Buy Pasture Raised Pork

What Makes Pasture Raised Pork Different?

Commercial pork is produced in confinement operations where pigs never see sunlight or root in soil. Pasture raised pork comes from pigs that roam open pasture, root for grubs and plants, and express natural behaviors. The result is meat with more complex flavor, better fat marbling, and a richness that is hard to find in a grocery store.

Heritage Breeds to Look For

• Berkshire — The Wagyu of pork. Dark pink meat, high intramuscular fat, exceptional flavor.
• Duroc — Known for tenderness and juicy texture. Excellent marbling and deep red color.
• Hampshire — Leaner than Berkshire but still excellent quality. Good for bacon and chops.
• Tamworth — A traditional bacon pig. Long-bodied with excellent belly and rib yields.
• Mangalitsa — A lard-type breed with extraordinary fat quality. Increasingly popular with chefs.

Typical Weights and Yields

• Whole hog live weight: 200–300 lbs
• Hanging weight: 140–200 lbs
• Take-home packaged weight: 90–140 lbs (whole), 45–70 lbs (half)

What Cuts Come with a Hog Share

A whole hog share includes: pork chops, Boston butt roasts, picnic roasts, pork belly (for bacon or fresh belly), spare ribs, baby back ribs, ham roasts, ham steaks, loin roasts, tenderloin, ground pork, sausage (if the butcher makes it), and leaf lard. Many small-scale operations offer smoked or cured options as well.

Typical Price Ranges

Heritage breed pasture raised pork typically runs $4–$7 per pound of hanging weight, plus processing fees of $0.60–$1.00 per pound. A whole hog at 160 lbs hanging weight at $5.50/lb plus $0.75/lb processing equals roughly $1,000 total for 100+ lbs of packaged pork.

Finding Pork on Ranch Route

Browse the marketplace and filter by product type to find pork listings from farms near you. Many producers list whole and half hog shares. Contact the producer directly through Ranch Route to ask about availability, breed, and their processing timeline.