Round Butte Kunekune Ranch

08/27/2026

Community is the backbone of everything we do. A huge thank you to everyone who helped us stock up on livestock feed this week! We truly couldn't do it without you.
~ Brett and Emily

08/26/2026

Winter is coming, and that means one thing on the farm: prep work!

Getting the livestock feed put up before the Montana snow hits is one way we prepare.

How do you prepare your animals for the colder months?

08/12/2026

A little peek at how our family eats our microgreens!

We enjoy them fresh as lettuce, or sautéed up in our kunekune lard with garlic. Simple, fresh, and so good!

08/01/2026

This week at Round Butte Kunekune Ranch, we castrated two of the three boarlings from Andalou's litter.

While it isn't the most glamorous part of raising hogs, it's an important management practice on many farmsteads. These two hoglings will be raised for pasture pork, and castration allows them to be housed and raised alongside gilts without the risk of unplanned breedings. We have found it helps make our herd management much simpler.

We know this topic isn't as cute as newborn piglets or pigs grazing in the pasture, but we believe it's important to share both the joyful moments and the realities of responsible livestock stewardship.

We're thankful these barrows handled the procedure well, and we'll be keeping a close eye on them as they recover. Caring for livestock means being present through every stage of life, and we're grateful for the opportunity God has given us to raise healthy, well-cared-for kunekune pigs.

07/27/2026

There is something special about welcoming new genetics to the ranch, and today we're excited to introduce our newest boarling!

This handsome boar has an impressive pedigree and is out of Supreme Champion USA BH Tutaki 8 aka Galloway × USA Jenny 218 aka Olive and was hand bred by Puget Sound Pastures. At weaning, he tipped the scales at an impressive 37.8 pounds, and we can't wait to watch him grow, see what he weighs and his carcass merritt scans at a year old.

We haven't settled on a name for him just yet, so we are open to hear your suggestions.

As we reflected on bringing him home, we couldn't help but feel grateful. God has continually opened doors for us to work alongside incredible pork producers over the years. We are thankful for the friendships, mentorship, and opportunities He has provided. Every new addition to our herd is a reminder of His faithfulness and the wonderful people He has placed in our path.

Thank you to Mitchell Eastwood for entrusting us with these genetics and this promising young boar. We're excited to see what the future holds for this guy!

07/22/2026

Stocking the Pantry, One Jar at a Time

Today is a busy canning day here at Round Butte Kunekune Ranch! I'm pressure canning 14 quarts of dried beans—7 quarts of black beans and 7 quarts of navy beans.

There is something deeply satisfying about seeing rows of jars lined up on the pantry shelf. It's a reminder that God has provided simple, nourishing foods that have sustained families for generations.

For a little extra nourishment and flavor, I added some of our home-raised pork bone broth to the jars before canning. It's a simple way to add even more richness while making good use of every part of the animals God has blessed us with.

Beans may not be flashy, but they are one of God's greatest gifts from the garden. They are packed with plant protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that nourish our bodies from the inside out. One of my favorite things about beans is that they naturally support our body's GLP-1 response. Because they're rich in fiber and protein, they help us feel fuller longer, support healthy blood sugar, and can be a wonderful part of a healthy weight-loss journey.

I'm thankful that God designed foods to work with our bodies. While there is certainly a place for modern medicine, I believe many of us can benefit from returning to the wholesome, nourishing foods He created. Filling our plates with simple, nutrient-dense foods like beans is one small way we can steward the bodies God has entrusted to us.

And let's be honest... beans and pork are a perfect pair! Whether it's homemade baked beans with our home-raised kunekune pork, a hearty chili, ham and bean soup, or classic pork and beans, these jars make it easy to put a delicious, nutritious meal on the table.

One of our family's favorite meals is taco salad made with our home-raised kunekune pork. We love adding beans for extra fiber, protein, and flavor. It's one of those simple meals that is filling, nourishing, and stretches the meal a little further while making it even more nutritious.

Pressure canning dried beans takes a little time, but it's one of my favorite ways to stock our pantry. No soaking overnight. No waiting hours for supper. Just open a jar, heat, season, and enjoy.

Now, if I'm being honest... photographing jars of beans isn't exactly a viral social media moment. I don't think this picture is going to break the internet, but I do hope it inspire someone to fill their pantry with wholesome, nourishing food. Sometimes the simplest things are the biggest blessings.

Every jar on our pantry shelf represents preparedness, stewardship, and God's faithful provision. I'm grateful for the opportunity to preserve wholesome food for our family and to know that, even on our busiest days, we have nourishing meals ready to serve.

I'd love to hear from you! Do you pressure can dried beans? If so, what's your family's favorite variety—black beans, navy beans, pinto beans, or something else?

07/17/2026

We are grateful that IKHR - International Kunekune Hog Registry invested in this carcass merritt technology for kunekune pork producers and we proud to be using this useful tool in our herd.

The IKHR is committed to promoting & providing the resources necessary for Kunekune Pork Producers to take things to the next level!

Earlier this year, the Registry invested in an ultrasound machine to be used to collect data for Registered Breeders! We understand that sourcing approved technicians has not been the simplest of tasks, and IKHR Show Director, Mitchell Eastwood, has been trained and approved to scan for IKHR Registered Breeders across the country.

For more information, please see the IKHR website:
https://www.internationalkunekunehogregistry.com/carcass-merit-initiative

To schedule an appointment for scanning, contact Mitchell Eastwood ([email protected]).

04/18/2026

Round Butte Kunekune Ranch update!

Today we are having our third herd evaluation completed through the IKHR - International Kunekune Hog Registry, and we are thankful for another opportunity to learn and grow.

Our first herd evaluation was on June 28, 2017, when our herd prefix was still RKKR and we were operating as Rainier Kunekune Ranch in western Washington. Our second evaluation followed in 2018, and now God has blessed us with the opportunity to continue the tradition today at Round Butte Kunekune Ranch in northwest Montana.

We have always believed there is value in having outside eyes look over your herd. It brings fresh perspective, honest feedback, and helps us keep improving the quality of the animals we steward. Growth comes when we stay humble and teachable.

PROVERBS 27:23 says
“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.”

Grateful for how far the Lord has brought us, and trusting Him with what’s ahead.

04/17/2026

Today the Texas Livestock Guardian Dog Association featured one of the oldest livestock gaurdian dogs. This also happens to be the breed that we are working on our farm.

The Tibetan Mastiff

LGD Feature Friday - The Tibetan Mastiff is among the oldest livestock guardian dog breeds, originating in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Bred by nomadic pastoralists and monasteries to protect sheep, goats, yaks, and remote homesteads from predators like wolves and snow leopards, it’s known for independence, resilience, and territorial instincts. They are independent decision-makers with lower obedience tolerance, aloof with strangers, and form deep bonds with their flock or family. As night guardians, they become more vigilant at dusk and night. They have a large build with substantial bone, a broad head, and a thick, double coat suited for cold weather that sheds seasonally and requires maintenance. They stand 24–30 inches tall, weigh 90–150+ pounds, and mature slowly until 3–4 years old. Suited for properties with secure fencing and defined ranges, they excel in ranches needing predator deterrence but are less ideal for frequent human interaction or training. Early bonding with livestock is essential. Their guarding instinct and territoriality make them challenging for novice handlers, and they are sensitive to heat without proper shade, water, and coat care. Without clear boundaries, they tend to roam. Less common in North American ranching, they still possess core guardian traits useful in extensive grazing systems when managed properly.