Illinois Farm Families Blog

All I have ever heard about pig farms is that you don't want to be downwind of one! That is absolutely true!  Fortunately we weren't immediately met with the smell but were greeted by Chris Gould who was pleasant and informative.  His parents Eldon and Sandy were there to answer questions and give, often times humorous, anecdotes about farm life.  His sister, who is a vet, was also there to help support the information. The Gould's were well spoken and intelligent. We spent a good hour in their office listening to the history of the farm and learning facts about everything from pig breeding and reproduction to how often and what the pigs are fed.  I can honestly say I learned a considerable amount of information about pigs. It is obvious that the Gould family cares about their farm and their animals. 

We went to the barns next.  We needed to dress up in hazmat suits before entering the barns themselves because the pigs are so susceptible to outside germs and diseases.  Approximately four years ago the pigs caught some virus which contributed to a great loss for the Goulds.  After getting into our garb, we were told of the smell in the barns and how intense it could be. Upon entering you are greeted by a mixture of ammonia and rotten eggs.  So much so, I wondered if it was safe to be breathing that in for an hour?! (not to mention the workers who breath that in for hours, or the pigs, which is all they breathe.) We walked down a long hallway into the main barn where the pigs are housed and fed hormone free food.  There were rows and rows of pigs just standing or lying down. All the pigs seemed content and stress-free. We got to witness Chris Gould artificially inseminating one of the sows. She was first excited by the male pig who was brought over with a leash and paraded in front of her.  Insemination takes very little time or effort on the pigs part.  The farm gets semen delivered every other day during the week and they inseminate the pig for two days in a row.  The pigs are marked with different color stripes to differentiate who is on the first or second day of insemination and who is pregnant. After a brief description of how they get fed we were off to the birthing rooms.

 We walked in on a mother giving birth and got to witness first hand the first breaths of two little piglets. That was definitely the highlight of my farm tour!  The pigs stand up and wobble over to the mother's teets and fight their way to get the first taste of colostrum.  Turns out that if the piglets are having problems with getting over to the mom, they will be helped because it is important for their immunity health to have that colostrum within the first 15 minutes of life.  We were able to hold the piglets and shown how to recognize the runts of the groups. After about 5 days they have their tails clipped off  to avoid any unnecessary biting from other pigs and the males get their testicles removed. They are moved into another section of the barn after they are a few days old.  They get to stay with their moms until they are weaned.

We then had a lovely lunch and informative presentation from Janeen Salak-Johnson.  Ms. Johnson is a U of I professor and was quite persuasive in letting us know that pig housing should be based on animal behavior and well being not on emotional issues.  All in all what it comes down to is that we are raising animals to try and feed the world, which is ever expanding.  I have to wonder that if we lived in a less demanding world, would we be raising livestock differently? Could we have more farms with less animals? If we tried not to feed the world, would we do things differently? I really struggled this time around with the use of animals as food.  I am so fortunate to have this opportunity to see first-hand how my food is brought to the table and I am in no way taking that for granted. I am, however, questioning my decisions about food and meat.  For me, my emotions got in the way of my intellect, but again, I am only human. In the end, the Gould family is doing their part to feed the world and from what I could tell they are doing a fine job of it.

Amy Rossi

Field Mom

Last weekend I ventured out with my fellow Field Moms to Chris Gould’s farm, not far from the big city.  We learned about his family’s history with farming, toured the facilities, had lunch, and heard from an expert about some current issues in pork production that are having an impact on a global level.

Having recently read responses on the Watch Us Grow blog to McDonald’s decision to require its pork suppliers to stop using gestation stalls, I was particularly interested in seeing the living conditions of the pigs on the farm.  While it was a little shocking to see all the pigs lined up in stalls, it was actually a much calmer, cleaner, humane environment than the media had led me to believe.

What’s important to remember is that it really is in the farmer’s best interests to take good care of their animals.  Even if all they cared about was making money, they would still treat their animals as well as possible, because more animals thriving equals a larger profit for the farmer.  That’s not to say that farmers have an emotional attachment to each animal they raise, because they don’t – and I think that’s hard for a lot of us non-farmers to understand.  People like Chris Gould and Pam Janssen aren’t raising pigs to be family pets – they’re raising them to meet the nutritional needs of our ever-growing global population.  There is a huge, important difference there.  These pigs are food – not pets. 

Even so, clearly the farmers care about the animals’ well-being, and are always looking for ways to improve upon current systems of production.  I really loved hearing Dr. Janeen Salak-Johnson, a researcher from the University of Illinois, speak to us about gestation stalls – why they’re used, and the pros and cons of some alternative methods.  It’s easy to see a picture of a pig in a stall and jump to conclusions about that pig’s quality of life, but that’s why I’m so happy to be a Field Mom – I actually got to see how the pigs were treated firsthand.  I didn’t see a single pig that I thought was being abused, neglected, or otherwise mistreated.  On the contrary, I could see how the crates actually keep the pigs healthy by allowing the farmers to efficiently and safely provide them with quality care.

