The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Jode on March 17, 2017, 08:27:18 am

Title: Sow for meat
Post by: Jode on March 17, 2017, 08:27:18 am
We have a sow with 5 week old piglets and we plan to wean at 7/8 weeks. We aren't going to use her again. When can she go for sausages? Does her milk need to dry up first? She's maintained good condition whilst feeding. Feel really callous but trying to put my farmer head on :-(
Title: Re: Sow for meat
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 17, 2017, 09:20:59 am
I generally take cull sows to market after they've had a few days to dry off.  A whole sow is going to make an awful  lot of sausages!
Title: Re: Sow for meat
Post by: Sbom on March 17, 2017, 09:37:11 am
We had sausage, bacon, hams and gammon from our huge large white x landrace sow. This was a few months after weaning as we couldn't get her back in pig.
Title: Re: Sow for meat
Post by: farmershort on March 17, 2017, 09:47:15 am
We had sausage, bacon, hams and gammon from our huge large white x landrace sow. This was a few months after weaning as we couldn't get her back in pig.

How did they taste? Compared to normal 6 month old stuff?
Title: Re: Sow for meat
Post by: langfauld easycare on March 17, 2017, 10:10:43 am
We had sausage, bacon, hams and gammon from our huge large white x landrace sow. This was a few months after weaning as we couldn't get her back in pig.

How did they taste? Compared to normal 6 month old stuff?


best sausages we have ever had made were out a 5 yr old sow . never been able to match them since .only got sausages back and it was ALOT :pig: . did try some bacon from someone elses sow a few years back i thought it was pretty tough tasty enough but like eating leather .
Title: Re: Sow for meat
Post by: Sbom on March 17, 2017, 11:47:20 am
Bacon and sausage were fantastic!
Title: Re: Sow for meat
Post by: Jode on March 17, 2017, 03:57:03 pm
Ok thankyou. We are having a farm open day so need lots of sausages!! Will give a few days after weaning. Seems awfully mean. Wish pigs just ate grass like sheep then they wouldn't have to earn their keep quite as much