[garden cottage]

Greetings all this is our first post to the forum, we currently have 2 glos old spot cross berkshire weaners that are doing very well, in with these we have a tamworth that was 5 months old when we had her as she was surplus to requirments from the smallholding,all 3 get along fine. my question is when to send the tamworth off for slaughter,speaking to some friends of ours we would like to try and do bacon and cure it ourselves,we have been told that keeping them to long they will run on to fatty. the previous owners kept her on poor quality feed but since shes been with us shes filled out nicely any ideas most welcome.

[Hilarysmum]

Hi tamworths are slow growers and in my experience not prone to putting on fat.  If keeping for bacon hang on to her as long as you can, although best not to keep her after the others have been sent on, as she will be lonely.  Tamworths produce wonderful hams and lean loins for great bacon.

As long as she looks filled out and you are happy with her weight, any time after 8 months old. Hang on to her for as long as you can, you wont regret the extra flavour.

My mouth is watering, tamworth bacon, ooooh bliss.  HM

ps sorry should have said welcome to the forum.

[garden cottage]

many thanks hilarysmum have since run back through previous posts must, must say the forum is a mine of information cheers  neil

[pigsatlesrues]

I agree with HM 100%.  Hang on as long as you can.  A good way to check if you are going to get the best bacon is to gently touch along the spine.  If you feel bone there is not enough fat, if you can feel nothing at all then there is too much fat.

As HM says, they are slow growers and the quality of the meat certainly benifits from this slow process.

She and I are big fans of the Tammy as you may have guessed having read through other postings on here.

Good luck and please let us know how it all goes.

Welcome from us to by the way!

Kate