NOT our hogs. Virtually all commercial pork comes from hogs raised just like this "from farrow to finish".
Our Hogs
The Basics:
We raise Durocs, a red hog noted for it's lean muscling, excellent meat qualities, and general hardiness. The modern day Duroc is an American original, a cross between the Jersey Red of New Jersey and the Duroc of New York. While the breed may have been developed in the New England area, it was built and perfected in our own Midwest.
The Housing:
Durocs are by their very nature a tough breed, and require little more than shelter from the most severe weather. Ours are housed in a large barn with dirt floors, where they can wallow out a "nest" to rest together, or dustbathe, as they enjoy doing regularly. They also have 24 hr. access to the outdoors where they root at will. Since hogs do not sweat, they have no physical means of cooling themselves in the heat of summer, so they are given a place to naturally wallow in the mud for this purpose. Cold temperatures are rarely an issue for hogs, but we take care to limit drafts in their housing during the winter months, and supply them with both straw and hay for nesting purposes. Of course, all of this means more work and mess for us, but it makes for much happier hogs, and happy hogs are healthy, growing hogs.
The Inputs:
"Inputs" is the term given to anything that must be artificially supplied to the animal to keep it healthy and growing. Hay, feeds, and medications are examples of inputs that are given to supplement the forage that the hogs provide themselves. We do not have a standard "treatment schedule" of medications for our hogs. We ONLY treat with antibiotics when there appears to be no other way to save the animal, and we NEVER HAVE and NEVER WILL use steroids or growth hormones to raise our hogs. We feed the highest quality grains (corn, soybeans, and wheat) mixed by our local feed mill according to our own recipe. Even our waterers are designed so that the hogs get clean, naturally softened water on demand. These inputs make our meat the safest, healthiest, and highest quality that you can find.
OUR Hogs:
Our hogs are born and raised right here in Morgan County, Indiana. They are out of champion breeding stock and are raised with the best care and consideration from birth to death. They are socialized from the very beginning, and will usually be seen running to the fence to greet us as we enter our barnlot. If we take too long making our way over to visit them, they will "bark" their displeasure until we do so. They all look forward to having their backs scratched and getting some personal attention. Our hogs are not pets, but are raised with the same care and concern afforded a pet. This interaction makes it much easier and less stressful, for both hogs and handlers, when the time comes to work with the hogs directly. When "that" time comes, we drive right past several butchers to use one that we feel gives due respect to both animal and meat. Sure... it costs more to raise hogs this way, but if you compare our pork to any other, we think you'll agree that the Hard Way is the right way!