I wrote a blog post a few months ago about how being a Field Mom was enabling me to find my own truth – without any spin from the media, activitists, or corporations.  I wish every consumer could have these experiences, because they truly are eye-opening, and I believe seeing these things firsthand is the only way to really make educated, fact-based decisions about where your food is coming from.

Betsie Estes

Field Mom

Elk Grove Village

I hate the feeling of being in the dark, like someone is trying to pull one over on me.  I get that pit feeling in my stomach when I learn that something I thought or believed is actually different than I thought and someone has been purposely hiding important information from me.   This is especially true when it comes to the food I buy to feed to my family.  I want it to be EXACTLY what I think it is, nothing hidden or shady going on behind the scenes before the food gets to my table.  And so much of what we read these days about main-stream farming claims that there are shady things going on all the time.  And there may be in some places.  But that's the beauty of the Field Moms program: I am actually looking behind the supermarket curtain to see for myself what is going on before the food leaves the farm.  And from what I have seen so far, no one is trying to pull anything over on anyone.

Last Saturday, I was blessed to go on another farm tour with the IL Farm Families.  Instead of beef and corn, this time we delved into the world of pork production and all that this operation entails.  We spent the day with the Gould family at their farm located about 50miles west of the Loop between St. Charles and DeKalb.  One of the most special things about being a Field Mom is the opportunity to meet these amazing farming families and see how passionate they are about what they do. Chris Gould and his father Eldon talked and walked us through every part of raising pigs, from collecting from the boar (an interesting conversation! ) to inseminating the sow to the birth of the piglets and all the care of the animals across all stages of the process.  I know more now about a sow's cycle than I ever thought I would.  But it is all so interesting- how the farmers know pretty much to the day when she will deliver her piglets (115day gestation) and how long she should nurse them and how to help transition her to getting pregnant again just a few days later.  Not much rest  for that weary sow.  :)  And to us city/suburban moms, it seems difficult to not get attached to these mama and baby pigs.  But to the Goulds, it is their livelihood. The cuteness of the baby piglets is not lost on them.  They still marvel at a brand new litter trying to nurse from their mama and their instinct to survive.  But this is their business and to them the pigs are born for a purpose and the mamas are there to give birth to more piglets and so the cycle goes.

It's not cruel, quite the opposite.  They have every motivation and desire to care for the animals and treat them with dignity.  The better the animals are treated and cared for, it is better for everyone involved.  Eldon Gould even commented that they "treat each sow as an individual.  They are some pampered pigs!"

While touring the barns, Chris Gould made a point to talk about the  stalls that the pregnant sows live in during their gestation time.  "Gestational stalls" are apparently quite the controversial topic, one that I seriously had NEVER heard of before our tour last Saturday.  The EU has put all these regulations in place on pig farms saying they have to stop using this system by 2013.  McDonalds just came out and said they promised to not buy any pork from producers who use stalls and several other companies are following suit.  How have I not heard about this?  Have you?

The argument is that the stalls are inhumane and that they limit the sows ability to perform natural behaviors, causing her distress.  On the tour, we had the pleasure of talking with Janeen Johnson, a professor at Uof I who specializes in animal science and welfare issues.  She has done extensive research worldwide on the best way to house the sows and the piglets- from open pastures to tight crates. Her conclusion?  Gestational stalls are a "viable system that needs to change and improve but needs to be based on actual scientific research on sow welfare."  Fair enough.  From what we heard and saw (in pictures), sows are very hierarchical and will harm and even kill each other if they are left in open pens.  The stalls provide a safe environment for the sows and help the farmer to manage their feed and healthcare with greater accuracy and benefit.

But it is easy to get bogged down in the details.  Here is my bottom line:  The Gould's is not an "organic" pig farm.  They use gestational stalls to house their sows and farrowing (the term for the sow giving birth) stalls when the sow gets to that point.  And some people would shake their head at these facts and say we shouldn't eat meat from these farms.  But from what I saw, that is just not true.  These pigs seem content and well cared for. The entire Gould family does everything they can do to make the pork that comes from their farm the absolute healthiest and highest quality meat they possibly can. And they are constantly trying to improve.  And to me, that is important.

