I might be light on the weight!
As they go off at 24 weeks. . . . . 6months. And they are certainly 'pig size'
rather than suckler size.
So they may well be heavier than i've said. . . . probably closer to the 70kg mark. I've got some going off in next 6 weeks, so I will let you know then
Or maybe that was 60kg that I get back.
Not sent any to slaughter since last year. But it would cost me the same to get a porker slaughtered and butchered, whatever the weight of it (within reason).
Shygirl - I can get the big bales, but I find it easier dealing with the smaller ones, I can cart them about easier, fit three on the back of the quad, and as we are buying them in bulk for the pheasants, I can pick them up cheap, and don't need to pay any transport etc. I also find I can just cut one loose, and throw the hole thing in each pig ark. Saves waste.
I don't really sell a huge deal of pork. Some goes to the local pub, as whole pigs, and they pay around the £200 mark, I think they sausage it all, and make a huge profit lol, in general I sell half pigs for £90, although last year I did a batch and sold half of them to good mates at 65-75 quid a half. But i've recouped some handy favours in return!
This time round, i'm thinking I'll try and sell the lot for around £90 a half and make some profit on them, enough to pay for a few other bits and bobs. Also i've considered doing a lot of sausages and going round the local pubs, restaurants etc etc and trying to tout my free range, happy, saddle back sausages. Never going to get rich, but it keeps the place ticking over.
It amazes me the differing value that folk place on things though . . . . i've seen people advertising a pig for £35o plus. . . . . i'd get laughed at. Same with chickens. . . . . local garden centre sells garden hens, for 16-22 pounds each. I can get the same hens for a couple of quid, geese for £2 etc etc. I guess it's just who you know.
Mandy - he's never met the missus. . . . . so I guess I might just be his type
Or I just dropped lucky.
On a slightly different note, anyone tried pork and venison sausages? I have access to lots and lots and lots of venison and mostly it just goes as dog food, but was thinking of doing a few batches of vein/pork mix for ourselves to try?