potbellies for meat?

[k_long]

Can u raise a potbelly pig for meat. I have limited space but would like some home grown pork. I have never heard of anyone eating there potbelly pig, but why not. If so how much meat on one. thxs

 

[Marlinchaser]

I am waiting for an answer to this too.


Here Hammie Hammie Hammie

 

[al6517]

Pot bellied pigs were bred to be pets, 99.999% of people will not process their pets for food. Pot bellies have allot of fat and the meat from what I know of isn't very good. Now I am sure you will have some folks that will say that they have eaten it and it's good but in reality it is very poor quality meat. The feed to meat ratio is aslo very low, they are basicly pet pigs, I have raised many farm feeder pigs and there is absolutely no comparison.



AL

 

[Marlinchaser]

They originated from vietnamese pigs, that are smaller than domestic pigs in US, so yes you could eat them. If you can get past the stigma of eating what most consider a pet, fire up the grill, and I'll be over for dinner.

 

[k_long]

I have no problem eating a pet in my house everyone contributes something including the animals. I they are not so good to eat. Are there any small breeds bred for meat. The size is what appealed to me ( small pen less feed), but if the feed to meat ratio is not good it may not be worth it. The kids have a dog and chickens (temporary Pets), for pets no need for pet pig want homegrown pork not a friend.

 

[chickenzoo]

I have had friends that have eaten it.........

, I wouldn't but they said it was very fatty and not very tasty. Poor Wilbur, at least he knows he's safe with us.

 

[greathorse]

I would beleive them to be very ineffecient converters of feed, so though easier to handle not much bang for the buck. Pigs are a tricky thing to raise as far as I am concerned. I raised three of them last year and they resulting meat cost was very high for me. I did my own butchering and still YIkes.

I however paid full fare at the feed store for feed, and probably fed them longer than I needed to. I was told that I could finish a feeder pig on about 600 lbs. of grain, but it was at least double that for me. So for me at least 250.00 in feed per pig plus the cost of the pig, and the barn still smells. Grocery store pork is cheap LOL. They do taste great however

 

[bagendhens]

you CAN eat them, they tend to be fatty and there not as "tastey" as most breeds raised specifically for meat, however "tastey" is in the eye of the beholder, personally i prefer milder meat and find potbelly just that, a milder flavored meat (and its still better than the stuff you find in the grocery store!)

 

[al6517]

Yes that is the word!!!! everybody says they are very fatty, mainly because of the whole pet diet thing. Folks feed them alot of leftover people food and that tends to make the meat very........... well nasty.

AL

 

[FarmGirl01]

Very fatty.