Help, Advice Needed on Selecting Heritage Pigs

[Cabinchick]

Hello Everyone:

We'll be moving to northern Idaho next month. I would like to try raising a couple of Heritage pigs, this will be my first experience raising pigs. I have a flock of chickens, some heritage as well. I am not interested in pet pigs, I want them for meat . How many do I need to start with and what variety to you recommend? I have 14.6 acres, intend to eventually get some heritage cattle as well. Thanks in advance for your help...

 

[doo dah]

This website may help you narrow it down a bit:
http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/wtchlist.html#pigs

Others are bound to pop up soon with much better information, good luck!

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

We haven't done too many but I LOVE the Red Wattles. Of the pigs we have the pure RWs are the most heat and cold tolerant and the best foragers, next come the RW crosses and then the others.

Plus our boar is super sweet. He's a total doll baby and will flop on his side and you can lay down on top of him. He's thinks he's actually a dog when it comes to belly scratches.

 

[theawesomefowl]

Personally, I think Gloucester Old Spots are beautiful. But they are a more "lardy" type breed, so if you want leaner meat you may want to go with something like Tamworths or Berkshires. My $.02.

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

I will second the Tamworth. One of the breeders near us has them and really likes hers.

 

[Shewolf]

I have american guinea hogs thay are small (boar is around 350# @ 5 yrs) thay are very tasty and temperament is very sweet.

 

[Cabinchick]

Thank you all for your responses. Now I have some more research to do

 

[Cabinchick]

I have american guinea hogs thay are small (boar is around 350# @ 5 yrs) thay are very tasty and temperament is very sweet.

Oh I really like these little guys. Now where on earth can I find them? Do they have to be registered, or is there a good mixed variety out there near Idaho?

 

[Hillsvale]

We did pure berkshire last year and while they were yummy we just processed a 3/4 tam 1/4 berk and the meat is extraordinary.

We have a pure tamworth and a 3/4 tam 1/4 berk which we will breed soon (well they will breed... hopefully soon) the boar will come barrelling through the woods at you when coming into his pen and act all tough but he's really a pussy cat when he sees its you (ie: food)

 

[doo dah]

Here's the breeders directory on the Assosiation website:
http://guineahogs.org/?page_id=127