What is the best bacon pig breed?

by GB 12th July 2012, 10:33 pm

Our first pigs were blue butts and while I cant fault them for flavor they had so little fat that their bacon was flavorful but not quite bacon.

What is the best, or at least a really good, bacon pig?

Nice thick sides richly layered in fat is what I am after.

by Wilhelm Von Rhomboid 14th July 2012, 12:58 pm

None of the commercial breeds - they have been bred for leanness for years.

GOS, Tamworth, Mangalitza (of course, lol), Saddleback, OSB.... all good.

the key to a good baconer is slow growth - I keep mine at least 12 months, usually 14-18, and give them a good varied diet. I aim for a killed out weight of 100-120kg.

by GB 15th July 2012, 12:13 am

Wilhelm Von Rhomboid wrote:None of the commercial breeds - they have been bred for leanness for years.

GOS, Tamworth, Mangalitza (of course, lol), Saddleback, OSB.... all good.

the key to a good baconer is slow growth - I keep mine at least 12 months, usually 14-18, and give them a good varied diet. I aim for a killed out weight of 100-120kg.

You are a star Billy! I knew you told me that before but I just couldn't remember Embarassed

My next big project - after getting horses - is to get a 100 ft by 30 ft pen ready for a couple of pigs. They will get to live in it for a year or so and then it will get turned into veg garden. But the fence is only half done and a hot wire is still on my list but not budget. Twill be done, thats a sure bet.

Main problem will be finding ANY of the above pigs. All around here are modern breeds or wild/feral types.

Hmmmmm, wonder if a niche market is there for a heritage breed? NOT your woolies Billy, they are more pricey than my goats even Shocked

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What is the best bacon pig breed?

What is the best bacon pig breed?

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