Heritage Breed Tamworth
Heritage Tamworth Hogs...
The Tamworth is a hardy, thrifty, very active and rare breed of hog that thrives on pastures and browse under all weather conditions. The Tamworth produces pork with a fantastic lean meat to fat ratio that is favored by many persons who are interested in raising a lean-type hog. Known as the bacon hog, they have deep long sides, and produce the finest bacon of any breed. Tamworth pork is coveted by artesian butchers and chefs worldwide and sells online some places for well over $20.00 per pound.
The Tamworth pigs of Laurel Mountain Family Farms enjoy a healthy life. They live on pasture and are periodically rotated into different paddocks, where the pigs are free to enjoy a wide variety of grasses, legumes, brassicas of our fields, and persimmons, acorns, and other nuts as well as the forest mass of our wooded areas. They do receive supplemental NON-GMO feed and hay which accounts for 20-40 percent of their caloric intake depending on the season. However, I have seen these pigs turn down hog ration for fresh grass and forest mass.
Laurel Mountain Family Farms maintains a closed herd, meaning the farm does not swap animals or allow other animals on site. Replacement sows and boars are exclusively registered Tamworth hogs and follow strict quarantine guidelines prior to joining the herd. We follow specified bio-security counter-measures to prevent transmission of diseases to animals. Registration certificates are maintained in the farm offices for every breeding animal in the herd and copies are available upon request.
Here at Laurel Mountain Family Farms, we believe that fresh air, natural environment and low stress are the key to keeping animals healthy; therefore we do not use antibiotics or hormones as a proactive means of growth and health. Additionally, we rely on our management practices of moving our pigs into fresh paddocks in order to provide fresh food, break the parasite cycle, as well as provide a rest cycle for the land.
Above all, the animals of Laurel Mountain Family Farms are kept calm.
Workers do not use loud voices or strike animals. Electric prods are never used. Animals are migrated when moved, rather than chased and allowed to self-load and unload on trailers when required. Piglets are minimally processed and needle teeth are not clipped and tails are not docked. At Laurel Mountain Family Farms, animal quality of life is preferred over rapid growth and great taste over modern refinements. Laurel Mountain Family Farms will maintain a healthy pig and, true to its Tamworth breed producing superior breeding stock, healthy, delectable pork product that any family would be happy to have on their table.
Tamworth pigs grow slower than other types of pigs, providing for a leaner, and richer (marbled) pork. The slower growth rate is just one reason you will never see Tamworth pigs in a Confined Feeding Operation. Our commitment to our customers is quality over quantity. We may not get rich with this model, but we can sleep at night knowing we have provided you the highest quality meat possible.