We have 3 acres on our homestead, which isn’t a lot of acreage to raise meat animals, but we wanted to raise more than chickens. After researching beef cows, dairy animals and pigs…we settled on pigs. Not just any kind of pig, but pasture fed Gloucester Old Spot pigs. We read that GOS pigs have a docile personality, were great with other farm animals, and needed minimal grain to grow to butcher weight. We found a local breeder and back in April we put our deposit in for 2 piglets. In June we got the call to come pick them up. The piglets were around 40 pounds and ready to leave their mama.
How cute are they??? Pig 1 and Pig 2 quickly stole our hearts and we enjoyed playing with them for months…. until they grew too big to be safe for little children.
The pigs are now 7 months old and about 250 pounds. They are still very gentle, but they eat a lot more and find ways to escape their pen. The electric fence no longer works for them, as they have discovered how to pile mounds of dirt up the side of the fence, forcing it to collapse (covering the electric part) and creating a land bridge to freedom for themselves. So….they are now in the cattle fence pen only and are fed grain and some fruit and veggies.
They are scheduled to be butchered during the week of Thanksgiving. If the meat is as good as we have been told, we will raise even more pigs next year.
If you have a small homestead and are looking for a low maintenance, quick adventure in meat animals, I highly recommend smaller pasture raised pigs.
🙂 Mama Nice
Nice Family Homestead 