The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 01:17:52 pm

Title: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 01:17:52 pm

whats the largest amount of pigs that any one has had slaughtered at one time
and what did you find the pros and cons were

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: sabrina on March 17, 2013, 01:19:03 pm

Only ever done 2 so not much help with this one.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: MAK on March 17, 2013, 01:22:48 pm

Home kill? We do 2 at a time. There is a lot to do and we usually just burn off and scrape the selected areas before washing, halving and hanging overnight. It takes me 3-4 days to butcher, freeze and get the bacon, hams started before making all the sausages. Not sure that I would want to do more than 2 at a time.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 17, 2013, 01:34:51 pm

Our neighbour was raised in rural Italy and they used to do 2 in the Autumn, neighbours joining in to help each other - two days was put aside for the whole job.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: Berkshire Boy on March 17, 2013, 02:04:48 pm

The guy who buys all my weaners does anything between 10 and 20 a time depending on time of year.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 02:25:59 pm

interesting dose he get all his weaners from you in one go
I'm thinking 10 a time but not sure how easy it will be to find someone to supply most ads just seem to be under 5 Piggy's
and don't want to get in to breeding
all would have to go to slaughter couldn't do it myself

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: kja on March 17, 2013, 02:34:22 pm

my parents used to send 10 - 20 off every monday.

we like to take them in 4's when we go these days just to make the journey worth while.

they used to buy whole litters by ordering in advance it was no problem.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 02:44:58 pm

once a week wow that's alot was thinking 10 a month
do you think i would be better off finding a commercial breeder to buy from

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: Berkshire Boy on March 17, 2013, 04:30:27 pm

Whereabouts are you lokismum. The guy who has my weaners kills about 700 pigs a year but does no breeding himself. He has a group of people like me who supply him with weaners at about 10 -12 weeks and he grows them on. He only uses Berkshires which is great for me, you could do something similar.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 05:14:15 pm

cornwall with any luck  :fc:

just looking for our land now  :excited:
so planing out what the best way to go is and we have settled on pigs as main as we have some experience with them :pig:
about 50 chickens and 20 or so ducks  :chook: :&>for gate sales
i already have my 3 horses so the would be there as well :horse:
looking for about 20 to 30 acres more if the price is right :fc:
so any suggestions for anything else we could do to make a living brill :thumbsup:
or someone in that area i can pick up stock

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: kja on March 17, 2013, 08:06:38 pm

Quote from: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 02:44:58 pm

once a week wow that's alot was thinking 10 a month
do you think i would be better off finding a commercial breeder to buy from

they used to do as BB says buying from  a number of locals.

do you want to sell rare breed pork or commercial ? find your market then work to that.

Title: Re: largest amount slaughtered
Post by: lokismum on March 17, 2013, 09:30:22 pm

was thinking of starting cheap and seems to be the large whites but with any luck will be able to work our way up to rare breeds unless some come along at the right price
is there much difference in price after slaughter
would live outside in woodland
do you think i would be better to sell at pork wight or bacon weight
sorry silly questions i know :- :innocent: