In 2015, several young heritage breed hogs were purchased in the hopes of starting a heritage hog farrowing cycle on our farm to provide an alternative to factory-raised protein for our customers. Two different breeds were trialed and the large black was chosen as half of our breeding line. The tamworth boar was brought on in March 2017 from Heritage Meats in Butternut as the second half of our breeding line. We made our decisions after meeting with other heritage hog farmers and discussing production, temperament, and consumer demand.
Today, we keep three sows which provide young feeders for market sales. The Large Black hog line brings size to the gene pool. We have recently crossed these sows with Polland China through AI technology. This breed grows well on pasture and has been proven on our farm in the conditions we provide. The Tamworth cross in our young sows brings tall legs and great overall length. Together, these breeds are an excellent genetic combination that does very well for us and our land, not to mention an unmatched amount of sidepork, the most coveted cut on a hog.
Meat For Sale
Individual cuts of USDA inspected pasture-raised pork are currently available both on the farm and at the Medford Farmers Market. A limited amount of whole and half hogs can be reserved in advance by contacting us. Please make a plan with us one year in advance. Our pork is processed at Geiss Meat Service in Merrill, Wisconsin and can be processed completely nitrate and MSG-free by request.
PASTURE PORK PRICING
Browse our up-to-date selection and place your order on hold, please use our online store. There will be a small amount of pork on-hand at the markets as well. Please note, due to demand all bacon, ham and bratwursts has been processed nitrate-free and MSG-free until further notice. Our cost for this process is higher than conventional curing.
PROCESSED CUTS |
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| Bacon, Side – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) 1 lb per package |
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| Bacon, Jowl – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) 1 lb per package |
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| Bacon, Shoulder Butt – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) 1 lb per package |
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| Braunsweiger |
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| Breakfast Sausage Bulk 1 lb per package |
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| Maple Breakfast Links 1 lb per package |
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| Italian Sausage Bulk 1 lb per package |
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| Pepperoni Sausage 0.25 lb per package |
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| Bratwursts |
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| Smoked Ham (Roast) – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) 2 – 4 lbs each |
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| Smoked Ham Steak – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) ~1 – 1.4 lbs each |
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| Smoked Ham Hocks – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) ~2 lb per package |
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| Sliced Smoked Deli Ham – Uncured (Nitrate & MSG Free) ~1 lb per package |
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UNPROCESSED CUTS |
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| Steak 2 steaks/pkg, 0.8 – 1.2 lbs total, cut 3/4″ thick |
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| Spare Ribs 1.3 – 1.8 lb per package |
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| Baby Back Ribs 1.8 – 2.2 lb per package |
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| Chops 2 chops/pkg, 0.8 – 1.2 lbs total, cut 3/4″ thick |
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| Boneless Chops 2 chops/pkg, 0.8 – 1.2 lbs total, cut 3/4″ thick |
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| Tenderloin 1 – 1.5 lbs each per package |
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| Loin Roast 1.5 – 3 lbs each |
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| Roast (Front Shoulder) 2 – 4 lbs each |
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| Roast (Back Ham) 2 – 3 lbs each |
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| Ground Pork 1 lb per package |
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| Lard – unrendered 1 lb or 3 lbs per package |
Why raise hogs on pasture?
Aside from the obvious bliss that the hogs are in while enjoying their daily rooting and wallowing, raising hogs on pasture is a common sense integration for small farms like We Grow. The hogs gain weight on plush greens and take in all the vitamins and nutrients they need from their omnivorous diet and their natural rooting. Rotational pasturing of hogs provides cultivation and weed control as well as insect and pest reduction. Not to mention, their waste fertilizes as the hogs forage and overturn the soil.
Pigs did not evolve eating grains such as corn or soybeans. Their natural behavior indicates that they prefer digging for their food and foraging. This is particularly true for heritage breeds that have not been selectively bred for confinement like those raised on factory farms. Their natural diet is roots and tubers supplemented by whatever insects, fruits, nuts and small animals they run across and maybe some green forage. On our farm, they clean out areas after we harvest vegetables. They love to dig up brassica roots, trample squash vines, dig up missed turnips or convert sweet corn stubble into rich organic matter.
We don’t use antibiotics, steroids or hormones. In addition, we don’t use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. We fertilize our pastures with composted manure from our livestock. We seed our pastures from time to time with certified organic non-GMO seed. Supplemental feed is from our own fields as much as possible. When our feed stores run dry, we purchase only non-GMO grains for supplementing.
The biggest reason for us to grow the way we do is that hogs on pasture are happy hogs. They do not seem to enjoy living on concrete or over steel grates or in tiny metal stalls. At We Grow, our hogs do a fair share of the field work while they are busy being hogs.
The benefits of pasture-raised hogs to the consumer
- Healthy fat. Pastured pigs deliver better-quality fat, with a healthier omega 6 to omega 3 ratio.
- The flavor. Your meat actually tastes like pork with texture and flavor and even darker color.
- Happiness. Gain peace of mind knowing your pork was raised in a humane manner.
- Antibiotic free. We’ve never had to buy a single medication for our pigs.
- Sustainable. Minimized environmental impact from manure concentration.
If you have made it this far and are considering purchasing pastured pork for the health benefits, check out this article titled “Grass-Fed Pork? Not Really. Still the Difference in Fatty Acid Composition & Micronutrient Content Are Profound & Not Accounted for by Food Databases” that dives into the numbers in greater detail explaining why pastured pork is better for us to consume. The bottom line is, as far as you as an individual are concerned, this article can provide yet another argument for getting your meats (pork or whatever else) from a farm nearby, where you know what you are actually buying.