potbellies for meat?

[JP33]

K long, you might want to check into guinea hogs. http://www.guineahogs.org/ I know a guy that breeds them here where I live, says they max out at 300lbs.

They are apparently fine table fare. I have seen his pigs and to me they look like a smaller version of the feral hog.


...JP

 

[Cara]

I'd imagine they are not efficient converters of feed to meat either. They have been selectively bred for the opposite, slow growth and small size. It would be like raising a miniature dairy cow for beef, not worth the trouble.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

You realize of course that even a large meat pig does not reqire much space. According to university studies, optimum space to raise a single pig intended for slaughter is 30 square feet indoor space and 30 square feet outdoor run combined. You do not want them to move around excessively because they will not put on weight a rapidly. You want them to lounge around and eat

There are breeds of meat hog that are not quite as prone to get huge if you only hkeep them for a season and then slaughter. A 6 month olf yorksire is only around 250 pounds and will yield a good percentage of meat. If you want of course you can keep it a bit longer and have a larger pig for the freezer.

 

[JP33]

Quote:
Very true ^^^

The longer you wait to slaughter the larger they get.


...JP

 

[Livinzoo]

I like pasturing my pork. The pigs eat hay and grass and spread their own manure. The carbon in the hay and grass neutralizes the waste. I don't have a stinky pen where I have to scoop poop. I milk feed and the meat is great. They tend to root worse when they are hot or if it just rained. The yorks I raised also rooted more than my old spots.

Good luck. Once you eat farm raised pork you don't want supermarket pork again.

 

[redhen]

heeeeey! No eating PBP's guys....

 

[EweSheep]

So there is no mini size versions of meat pigs?

 

[redhen]

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i think there are...some of the heritage breeds..maybe??

but i doubt that they are really mini..... just smaller ..

 

[redhen]

Quote:
hey..i KNOW you arent calling MY piggy....

 

[cassie]

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Umm. Potbellies were traditionally bred and kept for meat. Just not here. They are small, can forage, and they can be pretty much be consumed before they spoil. Where they come from most people do not have refrigeration.

For meat you would be better off to just get a weaner pig of a standard breed and butcher it at the size you want. Pigs are good at any age.