Your Buyers Guide for a Whole (or half) Hog
I remember a time when making meals wasn’t such a chore. I would come home from work, grab something from the fridge, plop down in front of the TV and call it a day… Ah, life before kids.
Everything changes once you start having kids.
Your focus on what you and your family eat shifts to nourishing foods that are beneficial to their well-being. You work hard - You feel like your doing great with this parenting thing and then COVID comes along and flips everything upside down. Now your trips to the store are met with products out of stock and someone telling you they are limiting the amount of meat your allowed to buy… How frustrating!
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have all the meat you need at home ready when you need it. No more frequent trips to the store, walking back to your vehicle because you forgot to grab your mask and wondering if what you need is even going to be available?
2020 has certainly changed your view on food availability…
You know there has to be a better way to ensure you have nourishing meat you need for your family. You know that purchasing large amounts of meat at once are ideal!
But you just aren’t sure how? Where? How much? Cost? Freezer space? These are all questions I am very familiar with this year and am here to help!
Here you will find answers to your questions in order to determine if buying in bulk is for you.
Let’s talk pork!
You may be surprised to hear but according to the USDA, 36% of all meat consumed world-wide is pork. It out ranks beef and poultry. But this makes sense when you think of all the different cuts of meat you can get from such a small animal compared to beef, saving freezer space and money. Ground pork is even a viable substitute for ground beef in most recipes. And cattle don’t supply bacon, so just knowing that … eat more pork.
Well, let’s be honest, it depends on your freezer space, right? You’d be surprised how little space a hog takes up. And how much meat you get and how long will it feed you… ok let’s break it all down.
Where to begin?
A live 300lb hog yields a hanging weight of 216lbs (108lbs per half). Hanging weight is the weight once the hog is slaughtered and organs are removed. This hanging weight includes the bones, head, cartilage, skin and other bits. Not all of this is edible so once removed you are left with 140-150lbs (70-75lbs per half) of meat for your freezer.
What sort of cuts will you get?
Whether half a hog or whole, the meat is the same but quantity is different. Here is a break down of the average pounds of cuts half versus whole.
Half Hog
Tenderloin: 1lbs
Loin/Chops: 12lbs
Bacon: 8-10lbs
Ribs: 3lbs
Should Roasts: 12lbs
Sausage: 6lbs
Ham: 15lbs
Smoked Hocks: 5lbs
Other items you may request: Jowl bacon (yes please), rendered lard (we always have it on hand), and organ meat but depending on the cuts you select, you will get 70-80% of your hanging weight in consumable meat.
Whole Hog
Tenderloin: 2lbs
Loin/Chops: 24lbs
Bacon: 18-20lbs
Ribs: 6lbs
Should Roasts: 24lbs
Sausage: 12lbs
Ham: 30lbs
Smoked Hocks: 10lbs
Other items you may request: Jowl bacon (yes please), rendered lard (we always have it on hand), and organ meat but depending on the cuts you select, you will get 70-80% of your hanging weight in consumable meat.
Use the chart below to calculate how long a 1/2 hog will last for your household. Keep in mind that your pork will maintain quality for at least 6 months in your freezer.
Equivalent Adult Consumers: 2 Adults 3 Adults 4 Adults 5 Adults
Light Pork Consumption 11 Months 7 Months 5 Months 4 Months Moderate Pork Consumption 9 Months 6 Months 4 Months 3.5 Months Staple Diet Pork Consumption 7 Months 5 Months 3 Months 10 Weeks Based on average annual American pork consumption of 50 pounds per person.
Use the chart below to calculate how long a whole hog will last for your household. Keep in mind that your pork will maintain quality for at least 6 months in your freezer.
Equivalent Adult Consumers: 2 Adults 3 Adults 4 Adults 5 Adults
Light Pork Consumption 22 Months 14 Months 10 Months 8 Months Moderate Pork Consumption 18 Months 12 Months 8 Months 7 Months Staple Diet Pork Consumption 14 Months 10 Months 6 Months 20 Weeks Based on average annual American pork consumption of 50 pounds per person. As a family of 5, we go through 2 whole hogs ourselves per year… it is a staple in our diet.
How much freezer space do I need?
A general rule is you need 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 15-20lbs of meat. For reference, the interior of a milk crates is slightly more than a cubic foot. For a half hog you need 3.5 cubic feet and for a whole hog you will need 7 cubic feet.
How much does a half or whole hog cost?
We charge $6.25 per pound hanging weight which INCLUDES your slaughtering, processing/butchering, & curing fees. A $100 (per half) deposit MUST be paid to secure your pig. Your deposit amount will then be deducted from the total once your pork is ready to pickup. The remaining balance is due upon pickup. Pickup is typically 2-2.5 weeks after slaughtering - this is due to the curing time required for bacon and hams. Pickup is at the farm - we will pickup your pork from our processor.
How do I select the cuts of meat I want - how do I know what I can choose?
You get to have your meat butchered the way you want it. Although as much as you like bacon, keep in mind only 10% of a hog can be made into bacon - it comes from the belly and jowl of the hog.
If you prefer larger packs of bacon to feed your family on a Sunday morning then you can do that. Prefer thick cut bacon, you can get that as well. You have the option of nitrite/nitrate free cured meats or with added nitrite/nitrates. Hams the size you need for holiday dinners.
As the date gets closer to processing your pork, you will be sent a guide breaking down the sections of the hog and typical cuts of meat from eat to help you further with selecting your desired cuts. Ultimately though you will be in direct contact with our processor providing your requests. You’re in good hands throughout the entire process!
Other things to consider
Splitting a whole hog is a great way to get more of the cuts you like. Find a friend or family member who don’t enjoy the cuts you do… you both get what you prefer and split the cost. We have done this in the past with my in-laws - they eat more ground meat where we don’t. They got more ground meat and we got more chops/steaks/roasts. A win-win for both parties.
Can I order a side of pork anytime?
We only offer this opportunity 2 to 3 times a year to purchase a half/whole hog. Unlike the quick growing time needed for poultry, it takes approximately 6 months to grow a hog to size.
Because the availability is limited to the number of hogs we have each batch, we generally sell out quickly.
Just try saying it out loud and feel how good it sounds, “I gotta go pickup my hog” and then enjoy the convenience of having a freezer full of melt-in-your-mouth chops, ribs, ham and bacon. Hold on, let me wipe the drool off my chin… ok I’m good now.
To reserve your half or whole hog, click here….
We look forward to seeing you at the Farm-store soon.
Until then, have a wonderfully blessed day.
~Gina