This afternoon it was time to load the hogs up and take them to the butcher. Yes, I do get a little sad and feel a bit traiterous. I’m grateful for their gift to us as food, and we give them the best life we possibly can while they’re in our care.
Before we dropped them off we swung by the elevator. Sometimes the scale is turned around for the weekend, so that you can see it from outside. That way farmers can drive onto the scale and weigh for themselves when the elevator is closed.
First we weigh with the hogs on the trailer. The weight of truck, trailer and hogs was:
Matt and I both guessed what they’d weigh. He thought 265, I thought 275.
After we’d unloaded them, we weighed again:
So with 8 hogs, the average weight per hog was 270 pounds! Not bad for outdoor-raised pigs, 133 163 days old.
Now we’ll guess what the hanging weight will be. Matt thinks they’ll cut out at 70 to 73%, I think 65 to 68%. We’ll know in a day or two.
Excellent finishing job. 270 in 133. Is that 133 days from birth or some other starting weight?
I never would have guessed they’d be that big, from the pictures. Can’t wait to hear “part II”!Would also love to hear the final figures, price per pound to raise, etc. if you care to share. 🙂