potbellies for meat?

[redhen]

I've heard from alot of people that they DO NOT taste like our regular meat hogs.... the fat tastes different or something....

 

[luvzmybabz]

I know of a woman that bred a male potbelly to a female York( I THINK) she may have had to help not sure, and started her own homesteading pig breed smaller in size easier to handle for the average homesteader that butchers their own. I have seem a couple of different examples of these pigs here in OKlahomaFull Grown about 2X the size of a pot belly, AND YUMMY I butchered my first pig that was of this breed and I think it calmed alot of my fears about pigs hubby and I have been thinking about getting a couple when we get rid of the second pen of goats this summer.

 

[Brendalee5]

PBP were breed for pets not be eaten. They are not raised for that and its cruel. Their skin and mentality is that of a pet. The pellets they eat are formulated for health not to put fat on them to eat.

 

[blucoondawg]

You think the Vietnamese bred pigs to be pets? A pig is a pig they all make pork. By the way this thread is 5 years old.

 

[Brendalee5]

Did not realize the post was 5 years old and NO a pig is not a pig, they are not all the same. a pet pig is different than a farm raised meat pig.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Old post, but generally most breeds of pigs have different distrubutions of fat throughout the muscle and within the body. There are small breeds of farm pigs that give good meat. Pot bellies would be ok for meat, but probably not ideal. Generally, when you are raising feeders pigs (and not keeping them for breeders), you are going to slaughter them when they are between 150 and 250 pounds, depending on time of year, breed of pig, etc. This is still pretty small for a pig.

I would also imagine that a pot belly would give significantly less meat due to their adult size and it may take them longer to get to a weight which is worth sending to slaughter.

 

[blucoondawg]

Right, in sure they are not the ideal pork product, my main point of contention is Brenda starting these are meant to be pets, when in reality these pigs are farmed for meat in their native country, they are breed for pets here because they are cute when they're young. Slaughtering a pbp for meat isn't ant more cruel than slaughtering a chicken or a duroc hog for meat. If it were being raised as meat that takes the pet side of it out of the equation

 

[KatDawson]

I have 20 potbelly pigs and I will eat some of them. My pigs are not fat. I have seen some obese pot belly pigs and I have to wonder if the fatty meat is due to obesity rather than breed. I feed my pigs pig and sow feed and people often remark at how good they look. They get some scraps, but not garbage. If you are interested in some smaller breeds other than pot belly pigs which grows to between 70-150 and some 200 lbs, consider The American Guinea hog which grow to between 150 and 300 lb. or the Kunekune pig which grow to between 100 and 400 lb. Good luck.

 

[KatDawson]

So there is no mini size versions of meat pigs?

guinea hogs and kunekune pigs

 

[cassie]

Can u raise a potbelly pig for meat. I have limited space but would like some home grown pork. I have never heard of anyone eating there potbelly pig, but why not. If so how much meat on one. thxs

Potbellies in their native country are raised for meat. That is what they are for. They are small so they can quickly be consumed before they spoil and they forage in the forest for their food. In the area where I lived in California there were a lot of southeast Asians settled there after the Vietnam war. I still remember the look of consternation on these people's faces upon seeing these potbellies being paraded around in pink velveteen harnesses and leashes at the Merced county fair.