I just found a local farmer who sells individual cuts of beef and pork and also whole chickens and some of it cheaper than the grocery store. I have a meat goat buckling I could put in the freezer if I need to and will likely have up to four more next year. I’m wanting to get a breeding pair of small pigs soon. Got a ton of heritage variety garden seeds will am going big on that next year as well. Fruit trees also.
Screw this broken system. I’m opting out.
“to get a breeding pair of small pigs soon.”
For your own eating supply of pork you are way better off buying feeder pigs to raise for the freezer.
Unless you farm and can grow your feed I costs too much to feed a sow/boar year-round.
Buy 4-5 feeders in spring and by fall they will be ready for the freezer.
You can save some on feed by feeding your pigs garden surplus and scraps.
For the most part it will take 600# of feed to finish out each hog.
we've got lots of meat...lots of elk, deer.....so I shouldn't worry but I do like my beef.