Our hogs are pastured - well, more like 'forested'. Nut-raised pork is one of the benefits of living on the side of a hill. Our hickory, oak, butternut and walnut trees drop feed every summer - and the best part of being a hog on our hill - is when the squirrels and chipmunks forget where their stash is! Our little plows on legs turn over rock, dirt and come up with their goodies.

We purchase weanlings from Kathy at Legacy Manor Farm. We feel that supporting her Large Black breeding program is an important part of what we do here. Kathy is incredible with her hogs, she raises not only Large Blacks, but Berkshire and Gloucestershire Old Spots. I believe that if there was only one animal that she could own, pigs would be her choice!

These hogs have proven themselves to be calm, friendly, good foragers and in general a joy to have around. There is nothing quite like taking a break at sundown and watching pigs run around and play like puppies.

The way we have the pastures set up, we run a limited number of pigs at a time, but there are never pigs back on the same area within a year (nuts only fall once a year). The minimum acreage is one per 4 hogs, with hopes of expanding that next year. The rocks just have to cooperate with the fence posts!

Since weanlings require a higher protein feed than just hay or grass, we do supplement these hogs with free choice grains. We are finding that they would rather forage first, then settle down to their meal - which is reducing feed costs, and will produce a leaner hog.

Oh, and the most surprising thing about pastured pigs - IT DOESN'T SMELL!