Schmidt Homesteaders

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving Yall
Here's a short Youtube video I made a couple yrs ago. When I started the group.

Here's something I played with. Edit number 2 with copyright disclaimer. Maybe this time it won't be blocked lol.

10/09/2025

People often ask, Why do you have pigs? Let me illustrate. This fall, we leveraged our pigs to naturally revitalize and expand our garden plot within a single week. Beyond facilitating tilling, weeding, aeration, fertilization, and additional benefits, our pigs will also contribute to stocking our freezers with wholesome, non-GMO, pasture-raised pork. Through judicious rotation and pasture grazing, we ensure the long-term health of our soil, gardens, and pastures, all while avoiding chemical pesticides.

10/06/2025

The best kind of security: knowing you can provide for your own.

10/06/2025

TY at Homestead Indiana for the add and tag. Check them out if you would like to find Homestead/Farmstand near you and support local.

We have 117 locations mapped across Indiana!

Welcome to the Homestead Indiana Map!

4Bros Farm, Dancing Gardens Medicinal Herb Farm & Garden Consulting, 225 Cornerstone Custom Creations, The Jeneral Store , Rising Sun Homestead, IrishMudd LLC, Sweet Anniebelles, No Name Salsa, Lovely bean & Schmidt Homesteaders, The Farmstand & Two By Two Bakery

Please let me know if there are any errors in your modals or location!

10/06/2025

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF MISSED HEAT IN PIG FARMING.
Do you know that not breeding your sow/gilt while on heat comes with a cost??, new farmers and investors listen any missed heat has an implication, it means financial loss because you have to feed her 21 days before she comes on heat again. Here’s a whole breakdown what it means to a farmer 🧑‍🌾 economically below 👇.
If you don’t breed a sow or gilt while she is on heat (estrus), there are several economic impacts that can affect profitability in pig production. Here’s a breakdown:
⸻
1. Wasted Heat Cycle
• A gilt/sow comes into heat every 18–24 days if not mated.
• Missing a heat cycle delays conception, which delays farrowing (piglet birth).
• Economic effect: Each missed cycle means about 3 weeks lost in production. Over time, this reduces the total number of litters and piglets produced per year.
⸻
2. Reduced Lifetime Productivity
• Gilts have a limited number of productive parities (litters). Delaying first service reduces her lifetime output.
• Example: If a gilt farrows first at 12 months instead of 10 months, you lose one full cycle of piglets over her breeding life.
⸻
3. Feed & Maintenance Costs
• Each extra non-productive day (when the sow is alive but not pregnant or lactating) costs money in feed, housing, labor, and healthcare.
• On average, a non-productive sow day costs #3000–5000 naira/day (this can vary by country).
⸻
4. Lower Farrowing Rate
• Repeatedly skipping heats or failing to mate on time may reduce conception rates in future cycles.
• In gilts, delaying first mating beyond 8–9 months of age can lead to poorer reproductive performance and smaller litters.
⸻
5. Impact on Pig Flow & Market Supply
• Commercial farms often plan piglet batches for weaning, growing, and marketing.
• Skipped cycles disrupt this schedule, leading to:
• Empty farrowing crates.
• Irregular piglet supply.
• Reduced slaughter pig flow, affecting cash flow.
⸻
6. Opportunity Cost
• By not breeding during a heat, you lose the chance to produce ~10–14 piglets (depending on litter size).
• That’s lost revenue from piglet sales or reduced stock for fattening.
⸻
✅ Summary:
Not mating a sow/gilt in heat leads to wasted time, higher feed costs, fewer piglets per year, and lower overall profitability. In commercial terms, each missed heat is a direct economic loss.
Please be intentional about missing heat in your business because obviously from my explanation you are practically doing awoof (financial giveaway) for your staffs and animals while not being productive. STOP IT NOW if you want to be profitable.
Thanks for reading..
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10/05/2025

🌿✨ Natural W**d Killer ✨🌿

1️⃣ Ingredients
• 1 liter of white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of biodegradable dish soap

2️⃣ Preparation
• Pour the vinegar into a large bucket or spray bottle.
• Slowly add the baking soda, as it will fizz.
• Mix in the dish soap gently.

