Potbelly pigs for meat?

[itsasmallfarm]

All the time/money spent on such a small yield
The slaughter window for tender pork is between 5 to 6 months. 6 mons the pig stops growing and starts aging.. Growing = meat.. aging = fat.
Next factor-
Potbellies only produce 3-4 offspring- Heritage pigs produce up to 15+.
View attachment 1440650 This is my Gloucestershire sow with a litter from 2 nights ago. 11 piglets yielded and bread with a Hampshire boar.
Next factor-
Taste, Our Berkshire/Hampshire/Duroc/Old Spot taste different- each breed has different flavors and characteristics.
Potbelly tastes funky, more of a cook it in a stew to mask the flavor.

In the six months it takes to raise a pig for tender non fatty meat, the Traditional Heritage pigs will reach 250-300# within that window and the pot belly will produce far greater less.
If you want quality bacon.. Heritage is going to scratch that itch.View attachment 1440658

If you want quality tenderloin- View attachment 1440660 Steaks--View attachment 1440661 View attachment 1440663
sausage-View attachment 1440668 View attachment 1440666
Ribs- View attachment 1440673
So I guess you can eat a pot belly but why?
View attachment 1440671 View attachment 1440672View attachment 1440676 View attachment 1440677 View attachment 1440678 View attachment 1440679

sorry don't know much about pigs just heard of people using potbellies as Asian heritage hogs.

but yummy those pictures make me want to raise pigs now, (or just go out and hunt some feral hogs lol)

 

[Lazy Farmer]

(or just go out and hunt some feral hogs lol)

You are what you eat and pigs are no different. Wild hogs taste gamey because of their diet. IF you desire a wild hog- NON MALE- testorone & hormones ruin the meat. Our males are castrated at 2 weeks old. You are going to hunt for a young female. Not a fat sow- but a guilt. Taste is everything.
My advise to the OP-
Don't feed corn until the last 2.5 weeks of raising.
Corn is carbs.. carbs adds fat.. protein puts on meat and lean muscle.. weeds add gameness but acorns will add a desired taste. Don't buy an uncut male and feed free will to grow fast as possible. Young is good and old is sausage.

 

[OkieChickenGal]

These aren't far from me
https://tulsa.craigslist.org/grd/d/piglets/6623526512.html

 

[Lazy Farmer]

These aren't far from me
https://tulsa.craigslist.org/grd/d/piglets/6623526512.html

They are a cross from 2 rapid growth types. They price is average. The lighter color ones will get sunburn though. Pasture with trees I hope
Pigs don't have sweat glands, thus the reason they love cool mud.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

i guess i should ask, how do pigs do in the winter months? i live in Canada so it gets super cold here (-45C or -49F is rare but not unheard of with the wind chill),

would love some home raised pork but not a fan of having them in the summer (do to going away for certain lengths of time.)

 

[Xlcandylx]

I used to raise pigs with my grandpa and for school. They do good in cold weather if they have a heat source. I'm pretty sure if you get a barn set up to contain heat then you can have pigs in the cold weather.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Crossbreed animals are fine for meat. Sometimes they can even be better than a purebred. If you just wanna get a couple for food, go ahead and get crosses. If you have hopes for breeding, consider getting purebred animals.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

i guess i should ask, how do pigs do in the winter months? i live in Canada so it gets super cold here (-45C or -49F is rare but not unheard of with the wind chill),

would love some home raised pork but not a fan of having them in the summer (do to going away for certain lengths of time.)

Dunno- Florida here. We had 5 nights of mid twenties last winter. We went thru a lot of bedding hay.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

If you have hopes for breeding, consider getting purebred animals.

If they are from great geographical distances. If you are only able to obtain pigs semi local, crossbreeding strengthens the genetics.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

You are what you eat and pigs are no different. Wild hogs taste gamey because of their diet. IF you desire a wild hog- NON MALE- testorone & hormones ruin the meat. Our males are castrated at 2 weeks old. You are going to hunt for a young female. Not a fat sow- but a guilt. Taste is everything.
My advise to the OP-
Don't feed corn until the last 2.5 weeks of raising.
Corn is carbs.. carbs adds fat.. protein puts on meat and lean muscle.. weeds add gameness but acorns will add a desired taste. Don't buy an uncut male and feed free will to grow fast as possible. Young is good and old is sausage.

so true. i would shoot either a piglet or smaller pig. but don't have many around here.