Frequently asked questions.

What are the hog ordering logistics?

Once we receive your order/payment for a whole or half hog, we will send you a follow up email to discuss processing dates based on which butcher shop you chose. One week prior to your processing date, we will send you a reminder email to confirm that you have discussed your preferences with the butcher. We cannot deliver your pig to the butcher until you have talked with them! The butcher will notify you once your meat is ready for pick up. You will pay the butcher for processing when you pick up your meat.

*We are planning on taking our pigs to the processor around September and December 2024 or when they reach the appropriate weight.

You can pay online via our shop, send a check through mail, or you can drop off cash/check.

Can I place an order if I am not local to the Watersmeet, MI area?

Currently, we are only taking orders locally (Northern Michigan/Wisconsin area). We hope in the future to be able to ship our products, but we are not there yet! If you place an order and you are too far away, we will contact you and cancel your order.

What is hanging weight?

Hanging weight is the weight of an animal after it’s been dropped and cleaned. This is about 72-80% of a hog’s live weight. The hanging weight is the closest measurement we can use to determine the amount of meat you get to take home, which is why it is used to determine the cost of your hog.

What is yield weight?

The weight after the livestock has been processed into the various packages. This is what you will take home. It is about 70% of the hanging weight.

What are some things I should consider before buying a pig?

Retail cuts total about half of a hog’s live weight. We will shoot to process around 250-300lb, so you can expect roughly 130-160lb. of retail cuts for your freezer (with a whole hog). So, do you have enough freezer space? Depending on the size freezer you have in your house, you will most likely need a secondary freezer.

Should I buy a whole or a half pig? This is dependent on multiple factors. How many family members will your pig be supporting? How long do you plan on storing it for? How often do you and your family eat pork?