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WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) -- Farmer Clay Trainum whistled at a group of young boars from a distance, urging them to greet him on a recent afternoon at Autumn Olive Farms on the outskirts of Waynesboro.
"Come on, boys," he encouraged from the other side of the fence before giving a sharp whistle.
The breed of medium-sized black boars is a cross between Berkshire and Ossabaw Island hogs, with plump bodies and dark bristly fur.
"We selected them based on their confirmation," Trainum said. "We know that their father has given us thousands of piglets and two different boars."
Trainum continued to shout and whistle to the four-month-old boars. Finally, as one of the boars looked up, they all waddled their short legs rapidly toward him. Trainum held out his rough palm so the boars could sniff him. The long-time farmer said the boars often nip and push one another out of jealousy for his attention.
"They like to embarrass me," Trainum jokingly said.
The pigs live happily out on the farm. They play in the mud, run around the large field they're sectioned off in, and enjoy the nutritious food given to them daily. Eventually, they will be sold to fine dining restaurants and artisan butcher houses throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.