What age/weight to butcher a meat pig?

[arabianequine]

This pig will be for a whole pig roast. We want to do it in the ground w/banana leaves and such.

What age/weight is the soonest and latest that would be appropriate to do this?

 

[ky goat lad]

It just depends on what size pit you have. Most time I seen them used at 50-60lbs usually should be 2-4 months. Butchering them depends on size you like, we go for 300-400 lbs , nice chops but much larger just too hard to handle about yr old.

 

[arabianequine]

Yes I agree on the full term weight last 2 we raised were 300-400 pounds. I don't want to be putting a pig in a pit that size though or in the winter.

Any more experiences roasting a whole pig?

I thought I had heard 100-150 pounds before?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I always butcher at about 350 lbs. , but have eaten them as small as 60 lbs. & as big as 600 lbs. Whatever works for you!

 

[dewey]

How many people will you be serving? It can be any size you'd like.

 

[woody1]

Figure about 1 1/2 lb. carcass weight per person you'll be serving and go from there. So for 20 people about 30 pounds hanging weight, not live weight. Regards, Woody