Over a decade ago, adding pigs to the animals I steward was a logical next step. Having only managed small acreage and at the time on a sub-acre lot, small pigs were certainly the best option. American Guinea Hogs and Kune Kune pigs were then gaining popularity and I was enthusiastic about them....until further research revealed an unacceptably slow growth rate. Dedicating the amount of land and n
ew infrastructure necessary to raise out an animal larger than a chicken or rabbit for the amount of time required for around a hundred pounds of meat simply didn't pencil out. The prices that the AGH and Kune Kune were commanding at the time was also extremely off putting. In the same time period, pot bellied pigs were popping up for free with great regularity. Knowing that pot bellied pigs are food animals in their country of origin, I started out with what animals I could bring home and focused on selecting for conformation, growth rate and temperament. Eventually I had an opportunity to add first Berkshire and then Hereford into my breeding plans, putting a little more size on the animals produced over the years. Today, The Rooting Section hogs are excellent "gateway pigs" for urbanites and suburbanites who are interested in broadening their home grown meat options beyond poultry and rabbits.
