We began raising hogs in 2011 and have loved it. Each set of hogs we grow have had a distinct personality. Some like to be scratched. Some are "escape artists". And some root and wallow the summer away in their hog haven. We purchase the weened piglets from local farmers as "feeder pigs" -- generally they are 8 to 10 weeks old and weigh about 40 lbs. Over the course of the Spring and Summer, the pigs grow to 260 to 300 lbs. Feed conversion is almost 50 percent!
We prefer a crossbreed -- Hampshire and Berkshire or Hampshire and Yorkshire. The piglets are first raised in ground pens surrounded by electric netting fence. These fences keep the pigs in and any predators out. (When the piglets are very small, we station them near the dog kennel so that Pick and Banjo can alert us if there are any bear or coyote around.) We rotate the fencing frequently so that green grass is under their hooves and they can root for grubs and worms!
The hogs are moved to a more substantial pen when the reach 100 lbs or so. This pen, dubbed "Hog Haven", allows us to feed and water the hogs in a central location. We have paddocks for the hogs to rotate in and out of assuring they always have access to fresh ground. At market weight, we transport the hogs to our USDA inspected abattoir, Alleghany Meats of Monterey, VA. Our hams, roasts, sausage, pork chops and bacon are bartered with friends to increase the diversity of our larder.
Below are some pictures of our hogs over the years:
We prefer a crossbreed -- Hampshire and Berkshire or Hampshire and Yorkshire. The piglets are first raised in ground pens surrounded by electric netting fence. These fences keep the pigs in and any predators out. (When the piglets are very small, we station them near the dog kennel so that Pick and Banjo can alert us if there are any bear or coyote around.) We rotate the fencing frequently so that green grass is under their hooves and they can root for grubs and worms!
The hogs are moved to a more substantial pen when the reach 100 lbs or so. This pen, dubbed "Hog Haven", allows us to feed and water the hogs in a central location. We have paddocks for the hogs to rotate in and out of assuring they always have access to fresh ground. At market weight, we transport the hogs to our USDA inspected abattoir, Alleghany Meats of Monterey, VA. Our hams, roasts, sausage, pork chops and bacon are bartered with friends to increase the diversity of our larder.
Below are some pictures of our hogs over the years:
