Anyone raise and process their own hogs?

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

I have the opportunity to get 10 hogs from the girlfriend's uncle at no cost. They are a Berkshire sow w/ 4 crossed pot bellied piglets and a Bluebutt Sow w/ 4 crossed pot bellied piglets. I have read that potbelly meat is very fatty, but also that crossing w/ a traditional meat pig will lean the meat up a good bit.

My actual question is: anyone process their own hogs? I know absolutely nothing about processing meat. I am fairly certain I could gut, dress it out, and cut off the meat in chunks, but I would want the correct cuts (ie, bacon, pork chops, butts, etc). Is it worth the cost to use a processor?

I would have no money invested in getting the pigs and my only cost of raising them to butchering would be in feed. I know that I would have to build a bullet proof enclosure, which is going to add expense, but I am in the process of dong that anyway for the cows.

Is it worth the hassle?

 

[the_great_white]

last one i took to a deer processor, but call them first. not all will take them because they have to sterilize their facility afterwards. since we're outside of deer season, you may have a better chance. every other processor i called, you had to bring them in live, some USDA regulation to do with the slaughter process.

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

I hadn't even thought about a deer processor doing it. We happen to have one just a few miles up the road and that would work out great.

 

[the_great_white]

you process all those chickens yet?

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

you process all those chickens yet?

No sir, not yet. I was getting ready to do it last weekend and the calf showed up. I had my hands full all weekend w/ him. I am preparing to do it next weekend, but she keeps saying they are not ready. She will let them die of old age if I let her

 

[Green Panther]

Those meat birds grow pretty quick. Last time I helped a friend butcher his, he had a few that were getting so big they were having trouble breathing, prone to heart attacks, broken legs, and all that. Unreal how quick they grow.

 

[Green Panther]

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

Those meat birds grow pretty quick. Last time I helped a friend butcher his, he had a few that were getting so big they were having trouble breathing, prone to heart attacks, broken legs, and all that. Unreal how quick they grow.

I've been keeping an eye on them, and so far they are still pretty healthy. The are free range 90% of the time, so they do a fair amount of running around. I am wanting to get them processed before all the above health problems start.

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

I am trying to find him one of those blue sealed food containers to see if he will play w/ it. I have a video of him playing w/ a roll of wire and it gave me the idea of getting them some toys.

 

[Green Panther]

Looks like that could keep him busy for a while.

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

I think I have worked out the whole butchering thing. I have a highly recommended butcher that will do it for a cut of the meat. But, I am going to have to raise them. Everything I have read about pasturing/penning pigs is: you can't do it. They will escape any enclosure that you put them in. How true is this? My current idea: I've got 330 feet of hog wire, I've got 3/4 acres of trees. I am thinking about stringing the wire and attaching it to the trees, since I want them gone anyway. I can get an 80'x80' pen out of the wire. Then I can add to for the cow's pasture once the pigs are gone. What do y'all think about that for a pig pen?

 

[Green Panther]

They are little escape artists, but if you have a sturdy pen then its nothing to worry about.

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

They are little escape artists, but if you have a sturdy pen then its nothing to worry about.

Would you run a hot wire or barb wire around the bottom of the hogwire?

 

[Green Panther]

We used heavy gauge fence like this.

Not this:

 

[Green Panther]

Would you run a hot wire or barb wire around the bottom of the hogwire?

We didn't have electric out on the piece of property where we raised them at the time so we never used either one. Not to say other people don't, but we never did.

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

We used heavy gauge fence like this.

Not this:

I was trying to get away w/ not having to spend any money on fencing. So, what I have is the bottom picture... I may just have to pass on the free pigs this go around.

 

[Green Panther]

I was trying to get away w/ not having to spend any money on fencing. So, what I have is the bottom picture... I may just have to pass on the free pigs this go around.

I would wait for other's input before writing it off. I think @Hoss keeps pigs, he might have some knowledge about that.

 

[Hoss]

I was trying to get away w/ not having to spend any money on fencing. So, what I have is the bottom picture... I may just have to pass on the free pigs this go around.

What do they weigh?

 

[lftd&pwrstrok'n]

What do they weigh?

No idea. We are going to look at them tonight. It is a Berkshire sow and a Blue Butt sow each w/ 4 piglets. I don't know how old the piglets are yet either. About the only thing that I really do know at this time: they are free

 

[Liberty]

Electric will work to keep them in. You can also get a solar power unit if the aera is too far from an outlet or to run a wire.