3️⃣ Application
• Transfer the solution into a spray bottle.
• Spray directly on weeds during dry, sunny days.

🔑 Tip: the dish soap helps the mixture stick to the leaves, while vinegar and baking soda dry out the plant all the way to the roots.

10/05/2025

The Secret to Bigger Litters in Pigs 🐷✨

Every pig farmer dreams of having more piglets per sow because bigger litters mean higher profitability and faster herd growth. But here’s the truth: larger litters are not just about luck — they are the result of good timing, smart feeding, and proper management.

If you want to consistently achieve 10–14 piglets per litter, here are the secrets you must master:

1️⃣ Detect Heat Early 🔍

The success of breeding starts with identifying heat (oestrus) on time. A sow or gilt in heat shows signs such as restlessness, swollen/red v***a, mounting other pigs, and standing still when pressure is applied on her back.

👉 Missing heat signs means missed breeding opportunities, leading to empty sows and wasted time.

2️⃣ Mate at the Right Time ⏰

🐷Timing is everything.

🐷Gilts (first-time breeders): Mate 12 hours after first standing heat.

🐷Sows (experienced breeders): Mate 24 hours after first standing heat.

🐷This ensures eggs are ready for fertilization, maximizing the chances of bigger litters.

3️⃣ Flush Feeding Before Mating 🍽️

One of the biggest secrets to larger litters is flushing — feeding sows and gilts on a high-energy, protein-rich diet 7–10 days before mating.

✔️ It increases ovulation rate.
✔️ It improves embryo survival.
✔️ It strengthens body condition for pregnancy.

Simple additions like maize germ, soya meal, or commercial sow & weaner meal can make a huge difference.

4️⃣ Minimize Stress During Breeding 🧘‍♂️

Stress lowers conception rates and can even lead to embryo loss. Avoid:

🐷Overcrowding
🐷Excessive handling
🐷 Mixing unfamiliar pigs during breeding

Provide a quiet, clean, and comfortable environment so that the sow’s body can focus on reproduction.

5️⃣ Improve Genetics with Artificial Insemination (AI) 🧬

🐷Using AI gives access to proven boar semen with superior fertility and growth traits. This not only increases litter size but also improves piglet uniformity and overall performance.

🚀 The Payoff🐷🐷🐷

Farmers who follow these steps consistently achieve 10–14 piglets per litter instead of the usual 6–8. That’s the difference between a struggling piggery and a profitable one.

💡 Remember: Bigger litters don’t come by chance — they come by choice and management.

10/05/2025

CONVERSION OF ANIMAL WASTE TO BIOGAS

Animal waste like cow, pig, and poultry dung can be turned into biogas through anaerobic digestion. This process, carried out by microorganisms in an oxygen-free environment, creates a clean and sustainable energy source.

HOW IT WORKS:
1. Waste is collected and mixed with water to form a slurry.
2. The slurry is fed into an anaerobic digester where microbes break it down.
3. Biogas, mainly methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), rises and is collected.
4. Biogas is used for cooking, electricity, and heating.
5. The remaining digestate serves as a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
- Reduces energy costs for households and farms.
- Cuts fertilizer expenses.
- Creates income through excess biogas or electricity sales.
- Improves waste management efficiency.
- Generates employment in plant construction and maintenance.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
- Provides a renewable energy source.
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane.
- Prevents deforestation by limiting firewood dependency.
- Improves sanitation and reduces contamination.
- Supports carbon neutrality by maintaining the natural carbon cycle.

Biogas production is a sustainable, cost-effective solution that transforms waste into valuable energy while benefiting communities and the environment. Turn waste into wealth today!

10/05/2025

What do you all think of this program

For 25 years, the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program has helped family farms and livestock operations grow stronger through smart, affordable storage solutions. In Green County, Kentucky, Milton Arnett of Double R Farms used the program to protect his investment and boost the quality of feed for his cattle. He built a hoop-style hay barn, added handling equipment, and installed a grain bin.

For a quarter century, family-owned agricultural operations have received low-interest financing through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL) to enhance their operations through on-farm storage solutions. Milton Arnett in Green County, Kentucky, has leveraged ...