Reserve your spring pork now! Tammy and Edie weaned 22 little pigs in September. They are 3/4 Tamworth (the heirloom  Irish grazing hog) with a little bit of Chester White or perhaps Landrace heritage, too. You may recall that Tammy and Edie’s poppa was “Big Bob”, a white hog from Kettle River whose exact heritage was in question. Anyhow, some were sold for feeder pigs, some for breeding stock, and the ones remaining will be ready for your table in March/April 2009. Barb calls them the “Little Terrorists”.  Within 2 weeks after birth, they ran in waves to find trouble and terrorize the barn yard. Good and daring friend, Ben K., assisted with castrating the unlucky boars who did not find breeding homes. Waiting for the full moon to pass (to avoid excess bleeding), the little terrorists gained another 10 pounds and were a handful to hold. But all survived Barb’s first castrating. Edie and Tammy are excellent mothers, allowed Barb to assist with their first farrowing, then carefully guarded and nursed their litters, but were quite happy to wean the little terrorists in September. They then happily joined the horses and donkeys in the main pasture while their little pigs hardly missed them. Barb had abit of fence renovation to complete to ensure the little terrorists did not end up in the neighbors’ yards, but got them to decent pasture by October. Edie and Tammy were bred back in November to the purebred Tamworth Boar from Ohio. Good Lord willing, more terrorists due the first part of March!

Organic feed prices have gone up 25% since January, so as soon as you call to reserve your pork, I will be asking for a down-payment to help feed them through the winter. In Spain, pork finished on acorns costs $64/pound. Other finishing hog foods include hazelnuts, apples, alfalfa. I will certainly be looking into alternative feeds for finishing hogs as the price of organic corn, oats, and soybeans are becoming unsustainable. Thanks to all who’ve provided apples, potato peelings, and corn on the cob!

 

The White Tail RidgeLine

 Fall Round Up

Price pending

Price pending

$2.25/dozen

$2.60/# hanging weight plus processing

Price & availability pending.  Pick-up fresh.