Current Litters and Availabilities
The Whole Hog: Tamworth Pork Preparations and Ideas
Unlike modern breeds which are selected only for maximum profitability, Tamworths were bred for taste, without compromise. Tamworth pork, especially if raised on a organic and varied diet, is a world of flavor away from the bland, chemically-enhanced, factory-grown supermarket meat. Once you taste it there will be no going back. The Tamworth has even earned the designation of "The Bacon Pig" for the exceptional flavor and composition of its bacon. Overall, the pork is lean and fine-grained with excellent carcass yields of up to 70% due to finer bone structure.
We believe it is vitally important to preserve the heritage of resilience, adaptability, and high-quality meat that these pigs represent and therefore we strive to maintain the integrity, as well as the beauty of the breed throughout our breeding program.
We value small-scale operations and personal contact with each of our animals so of course we wanted pigs who were agreeable and easy to handle. Believe me, when you find yourself trying to work with or move an 700 lb. sow you quickly appreciate just how important an animal's character and cooperation is. Selected and sustained by small farmers since their origin, Tamworths are known to be among the most pleasant, intelligent and friendly of all pig breeds. This disposition has also earned them a reputation as superb mothers.
The Tamworth's hardiness is unsurpassed. With a genetical background very close to the European wild boars, they are well adapted to grazing and outdoor ranging: their strong legs and long snouts enable them to easily forage for their own food, such as mast or acorns. Their beautiful coat which ranges from mahogany to ginger red and gold also functions as a natural protection from sunburn.
The Tamworth is a heritage breed named for the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire where they originated. Now listed as a Threatened specie, they are one of the oldest breed of swine who developed and thrived for hundreds of years in English and Irish countrysides but have fallen out of favor with the modern production industry and its exclusive focus on rapid, hormone-enhanced growth.
When we began our quest for the perfect hog addition to the farm, we were looking for three fundamental qualities: hardiness, meat quality, and a pleasant temperament. After some research, the Tamworth breed came as the unmistakable answer and throughout several years of breeding they have more than met our expectations.
Nestled in the Oregon hills
Applying Holistic, Integrated Farming since 2001