Reserve a whole Berkshire hog or split one with a friend! (Processing will be in July.) Something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time is raise hogs on pasture and supplemented with milk from our goats. With our move to our larger farm this past year in rural Poweshiek County, we were finally able to launch into producing the quality of pork that most interests us. On top of the move, we were able to set this venture in motion because we have been fortunate to work with, and truly be mentored by, a local producer from whom we purchased weanling pigs farrowed right here in Grinnell. Now, they will continue to grow in our care on our farm. We chose a heritage breed called Berkshire hogs because they are known for their beautiful, flavorful, and well marbled meat. Our hogs eat a diverse diet. They’re fed a grain ration which includes corn, oats, and barley and some soy. They also receive food scraps, eggs, walnuts, acorns, etc. They live on a wooded pasture to rotationally graze and root over hilly terrain. Movement over this type of terrain aids in their muscle development and gives them a pleasant lifestyle. The rooting is actually healthy for the soil as they turn up areas on our farm that need a little natural tilling. At the same time they fertilize the areas that they move through. Finally, of course, they're fed goat’s milk! Lucky pigs! They have not received hormones. We have not administered, nor do we foresee any need for antibiotics. They are frisky, funny, and happy hogs. So, this purchase is a $150 deposit to reserve your whole processed hog. Processing will be in mid-July 2024 at the Sully Locker in Sully, Iowa. The balance for purchasing the whole hog is due at that time in two separate payments: an additional portion paid to us (the farmers) determined based on the hanging weight of the hog, and then you pay a separate payment to the processor (Sully Locker) for the processing of the meat. Here is exactly how it works… We will bring your hog to the locker for processing in the middle of July this summer. (This gives you plenty of time to clear out space in your freezer!) At that point, once the hanging weight is determined by the Sully Locker staff, we will invoice you for the remaining balance at $5.00 per lb. (minus this $150 deposit). A whole hog will end up being somewhere between 140-160 pounds "hanging weight" of meat, lard, some bones and organs. At that time (July), you place your cut meat request with the processor at the Sully Locker. You choose how much you want ground, how many roasts, any made into sausages, bacon, etc. We are happy to guide you through that process or send you a recommended cut list. The friendly folks at the Sully Locker can help you as well. You can call them to discuss this or stop into their lovely market store in Sully to make your selections. You then pay the Sully Locker for the processing fee, which will cost approximately $300. Finally, you pick up your frozen processed meat at the Sully Locker toward the end of July. Total this whole hog will run approximately about $1000, including purchasing the animal and the processing. For comparison to grocery store pork pricing, let's estimate a price per pound for say a hanging weight of 150lbs. This deposit is $150 and the remaining balance for the meat for a 150lbs hog is an additional $600 ($5x150lbs=$750) and processing is $300 (estimated). That would be 150lbs/$1050 = $7.00 per pound for a huge supply of a locally and carefully raised and processed whole hog. If you have questions, we are happy to chat. Email dukegoats@gmail.com with any questions at all.
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Reserve a whole Berkshire hog or split one with a friend! (Processing will be in July.) Something we’ve been wanting ... more