Pasture Pork Experience

Pasture raised meats is our focus here at DS Family Farm and we had a great experience with our pasture pigs in 2022. When trying something new we like to start small. In keeping with our “pasture grazed” moto, the pigs of course needed to be able to enjoy “Fresh Grass and Move“! Review our May 2022 Mobile Pork post for how we planned to move the pigs.

Fresh Pasture and Move

The Mobile Pig Pen served its purpose for our four pasture pig test in 2022. A few things to note:

• The shade tarp barely survived the 5 months.
• The upside-down side pig panels slid nicely with the pull of a 300 cc ATV.
• The front panel on the caster wheels worked fine.
• Leap-frogging the portable pig net from move to move worked well under the tree rows.
• Access to trees on almost every move was greatly enjoyed by the pigs.
• Moves every other day or every third day worked out for most of the summer.
• The water tank (30 gallons) and nipple would last 2 days.
• Steel mesh below the nipple worked as a skid and deterrence from creating a puddle.
• The single hog feeder worked well but took pig punishment the last few weeks.
  • Pigs received about 2 lbs. of no soy / no corn formulated feed each day in feed pans.
  • Four to six lbs. of seed screenings were added to the feeder each day.
• Pasture disturbance was appropriate.
  • With little rain, these pasture pigs were not able to root around too much.

Grow Out

We estimate the pigs weighed around 30 lbs. when they arrived in mid-April. Mid-May the four Idaho Pasture Pigs made the move from our garden into the portable pig pen. Six months of Fresh Grass and Move with their daily no soy / no corn (non-GMO) grains and seed screenings. One of the four did not grow out the same as the other three. Harvest was the last week of October. The pigs were able to jump into the back of our livestock trailer for the ride to the butcher. Final hanging weights: three pigs = 160 lbs. and the fourth smaller pig = 110 lbs.

Future Pasture Pig Enterprise?

Our customers indicate they are interested in pasture pork. We will need to do an economic analysis and complete further research on ways to scale pasture pork. There are some excellent resources available online, and now that we have a growing season of experience, we can better pick and choose options that best fit our goals and farm context.

One definite conclusion is that pasture pigs have personalities! The farm did feel a little lonelier after the pigs left. The pigs were a hit with our farm visitors, especially during the hot summer of 2022. These four were always up to perform their signature PORK BELLY FLOP anytime you added water… please take a moment to enjoy their performances: