Comments on: Cost of Pork – Grow Your Own http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/ Teaching, Training and Telling it Like it is! Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:07:26 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Katie http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17688 Katie Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:45:22 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17688 http://eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm I'm looking for another link to a great video but can't find it right now. I'll get back to you. :) http://eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm

I’m looking for another link to a great video but can’t find it right now. I’ll get back to you. :)

]]> By: Jessi http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17687 Jessi Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:58:06 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17687 OK, we've got the baby calves, when they get old enough to eat, do we grain them before we butcher? I've seen too much contradictory stuff about feeding "store grain" and just pasture feeding. (wich is what we will be doing after they are off the bottle) I'm not so sure we'll venture into the pork business until we have our own land and not "borrowing" my f-i-l's. OK, we’ve got the baby calves, when they get old enough to eat, do we grain them before we butcher? I’ve seen too much contradictory stuff about feeding “store grain” and just pasture feeding. (wich is what we will be doing after they are off the bottle) I’m not so sure we’ll venture into the pork business until we have our own land and not “borrowing” my f-i-l’s.

]]> By: Aunt Bea http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17633 Aunt Bea Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:55:44 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17633 Katie, Happy to hear you got so much pork from dear Jefferson! How I wish I had enough land to raise meat and eggs. Best I can do for now is to raise all of the garden stuff that I can. Finally figured out what was wrong with my green peas...they looked like something had bit the tops off of the plants. Seems our local Quail population loves to snack on all the gardens in the area. O.K. so they ate a few peas...I can live with that...but today!...I found some just planted red onions that had been dug up and trampled! The nerve of those birds! Quail, anyone? In answer to Rachel...I grew up in Iowa where there is an Amish area. I've been to a pig butchering...not sure if I could do it all on my own. We used to go over to dh parent's farm and dress out 30 chickens a year. Usually on a nice fall weekend. All of the married kids, spouses, grandbabies would be there to help with the chickens and to get some late corn to freeze for later. Yum! My grandmother on my dad's side of the family was mennonite and could she cook! There were 12 or 13 kids in my dad's family so she got a lot of practice cooking! Maybe we should all meet at Katie's next year and help her butcher a pig at the farm! What about it Katie??! Hugs, Aunt Bea P.S. Oh, yeah...the liverwurst...I love liverwurst. Many of my own kids will eat liverwurst...and their friends are just about gagging! I guess it's just all in what you are raised with! Katie, Happy to hear you got so much pork from dear Jefferson! How I wish I had enough land to raise meat and eggs. Best I can do for now is to raise all of the garden stuff that I can. Finally figured out what was wrong with my green peas…they looked like something had bit the tops off of the plants. Seems our local Quail population loves to snack on all the gardens in the area. O.K. so they ate a few peas…I can live with that…but today!…I found some just planted red onions that had been dug up and trampled! The nerve of those birds! Quail, anyone? In answer to Rachel…I grew up in Iowa where there is an Amish area. I’ve been to a pig butchering…not sure if I could do it all on my own. We used to go over to dh parent’s farm and dress out 30 chickens a year. Usually on a nice fall weekend. All of the married kids, spouses, grandbabies would be there to help with the chickens and to get some late corn to freeze for later. Yum!
My grandmother on my dad’s side of the family was mennonite and could she cook! There were 12 or 13 kids in my dad’s family so she got a lot of practice cooking! Maybe we should all meet at Katie’s next year and help her butcher a pig at the farm! What about it Katie??! Hugs, Aunt Bea

P.S. Oh, yeah…the liverwurst…I love liverwurst. Many of my own kids will eat liverwurst…and their friends are just about gagging! I guess it’s just all in what you are raised with!

]]> By: FarmSchooler http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17613 FarmSchooler Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:49:17 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17613 Bacon Recipe: http://foodproof.com/photos/full/bacon-cheese-roll-1290 Bacon Recipe:

http://foodproof.com/photos/full/bacon-cheese-roll-1290

]]> By: Beth http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17612 Beth Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:30:24 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17612 Jefferson did not die in vain. After telling my dh all about your raising pigs and butchering Jeff, er Jefferson, dh said, "How about having a large garden next year?" after nixing that idea for some time now. (He knows how I tend to plant things and then let them die...) So, thank you, Jefferson, wherever/whatever you are! Beth Jefferson did not die in vain. After telling my dh all about your raising pigs and butchering Jeff, er Jefferson,
dh said, “How about having a large garden next year?” after nixing that idea for some time now. (He knows how I tend to plant things and then let them die…)
So, thank you, Jefferson, wherever/whatever you are!
Beth

]]> By: Linda7NJ http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17610 Linda7NJ Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:35:06 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17610 sob...sniff sniff....he was so cute I'm now in mourning. :( scrapple and liverwurst .....very popular here in South Jersey. I suppose it's because of Lancaster PA Do you have Taylor's Pork Roll or make it yourselves? Ever hear of it? sob…sniff sniff….he was so cute

I’m now in mourning. :(

scrapple and liverwurst …..very popular here in South Jersey. I suppose it’s because of Lancaster PA

Do you have Taylor’s Pork Roll or make it yourselves? Ever hear of it?