I am not saying I am throwing the idea of organic food out the window.  I am still a huge proponent of eating organic when we can and trying to reduce the  "middle-men" when it comes to taking my food from farm to table. I want to know that no one is mistreating animals in order to cut a few corners.  And the idea of GMOs truthfully frightens me and I need to learn more about that.  But to meet farmers like the Goulds and the Martzs and the Drendles and the Moores (we go to their farm next) is to see that they are not trying to cheat nature to get more profit.  They are not trying to pull anything over on the public in the name of personal financial gain.  They are families, doing the best they can to produce food that is safe and nutritious and in enough quantities to feed the greater population of our planet.  They feel a duty to care for the animals and the earth and their consumers.  They are up front about what they do, never shying from questions.  Someone said that they are so disconnected from the consumer that they feel like a "small agriculture island surrounded by an urban sea."   They just want it all to be out on the table.  And so do I.

I know that not everyone can go see the farm for themselves (although they have all said that their doors are always open).  And I feel so grateful to be one of the lucky moms who does get to see these farms first hand and help bridge the gap between farmer and consumer.  But most importantly, I love that I am getting the facts.  ALL the facts.  And so far, what I have seen and learned is amazing.  I left the farm last Saturday feeling a little swimmy from having heard SO much information.  But mostly grateful for people who are willing to say what is true.  They are doing their part to make sure we as consumers have the information we need to make informed food choices.  And that is SO important to me.  And I'm sure to you too.

Don't try to pursue me.  Or trick me.  Or sneak one by.  Just give me the facts.  ALL the facts.  And let me make up my own mind.   And these farmers are doing just that.

Farrah Brown

Field Mom

As soon as we got on the bus, I was excited and eager to speak with Pam Janssen. We Field Moms peppered her with question after question.  She was a great sport along with Tim (Maiers, Illinois Pork Producers) in answering all our questions, from how the pigs are kept to even how they are bred! I enjoyed the candid conversation very much. We had a lively conversation going, and before we knew it, we were already at Gould Farm.

We were led into the farmhouse where we met Eldon Gould and his wife, Sandy, along with Chris. We sat down and were treated to another awesome conversation opportunity where we were able to ask a million questions and everyone was so nice to answer our many inquiries! I was interested in hearing how the farm has been operating since its beginnings in 1972. Also, Eldon spoke on why the farm needed to take steps in the 1980s to minimize risk to the farm by changing to contract production. It was also very interesting to hear straight from Eldon about the steps taken to improve care to the animals around that time. I was really interested to learn that pigs don’t sweat and are very susceptible to problems with extremes in weather as a result. Housing them in pens in barns is so much more humane than being out in changing weather conditions. I can’t imagine being pregnant, not being able to sweat, and having to be outside in an Illinois summer!

From there, we took our tour. We were dressed in lovely Tyvek suits – to protect the pigs, not us! (I think the highly useful and protective plastic shoe-covering boots we were given were more for us!) My first observation once we entered the barns was that the smell was not at all as strong or offensive as I might have thought. Matter of fact, the hallway was much more pungent leading to the actual gestation barn than the barn itself. Once we entered the barn, I was amazed at how quiet it was. I guess I may have had a preconceived notion that there may be much more noise and squealing overall than there really was. The majority of the sows near to us at the entrance stood up and “checked us out” as we walked in. Something interesting and new! Many of the sows tried to nibble our suits and sniff our feet. It was interesting to be able to witness the insemination of one sow, and also witness the reaction of other sows who were ready to be bred as the “teaser boar” was walked nearby. That was when we heard all the squealing! I was impressed by the condition of the sows; very content, quiet, and overall appearing in excellent health with no visible scratches or lameness or issues. It wasn’t something I necessarily had thought about prior to visiting the farm, but it seemed like the sows were very happy in their conditions, even if they couldn’t turn around or move “freely” out of their pens.

Watching the birth of piglets was amazing, too. I liked that the mother sow had room to lay down and feed her piglets and that the piglets could run around her wherever. Holding a squealing piglet was also a fun experience! I noticed the heat lamps for the piglets. Something Chris said that was really interesting was that all the barn rooms are on an alarm system for the temperatures of the rooms. It is really nice to know that the farmers take that much care to ensure the best possible conditions for their livestock!

We had lunch and a great presentation and discussion thereafter about the European Union and their decision to start implementing their opinion of “more humane” treatment of livestock, including open penning of gestating sows. I was very interested to hear the actual science and the fact that Janeen Salek-Johnson (U of Illinois) had gone to Denmark and done research over there about their methodologies. It is sad to hear that people with misinformation or some “sway” in the political environment have attempted to  change the entire industry’s practices (and over in the EU been successful) based on emotionalism and lack of logic. Janeen had taken pictures of the behaviors she witnessed over there in the open pens, and we learned  all about the “pecking order” that sows normally operate under. I couldn’t imagine that being in a more “open” pen helps the sows not have as much stress, when they’re mounting each other or biting each other in sensitive areas. It doesn’t seem to be as humane as having each sow in her own protected pen as the industry has been doing for years and years. As the farmers noted, it is best to have each sow in the best conditions possible, for feeding, watering, and overall general health, as these sows will produce better litters and better products for the consuming public!

