The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: otto on August 30, 2012, 04:23:28 pm

Title: measuring Pigs for slaughter
Post by: otto on August 30, 2012, 04:23:28 pm

Hi all,


Can someone advise where about on the abdomen you should measure the pigs girth? I am sure I have read elsewhere that a good time to send the boys to meet their [bacon  ;D ;D ] maker is when they are 40inches......is it 40 inches behind their hocks or at maximum girth? Any advice gratefully accepted. The pigs are GOS boys....

Title: Re: measuring Pigs for slaughter
Post by: HappyHippy on August 30, 2012, 05:21:36 pm

I measure right behind the front legs  :thumbsup:
If you're wanting to make bacon normally you'd let them get a bit bigger so the loin develops more (providing your abattoir can take them over 85Kg - some don't) but I've made bacon from 6 month old pigs and while the 'eye' of the bacon was smaller than normal, the taste was still great  :yum:
HTH
Karen

Title: Re: measuring Pigs for slaughter
Post by: otto on August 31, 2012, 07:19:30 am

Brilliant thanks Karen...as always! :)