]]> By: Natalie@Naddy's Blog http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17608 Natalie@Naddy's Blog Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:53:57 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17608 We butchered two pigs this year, and two last year. Definitely not impossible. We moved their pasture some, they loved rooting up the garden. :-) Plus, it helps prep the ground for the next planting. We butchered two pigs this year, and two last year. Definitely not impossible. We moved their pasture some, they loved rooting up the garden. :-) Plus, it helps prep the ground for the next planting.

]]> By: Reggie http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17607 Reggie Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:43:43 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17607 Though it's not of the same quality, and of course not organic, I recently bought a boneless sirloin pork roast at Safeway for $1.99/lb. That hardly makes it worth going to all the trouble of raising and butchering one's own. Though it’s not of the same quality, and of course not organic, I recently bought a boneless sirloin pork roast at Safeway for $1.99/lb. That hardly makes it worth going to all the trouble of raising and butchering one’s own.

]]> By: Rachel http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17606 Rachel Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:43:50 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17606 Oh, pig butchering is soooo much fun at our house. I grew up amish and we have always done it ourselves. It is a fun family tradition. The lard gets rendered and poured boiling hot into qt jars and they seal on their own. We make chops, roasts, hams, bacon, sausage. we also make scrapple and liverwurst which you probably aren't familiar with unless you have amish or mennonite background. We have it for breakfast along with fried mush or stewed crackers. (what? you don't know what that is either? what DO "english" people eat for breakfast, anyway!) Oh, pig butchering is soooo much fun at our house. I grew up amish and we have always done it ourselves. It is a fun family tradition. The lard gets rendered and poured boiling hot into qt jars and they seal on their own. We make chops, roasts, hams, bacon, sausage. we also make scrapple and liverwurst which you probably aren’t familiar with unless you have amish or mennonite background. We have it for breakfast along with fried mush or stewed crackers. (what? you don’t know what that is either? what DO “english” people eat for breakfast, anyway!)

]]> By: Melissa http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17605 Melissa Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:10:49 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17605 My husband and I helped some church friends with butchering their pig last year. It wasn't bad, though very greasy work. The men would cut the meat and bring it into the kitchen in large tubs, and us ladies would wash and trim and package. We ground some into sausage and seasoned it. We rendered the fat and poured it into coffee cans that she had been saving, then those went right into the freezer. It was a fun day, and we left with some lard and a roast ;o) My husband is a professional chef though, and knows how to cut up an animal. Maybe you could see if you have any friends that are willing to have a butchering party next time :o) My husband and I helped some church friends with butchering their pig last year. It wasn’t bad, though very greasy work. The men would cut the meat and bring it into the kitchen in large tubs, and us ladies would wash and trim and package. We ground some into sausage and seasoned it. We rendered the fat and poured it into coffee cans that she had been saving, then those went right into the freezer. It was a fun day, and we left with some lard and a roast ;o) My husband is a professional chef though, and knows how to cut up an animal. Maybe you could see if you have any friends that are willing to have a butchering party next time :o)

]]> By: Kristin http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17604 Kristin Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:08:22 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17604 I'm glad to hear you got him up to 300 lbs in 8 months. Our 3 little piggies from last year were only 5-1/2 months old when we sent them off to the great pig pen in the sky. They were small. Tasty though. We're going for 8 months this year. Smaller pigs just don't have any lard and the sausage is a bit on the lean side. What exactly was in your pig feed? Also, if you can get a slab of unprocessed bacon, try this: http://solarfamilyfarm.com/?p=583 It is oh so yummy!! And you can do it yourself!! I want a stainless steel set up like Lindsey mentions! Been looking! I’m glad to hear you got him up to 300 lbs in 8 months. Our 3 little piggies from last year were only 5-1/2 months old when we sent them off to the great pig pen in the sky. They were small. Tasty though. We’re going for 8 months this year. Smaller pigs just don’t have any lard and the sausage is a bit on the lean side.

What exactly was in your pig feed?

Also, if you can get a slab of unprocessed bacon, try this:

http://solarfamilyfarm.com/?p=583

It is oh so yummy!! And you can do it yourself!!

I want a stainless steel set up like Lindsey mentions! Been looking!

]]> By: littledebbie http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17601 littledebbie Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:33:59 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17601 We haven't gotten to the fun point yet, I guess. For the first sheep, we sent our older kids (3 and 20 months or so at the time) to a friend's house and of course kept our brand newborn with us. For the second one, we had a friend come to our house to watch the kids (4, 2.5, and 1 by then). We haven’t gotten to the fun point yet, I guess. For the first sheep, we sent our older kids (3 and 20 months or so at the time) to a friend’s house and of course kept our brand newborn with us. For the second one, we had a friend come to our house to watch the kids (4, 2.5, and 1 by then).

