How many hogs would you need to butcher?

[ronshoney]

How many hogs of what size would you need to raise and bucher to feed a family of 7-9 for a year? And how would you have it butchered? We really don't eat pork roast or pork loin but we eat everything else. Thanks!

 

[Ericasl]

I am not sure we just bought a half of a pig for a family of 5. I wrote down the date so I can see how long it last us.

 

[menkot]

I would say at least 2 at about 250 lbs. but it really depends on the eating habits of your family. I would also not butcher them both at the same time. I would stagger them... as in get one and butcher then get another to grow in its place while you eat the first. Pork is not known for keeping as long as beef even when vacuum sealed.

We cut ours up ourselves and slice the meat up like we would a deer pretty much. That way we have just chunks of meat that can be cooked anyway. The loin we slice thin in steaks and fry. The roast we muscle out and slice also Any scraps become sausage.

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

I would say probably three. We did two last year and we are a family of four. I don't eat meat however. It would really depend on how often you were planning on eating the pork. If it was going to be a once a week thing (prob not, but you know what I am saying) then I would go with two. One of ours dressed out at 160 and one at 180 just an fyi. We are out of bacon all ready and out of breakfast sausage. Stuff like that we are going to get more of this coming fall now that we know what will be eaten more. We had them butchered at the end of November and we really have dwindled a lot of the meat down.