impressive 28.52-pound average, making them some of the finest we’ve ever raised. Their mother, Tiana, gave birth to and raised all seven piglets, a genuine tribute to her exceptional instincts and care.
Once the piglets settled down in their training paddock, we put Woody in the paddock with Tiana. His sheer size and presence are striking—long, tall, and broad-shouldered in a way that’s hard to capture in photos. We’ll keep trying to get a shot that shows just how impressive he is in person.
After that, we weighed the feeder pigs and swapped out our Osborne Wean-to-Finish Feeder for our Osborne Big Well, which can hold a hefty 1.2 tons of feed. We trust Osborne equipment for our own operation and are proud to be an authorized dealer. If you have questions or want to learn more, email us at info@staplesfarmok.com. We recently built a custom skid for the Big Wheel feeder (see second photo), which made relocating it far easier.
It rained for about 15 minutes this afternoon. While it didn’t do much more than settle the dust, we’re still grateful for every drop. We will begin accepting deposits for butcher pigs next month. Please let us know if you have any questions or if you'd like to reserve a pig.
-Leo
#OsborneLivestockEquipment
10
1
Friday evening Bed Check, and all the pigs and sheep are enjoying the cooler weather. During the quiet time at the end of the day, animals are generally more settled, making it easier to catch health or injury issues before they get out of hand. As we moved into winter, we used this final check of the day to make sure the shelters were full of hay, and the animals had water.
Tonight, I snapped a photo of what I believe is a Spotted Orb-weaver spider, now making its home near one of the pig paddocks. These remarkable spiders are valuable allies on the farm by helping control mosquitoes, flies, and moths. Best of all, they pose no harm to humans and quietly contribute to the balance of our ecosystem.
-Leo
#agreenerworld, #ecdysisfoundation, #FACEAgNetwork
16
1
By participating in the Ecdysis Foundation’s Project Avalanche, we’re able to track the health of our farm’s entire ecosystem in real time. As an added benefit, Ecdysis is conducting meat nutrient density testing to determine if more biodiverse farming practices yield food with greater nutritional value. This Monday, we’ll be sending a 1 ¼” Berkshire pork chop overnight to Ecdysis for analysis.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: 100% Berkshire pork isn’t just another white meat. Our pigs are raised without daily doses of antibiotics, growth hormones, or performance-enhancing feed additives. The result is pork with a deep red color, a bold pork flavor, and higher levels of Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Omega-3 fatty acids compared to confinement-raised pork. Good or bad, I’ll share the nutrient-density test results as soon as they’re available.
If you want to be sure you’re getting genuine Berkshire pork, check our USDA-approved label. It reads “Pasture-Raised Berkshire Pork.” This designation was granted only after a thorough review of our registration papers and our Animal Welfare Approved certification from A Greener World. When you buy from us, or one of the companies that stock our pork, you know your farmer, and you know your food.
-Leo
#ecdysisfoundation, #agreenerworld
10
2
Our 2 Year Berkshire Boar, Woody (BTC 4 Purdy 19-2 Reg#aba 196967002)
13
Most agricultural work is unseen by the consumers. Late nights too often lead to early mornings, followed by long days. So, why do farmers and ranchers do it? Our reward comes from having a front-row seat to nature’s cycles up close and forming a deep connection with the animals we care for. Those quiet moments watching new life emerge, seeing our livestock thrive, and witnessing how regenerative practice restores the land are the true rewards of this life.
-Leo
14
1
