Pasture-raised Pigs

Last Sunday after church, we took the kiddos down to TLC Ranch.  They were having an open farm day, so we thought it would be fun to check out where we get our eggs from!  Ranch owners Jim Dunlop & Rebecca Thistlethwaite had just moved to this new farm.  The chickens are going to stay at the old farm, so we didn't see them.  We'll do that next time.  We did get to see their amazing pasture-raised pigs.  What is pasture-raised?

piggy back ride anyone?

From TLC's newsletter:

For non-ruminant species like chickens and pigs, you can't raise them purely on grass because they can't break down that much fiber and get the nutrition they need to grow (or produce eggs).  However, our chickens & pigs regularly consume between 30-50% of their diet in the form of grasses, weeds, roots, organic vegetables, and critters of the pasture.  Pigs can also eat acorns and other large seeds or nuts.  If we had endless access to oak woodlands, we might be able to raise our pigs entirely on high-protein acorns & vegetation without giving them a grain ration (that is a dream of ours, someday).  For the time being, both our chickens and pigs get an additional organic grain ration to round out their nutrition on pasture, therefore they are called "pasture-raised".  Our Dorper lambs and the Morris beef we sell, however, is 100% grassfed because, as ruminants, they can survive & thrive purely on the vegetation they consume.  100% grassfed means no grain at any time.  Unfortunately, some meat out there is labeled "grassfed" but the animals still were finished on grain. 

Pasture-raised also signifies access to green, growing vegetation, which requires a rotational grazing scenario in order for the pasture to keep growing and not turn into a dirt lot or pure mud.  If the rancher you buy meat from cannot show you pictures of their animals on pasture, then they are likely hiding the fact that their animals are in outdoor dirt lots or pens.  Also, if they don't move their animals frequently, diseases and parasites will build up in the soil and in their manure, which may require the use of more antibiotics or antiparasitals. 

their 4 month old - our 9 month old

Kapena (3) is facinated by these huge 'medium sized' mama sows

Jim, the pig whisperer

I know it sounds funny, but the pigs were quite beautiful.  They were docile, and fun to be around.  The kids had a great time!  We didn't get to see the chickens this time, but we did go home with lots of eggs, sausage, bacon, and soup bones.  Yum!