Why Tamworth Pigs From Spring Hill Farms?
What makes Spring Hill Farms Tamworth pigs different from other Tamworth pigs I could buy?
Here's the answer:
Many of the Tamworth breeders in America are breeding for show pigs. To quote Kelly Klober from a recent Acres USA article, Strictly Swine: "Recent showring trends to extreme muscling patterns and leanness have resulted in some swine lines being compromised by the inclusion of outside breeding such as the use of the heavily-muscled Pietrain breed originally imported from Europe."
I'm not saying Tamworth breeders are using outside breeds to bulk up pigs (although I suspect some are doing this) but I am saying many Tamworth pig breeders are breeding for show pigs that are thick, heavily-muscled pigs that will show well in the ring.
These pigs might be fine specimens for the show ring but they are not suited for the type of farming operation that wants to pasture their pigs and feed limited grain or other lower protein feed supplements.
What are the breeder's goals?
The goals of a show pig breeder would be far different from the goals we have at Spring Hill Farms. For instance a show pig breeder might want a pig that has the veracious appetite and gains weight fast on a feeder full of high protein, show feed.
I'm looking for a pig that will actively forage for food in the pasture and gain weight on limited feed with a goal of 180 days to slaughter. I like a good appetite, but I don't want pigs standing around squealing all day for grain, and believe me, we have bought in some Tamworth breeding stock that did just that.
Those type pigs are never able to compete with our line of Tamworth when it comes to weight gain, immunity function, parasite resistance, or what I call forage ability.
Another factor to consider is some breeders believe the fastest way to get a line of pigs to acquire the particular genetics they need to "show well in the ring" is to intensively line breed. I'm not totally opposed to line breeding, however I want to know what the breeding coefficient is for the particular mating. I don't know of one Tamworth breeder who is tracking breeding coefficients. Perhaps some are, but I don't know them. We track breeding coefficients at Spring Hill Farms. I believe any responsible breeder should be tracking them.
At Spring Hill Farms Our Main Focus is Pastured Pork
Our core business has been to produce the finest pastured pork products and offer them direct to the consumer since 2004. Our breeding goals have been aligned with that core business since day one. I have never sold a show pig (although I have had some that could have competed) and I don't plan to start.
If you're looking for hogs that can fit into the small farm model, grow to slaughter weight on pasture with minimum grain inputs, we can help. If you're looking for the next winner in the show ring, you might want to try someone else.
Give me a call or email and we'll talk pigs...
David
Here's the answer:
Many of the Tamworth breeders in America are breeding for show pigs. To quote Kelly Klober from a recent Acres USA article, Strictly Swine: "Recent showring trends to extreme muscling patterns and leanness have resulted in some swine lines being compromised by the inclusion of outside breeding such as the use of the heavily-muscled Pietrain breed originally imported from Europe."
I'm not saying Tamworth breeders are using outside breeds to bulk up pigs (although I suspect some are doing this) but I am saying many Tamworth pig breeders are breeding for show pigs that are thick, heavily-muscled pigs that will show well in the ring.
These pigs might be fine specimens for the show ring but they are not suited for the type of farming operation that wants to pasture their pigs and feed limited grain or other lower protein feed supplements.
What are the breeder's goals?
The goals of a show pig breeder would be far different from the goals we have at Spring Hill Farms. For instance a show pig breeder might want a pig that has the veracious appetite and gains weight fast on a feeder full of high protein, show feed.
I'm looking for a pig that will actively forage for food in the pasture and gain weight on limited feed with a goal of 180 days to slaughter. I like a good appetite, but I don't want pigs standing around squealing all day for grain, and believe me, we have bought in some Tamworth breeding stock that did just that.
Those type pigs are never able to compete with our line of Tamworth when it comes to weight gain, immunity function, parasite resistance, or what I call forage ability.
Another factor to consider is some breeders believe the fastest way to get a line of pigs to acquire the particular genetics they need to "show well in the ring" is to intensively line breed. I'm not totally opposed to line breeding, however I want to know what the breeding coefficient is for the particular mating. I don't know of one Tamworth breeder who is tracking breeding coefficients. Perhaps some are, but I don't know them. We track breeding coefficients at Spring Hill Farms. I believe any responsible breeder should be tracking them.
At Spring Hill Farms Our Main Focus is Pastured Pork
Our core business has been to produce the finest pastured pork products and offer them direct to the consumer since 2004. Our breeding goals have been aligned with that core business since day one. I have never sold a show pig (although I have had some that could have competed) and I don't plan to start.
If you're looking for hogs that can fit into the small farm model, grow to slaughter weight on pasture with minimum grain inputs, we can help. If you're looking for the next winner in the show ring, you might want to try someone else.
Give me a call or email and we'll talk pigs...
David