11/12/2024
Let’s talk about pigs ….
I’ve had TONS of people say , “ we tried to raise pigs and it took forever for them to get big …. And they were small, then after we butchered them they had a bunch of fat and not that much meat”
And I said “ we’re they Kunekune’s ? “
They’re answer is always “yes”
What pi**es me off is someone saying
“ you have to raise these Kunekune pigs to get the best possible pork “
Ohhh for F’s sake , that’s an opinion , everyone is entitled to theirs
But don’t be spreading your BS to everyone. People that don’t know about pigs may take your rhetoric as gospel , make a decision , and possibly a mistake.
Tell your experiences and explain your point of view, that’s ok.
Tell how you raise them, how you butcher them , what you got from them.
But quit saying that’s the only way to raise pigs.
There are may ways to raise a pig, some are better , some are worse
ALL have their advantages and disadvantages
The factors are , Budget, land( how much or little ) , work involved and ethics
Everyone has different circumstances and goals, both of which , need to be addressed before deciding on which breed and method of raising pigs.
Here is how I raise my pigs , that I sell and feed 20-30 family’s every year.
I have a well insulated barn for them to be inside when it’s cold outside
They also have an outdoor space to root around in, yes it’s a pen, approx 30’x30’
We use self feeders , they can go outside and eat anytime they want to and never go hungry. They are placed as far away from the water supply as possible , which encourages exercise.
We talk to em and give em scratches often
They’re happy
We feed exclusively a certified Non-GMO , corn and soy free grain, it contains all the minerals they need.
We raise a traditional meat pig , like Duroc or Hampshire or Red Wattle
They will reach 250-300 lbs in 6-7 months , and eat 800-1000 lbs of this feed in that time
After butcher they will weigh 180-200 lbs of a very well proportioned fat/muscle meat , and enough leaf lard to easily last a year with normal use.
We chose this breed and method to sell to make money for the farm
You sell what people want or you don’t sell many ….so
I’m not saying this is the best way to raise a pig , or the cheapest
It’s the way that works on our farm.
Think about what you want , how you want it raised. Then decide your breed and method before buying Weiner pigs.
( this picture depicts a pen raised, grain fed hog. That weighs 180 lbs whole hanging )
