Rebecca Jeans Morel
Rebecca comes from a litter of 14 piglets. Unfortunately, the first 10 of Rebecca’s siblings were stillborn because of a uterine torsion prior to birthing. Consequently, the sow’s milk production, which had been readying itself for a large litter, virtually shut down, and the mother pig forgot that she had piglets to care for. Within two days of birthing, 3 more piglets had died, leaving one thin, weak little piglet.
Our friends Lily and Satya Athair happened to visit the farm to harvest some u-pick beans, and as usual, they wanted to see our pigs. Lily (the founder of Morel Compass) is a fellow vendor at the Port Angeles Farmers’ Market, and is a lover of piglets. A year or so ago, when she was about four, Satya sold handmade cards at the market and helped with other chores to earn enough money to purchase a runt from us to raise on their farm. So Satya knew what type of care a little pig needs. When she saw our hungry little orphan piglet, she immediately offered to help feed her, crooning soft words of reassurance as she held the little pig up to the milk jug.
It was obvious that the piglet needed some fulltime loving care, and that Satya and her mother were just the people to give it to her.
They loaded her up in a box, and took her home, waking up every couple of hours that first night to feed her. Amazingly, the little piglet survived, with many hands chipping in to take on the feeding. As with most pigs, Rebecca Jeans Morel, liked to eat, and she grew strong and perky with the attention she received. In a few weeks it was time for her to return to the farm.
Back at Wild Edge, Rebecca continues to be a very sociable pig. She enjoys accompanying Jim on his rounds,
and comes over to greet all visitors to the farm, even accompanying us on an occasional farm tour. For companionship we paired her up with an older pig that needed a pen mate, and have allowed her to “free range” with the chickens, and munch through the chick weed in the garden.
It’s fun to watch Rebecca in her full “pig-ness.” She has impressed Jim with her good conformation and color, as well as her friendly disposition, and with luck she will carry her mother’s genetic trait for large litters. It would be great to have such a good pig around for a long time.
Anyone heard the joke about the three-legged pig?