]]> By: Lindsey in AL http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17600 Lindsey in AL Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:47:29 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17600 Actually, butchering at home is kind of fun. Sometimes. It gets more fun as we get better at it. So far we've done half a dozen dear and 5 or 6 dozen chickens (over the past 7 years) Oh, and an elk 9 years ago. Last year we bought a stainless steel restaurant kitchen prep table and sink with drainboard ($100 each) out of someone's front yard (dontcha love the country?) and I am looking forward to using them the next time we have something to hack to pieces...I mean butcher. I may have to look into a pig or two. We've talked about it but never very in depth. You have me thinking. Again :) Actually, butchering at home is kind of fun. Sometimes. It gets more fun as we get better at it. So far we’ve done half a dozen dear and 5 or 6 dozen chickens (over the past 7 years) Oh, and an elk 9 years ago.

Last year we bought a stainless steel restaurant kitchen prep table and sink with drainboard ($100 each) out of someone’s front yard (dontcha love the country?) and I am looking forward to using them the next time we have something to hack to pieces…I mean butcher.

I may have to look into a pig or two. We’ve talked about it but never very in depth. You have me thinking. Again :)

]]> By: littledebbie http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17599 littledebbie Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:34:46 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17599 Now that I've found where I'd written down the animal costs... It actually amounted to $10 plus hay and grain for the winter and while nursing. And with that, we got 2 sheep in the freezer and still have two in the yard from that flock. Not bad, eh? Next year's meat will be even cheaper, as the starter flock has reimbursed itself. Now that I’ve found where I’d written down the animal costs… It actually amounted to $10 plus hay and grain for the winter and while nursing. And with that, we got 2 sheep in the freezer and still have two in the yard from that flock. Not bad, eh? Next year’s meat will be even cheaper, as the starter flock has reimbursed itself.

]]> By: littledebbie http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17597 littledebbie Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:43:31 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17597 I tell you, Katie, you've gotta learn to butcher at home! That would've brought the cost down to $1.12/lb, and you might have gotten even more out of it. Butchering at home is no fun, but it saves a lot of money! We've butchered two of our sheep so far. The second time definitely went better. Once you take all costs into consideration, it was probably about $30 for a whole sheep in the freezer. I tell you, Katie, you’ve gotta learn to butcher at home! That would’ve brought the cost down to $1.12/lb, and you might have gotten even more out of it.

Butchering at home is no fun, but it saves a lot of money! We’ve butchered two of our sheep so far. The second time definitely went better. Once you take all costs into consideration, it was probably about $30 for a whole sheep in the freezer.

]]> By: Heather http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17596 Heather Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:13:56 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17596 I would love to be able to find pig feed for that price. We feed our pigs an assortment of thing to keep cost down. We picked up leftover fish from fish market, we picked up the food off a roach coach and then had to sit there and open each package up, and then day old bread that I could pick up for $5 a rack. But I do not have access to any of it now. So it was $6 a 50lb sack. That is a good deal. I would love to be able to find pig feed for that price. We feed our pigs an assortment of thing to keep cost down. We picked up leftover fish from fish market, we picked up the food off a roach coach and then had to sit there and open each package up, and then day old bread that I could pick up for $5 a rack. But I do not have access to any of it now.
So it was $6 a 50lb sack. That is a good deal.

]]> By: Paula http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17595 Paula Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:43:45 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17595 That's a really good price for pork! You can barely beat that price on a good sale @ the store. The pig was cute when he was little, but I would have been afraid of him big. I have to LOL @ "pigpen in the sky". That’s a really good price for pork! You can barely beat that price on a good sale @ the store.

The pig was cute when he was little, but I would have been afraid of him big. I have to LOL @ “pigpen in the sky”.

]]> By: Mrs.MegLogan http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17594 Mrs.MegLogan Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:38:06 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17594 Ok, I gotta know, can it have been done for less? Either is it feasible to butcher the thing yourself? feed it less?? or less expensive food?? (I see that part about rotating pastures btw) What kind of work effort goes into a pig on a day by day basis? How much time to feed it? Do you muck it's barn? tell me more. Meg Ok, I gotta know, can it have been done for less? Either is it feasible to butcher the thing yourself? feed it less?? or less expensive food?? (I see that part about rotating pastures btw)

What kind of work effort goes into a pig on a day by day basis? How much time to feed it? Do you muck it’s barn? tell me more.

Meg

]]> By: Katie http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17593 Katie Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:04 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17593 The cost would have been less if we had moved their pasture. They ate it all down and then there was nothing there for several months. Next time. :) The cost would have been less if we had moved their pasture. They ate it all down and then there was nothing there for several months. Next time. :)

]]> By: Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/comment-page-1/#comment-17591 Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:15:32 +0000 http://teambettendorf.com/2009/06/17/cost-of-pork-grow-your-own/#comment-17591 Thanks for breaking the costs down. I'm looking into the most cost effective way to raise our own meat. Thanks for breaking the costs down. I’m looking into the most cost effective way to raise our own meat.

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