Piggys go for a truck ride

Hi All;  
Today is the big day for the piggys. Their going for a truck ride to meet the butcher!  I moved the pickup down to their pen last week. A new feeder is in the truck, the room with their other feeder has been closed off.
This of course has distressed one of the pigs ,  Mighty is the biggest pig, also the whiniest piggy. You never heard so much noise coming from a pig. She hardly let the others eat at all.
One of the pigs is probably #80 lighter than the other two simply because the big one whined her way in and wouldn't leave.
I call it the piggy rodeo when I lock them in the truck... some years it really is a rodeo.  This year for the first two days the whiner wouldn't get in the truck ... walk up the ramp get to the top and sit looking longingly at the feeder 6'  away with both her sisters fighting over who gets to eat now that the fat girl seems to be on a diet... After 2 days (i was shocked) she finally thought eating would be better than watching and started her old trick squealing grunting, barking, bullying her way  to the feeder which she promptly emptied !
On Monday I cut back their feed ... on Tuesday morning I only put 1/2 a sack in the feeder (OMG WERE GONA STARVE) it was gone in moments ,mainly to the big one.  I then went over to the apple tree paddock and shook down dozens of mackintosh apples to tide them over.  The rest of the day they went back and forth from the orchard to the feeder (WHY IS HE STARVING US ???)
At three I filled the feeder ... had to stand back to let three piggys and me be in the back of a pickup truck (TIGHT FIT ) they were so busy arguing about who got to eat (WE KNOW WHO WON) that they didn't even notice the gate closing behind them.  A short ride up to the ranch and then they spend the night in the truck.  
This morning at 6 we head off on the 65 mile drive to the butcher...  
Next Wednesday they get to ride home in the Subaru. :)

What a great way to get the pigs comfortable with the truck. I may never have thought of this. like ever. Does your butcher skin or scrape the pigs? Off the 3 pigs, what percentage of weight do you think you will get back? I'm looking forward to doing our own butchering in another few weeks, and curious how it goes with a custom butcher shop.

Home from my trip to the butcher (Sandpoint , ID ) Everything went smoothly. Well driving a 45 year old 4 wd truck is less than smooth at times but a  very professional business.  Easy load ramps to accommodate different height vehicles. easy open gates to guide them to a holding pen.  Paper work for usda filled out and buyers names given.  I bring in three pigs but only one is for us . The other buyers arrange their own cutting .
I will call them in the morning to get the hanging weights.
She can be picked up next Thursday.
Oh boy her ride in the Subaru .... in little white pacs

Tony;
They skin , not scrape. I have used 3 different butchers over the years and none offered to do a skin on.

Thomas, I’m planning on a skin on harvest. I would like to do a scald and scrape, but I will probably end up with a scorch since I already have a propane torch and farming has become an expensive hobby this first year. When I grow up I’m hoping to have some sort of mobile custom set-up ala Brandon Sheard.

Just talked to the butcher , here are their hanging weights.

Mighty(aka the fat girl)  #226
Einie(the nice one) #215

And last but not least is Meenie( the friendliest one, also the runt)  #130

This year I am having very little ground breakfast sausage made... instead I have them giving me #1 packs of unflavored ground pork.... I'm perfecting my Home made East Coast Hot Italian Sausage recipe.... Hmmm GOOD