Iberian Hogs Find Home In Georgia
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Will Harris is the proud partner in purebred Iberian hogs introduced from Spain. He has added them to his Georgia pastured livestock operation (Vol. 37, No. 1). It already includes cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits and heritage domestic hogs. Harris’ 100+ employees raise, butcher and market the farm’s meat via the internet and to restaurants and supermarkets across the southeastern U.S. When Spanish hog producers Jamie and Kurt Oriol came knocking at his door, Harris was ready.
“Until recently, it was illegal to export Iberian hogs from Spain, but when the law changed, the Oriols got a permit to export 24 gilts and 6 boars,” explains Harris. “We were one of 10 farms they considered.”
Harris has a 50 percent ownership in the animals, having covered half the costs of bringing them to the U.S. to raise them. The herd arrived in December 2014, and it has been growing ever since. The first 27 animals were slaughtered in February with a second group of 42 slaughtered in September.
“We’ve been saving gilts, but hope to start slaughtering on a regular basis,” says Harris.
He is already offering Iberian pork on his website store with spare ribs selling for about $6/lb. However, hams and shoulders won’t be available until the summer of 2019. Cured at La Quercia (Vol. 38, No. 1) for 2 to 3 years, they will sell at a high premium. Bone-in hams ordered today for the 2019 delivery are priced at $1,500 each. A full bone-in-shoulder is priced at $750.
While Iberian hogs are normally fattened on acorns, Harris’ hogs get peanuts and acorns. They also get their share of cracked eggs from the farm’s pastured hens. The diet is supplemented with non-GMO feeds. They also forage the farm’s wooded pastures where they spend the bulk of their lives.
“Hogs were never meant to be raised on concrete, in cages, or under fluorescent lights. Ours are never kept in confinement.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, White Oak Pastures, P.O. Box 98, Bluffton, Ga. 39824 (ph 229 641-2081; info@whiteoakpastures.com; www.whiteoakpastures.com).
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Iberian Hogs Find Home In Georgia HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Will Harris is the proud partner in purebred Iberian hogs introduced from Spain He has added them to his Georgia pastured livestock operation Vol 37 No 1 It already includes cattle sheep goats poultry rabbits and heritage domestic hogs Harris’ 100+ employees raise butcher and market the farm’s meat via the internet and to restaurants and supermarkets across the southeastern U S When Spanish hog producers Jamie and Kurt Oriol came knocking at his door Harris was ready “Until recently it was illegal to export Iberian hogs from Spain but when the law changed the Oriols got a permit to export 24 gilts and 6 boars ” explains Harris “We were one of 10 farms they considered ” Harris has a 50 percent ownership in the animals having covered half the costs of bringing them to the U S to raise them The herd arrived in December 2014 and it has been growing ever since The first 27 animals were slaughtered in February with a second group of 42 slaughtered in September “We’ve been saving gilts but hope to start slaughtering on a regular basis ” says Harris He is already offering Iberian pork on his website store with spare ribs selling for about $6/lb However hams and shoulders won’t be available until the summer of 2019 Cured at La Quercia Vol 38 No 1 for 2 to 3 years they will sell at a high premium Bone-in hams ordered today for the 2019 delivery are priced at $1 500 each A full bone-in-shoulder is priced at $750 While Iberian hogs are normally fattened on acorns Harris’ hogs get peanuts and acorns They also get their share of cracked eggs from the farm’s pastured hens The diet is supplemented with non-GMO feeds They also forage the farm’s wooded pastures where they spend the bulk of their lives “Hogs were never meant to be raised on concrete in cages or under fluorescent lights Ours are never kept in confinement ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup White Oak Pastures P O Box 98 Bluffton Ga 39824 ph 229 641-2081; info@whiteoakpastures com; www whiteoakpastures com
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