Q: Hi! I heard from a source of questionable credibility that hog operations aren't allowed to have hogs on pasture past November 1st and through the winter. I'm hoping to find more information on this. I am involved in a small hog operation that is considering using a 4 acre plot to finish 8 hogs.
This presentation shows examples of slaughter swine and carcasses to go along with the official USDA descriptions from their websites on Slaughter Swine and Carcass Grades.
Western Meat School, which runs for six weeks in November and December, will cover key topics in production, processing and marketing to produce high-quality meat and sell to diverse market channels.
Pasture-based pork production offers opportunities for niche meat producers to meet the desires of consumers concerned about the treatment of animals they eat. But it's not as simple as just turning pigs out to pasture.