I didn’t want our tour to end, although I felt a little overwhelmed with the information I received! Overall it was a great experience and I learned some great things. I left the farm very satisfied with the knowledge that it is in the livestock industry’s best interest to devote time and resources to ensuring the utmost care and concern for our consumption animals in this country. I’m confident in our farmers and their ability to ensure the animals’ welfare and the end result being an excellent product to feed my family!

Jenn Weiss
Field Mom
Chicago, IL

As I walk into the gestation barn, I see rows of stalls with sows in them and the feed hoppers above them that hold their meals.  I am greeted with “hello” grunts and “wondering what I came in for” grunts.  The sows by the door instantly tell the entire barn that I came in.  The sows at the far end of the barn know I came in before I even get completely thru the doorway and shut the door again.  As I walk down the rows, sows throughout the barn are talking to me and to each other with grunts and soft squeals. 

Now if it were feeding time - and they know when it is feeding time!   - the grunts would be very different, harsher.  They have no patience waiting for their meals and they let you know it.  They squeal and complain until the feed is in front of them.  You cannot feed them fast enough as far as they are concerned.  They know the feeding schedule and expect us to keep it. 

Sows sleep most of the day, so it is common to walk in and see everyone asleep.  Usually some sows by the door will notice I came in but do not tell the other sows because they have no reason for concern, they know me.  The barn will be quiet and peaceful except for some snoring.  Other times when the barn is asleep, if I have surprised a sow as I walk in, she will jump up and that will make the entire barn jump up.  I get a lot of questioning grunts wondering what is going on until the sows completely wake up and word gets around that it was just me that walked in and that everything is fine.  Apparently whoever was supposed to be in charge of watching the door fell asleep.  

When the sows are awake they can be found interacting with their neighbors, rooting at the floor, they love to chew on anything they can get a hold of so they chew on the stalls, playing with the water, rubbing on the stalls to scratch an itch - or it just feels good. 

Sometime during the day there is excitement throughout the barn when a boar (male pig) will walk thru.  He helps us find sows that are not pregnant and are in heat.  Even the sows that are pregnant will take the opportunity to talk to him or maybe it’s about him.  The noise level increases during this time with grunts, squeals and even some of what we call barks.  When there is a sow in heat she can squeal a high pitch squeal, root around more than normal, her mouth foaming; she wants to pick on her neighbor, and is trying to climb.  She is looking for the boar.  To someone who is not familiar with sows it would appear she is in distress and unhappy, but these are natural behaviors when sows are in heat.

Sows are walked into and out of the gestation barn whenever they need to be moved for any reason.  Whether they need to move to another barn, or are being moved to farrowing where they have their babies.
 
These are just some of the activities that happen in the gestation barn on the hog farm where I am an employee.  There are gestation stalls and an electronic feed system on the farm.  In the past I have also raised sows that were gestated outside.  Among these different housing systems I believe sows are very content, peaceful and happy in gestation stalls.  I do not see signs of distress or aggravation from the sows.

Brenda Schubbe

Knox County Pork Producers

 In recent years, many in agriculture, especially livestock producers, have shut their doors to play “defense” against negative publicity.  We advise opening our doors and taking the “offensive” with positive publicity.  For certain, not everything related to raising livestock is neat and clean, but that doesn’t make our system inhumane.  On the contrary, our animals have greater comfort, nutrition, health, and safety then they could possibly expect in the wild or even in pastures.  Heck, our animals live better than many humans.  But more on all that on March 10.

For starters, we’ll meet in our heated shop and give some background on the operation and the families that are involved.  My parents, Eldon and Sandy, are semi-retired, but Dad still takes a fairly active role in managing the hogs.  Mom helps with keeping production records.  I help with the hogs somewhat, but focus more on crop production.  My wife, Dana, helps with accounting, and keeps our three kids where they’re supposed to be when I’m working long hours in the fields.  Also in attendance will be my sister, Lynda, a veterinarian, and Janeen Johnson, a researcher at the University of Illinois.

Some things we’ll talk about are the care we give our animals to keep them warm in the winter, cool in the summer, properly fed, and otherwise healthy and content.  We’ll talk about the technology we use to determine animal condition, ensure the pregnancy status of the sows (mothers), and maximize proper nutrition of all the animals.  The highlight of the day will be a tour through the buildings, allowing the Farm Moms to see what we do and ask any questions they might have.

And yes, we’ll even have some pork as part of an indoor “picnic” lunch in our heated shop.

Chris Gould
Farmer
Elburn, Illinois