Field Notes / Education

After two sets of pigs, boy have we learned a lot! In the spirit of the old David Letterman Top 10 Lists, here are the top 10 things we have learned about pigs:

1. Pigs are friendly
2. Pigs are mean
3. Pigs will eat just about anything

Ever wondered why a New York steak is called such? Porterhouse? What is a T-bone?

Let's take a minute to break it down for ya. This post will feature classic "steak" cuts. I will do another post including the other parts of beef as you get it from the butcher down the line.

There are a lot of things we have learned in our short time owning a little farm. Some are dramatic (cows trying to leap fences) while some are so subtle and so simple and yet provide tremendous joy.

One such item is lard. 

These are fancy cattle with good carcass genetics from registered Angus cows, bred by the top Angus and Wagyu bulls available, animals that we have raised with care and kindness. Pigs too.

Let’s assume an average sized 20 to 24-month-old animal weighs approximately 1,200-1400 lbs.; that weight is called the “live weight.” Once the animal is slaughtered, the skin, head, non-usable organs, and hooves are removed, and the carcass is split down the middle. This part of the process is done at the farm.