Our Pigs
Using a modern pig barn, we grow about 4,000 pigs for market in one year. One family of four can easily eat two whole pigs a year. This means the De Weterings only grow enough pork to feed 2,000 families. That’s not very many when you consider the population of Canada at around 33 million.
Our pigs are a mix of Yorkshire/Landrace (the white pigs of England) crossed with Duroc (the Red pig). Because the particular Duroc boar line used has in it some crosses with Heritage Breed pigs like the Berkshire there are black pigs, red pigs with black spots and some neat variations.
The De Wetering pigs are a mix of Yorkshire/Landrace (the white pigs of England) crossed with Duroc (the Red pig). Because the particular Duroc boar line used has in it some crosses with Heritage Breed pigs like the Berkshire there are Black pigs, Red pigs with Black Spots and some neat variations.
A little info about Pigs - A boar is a male pigs and a sow is a female pigs. A female piglet that hasn’t farrowed (had babies) is called a gilt, while a neutered boar is called a barrow. The babies are called piglets. After they are weaned from their mother, piglets are sometimes called shoats or as we say early weans. These early weans are then sometimes sold to be raised in nurseries until they reach a stronger weight to be moved to finishing stage. These pigs are called feeders and are what the De Weterings buy to put in their barn.
We buy our feeder pigs from the Bles Farms family, who own the sows that give birth to the piglets that become our pigs. These pigs are born just outside of Mitchell where Dave the herdsman looks after them.
Because pigs have hair and not fur as cows do, they prefer being indoors when it is cold or too hot, which describes most of our days in Canada. Pigs can’t put on a coat like people can. They choose separate areas in their pens for sleeping, eating and going to the bathroom. Pigs are really very clean and organised. They also like to play soccer and need toys to keep them entertained while they are not lounging around or eating. They do like to sleep a lot, which is why we say “don’t be lazy like a pig.” Pigs need a healthy diet of special pig food that varies according to their size and purpose (for example, a mother pig needs different food than a young pig being raised for market). Pigs can’t live off pasture like cows; they need a diet with grains, water and minerals, especially selenium.
It takes approximately six to seven months from birth to bring the piglets up to 240 lbs live weight. This is the weight we prefer as it makes the best bone-in pork chops and portion size. Because of economies of scale at the packing plants, the place where the pigs are killed for the commodity market, pigs are often raised up to 300+ lbs live weight.
Watch our videos to let Greta and Harry tell you about their pigs.