We are welcoming the newest addition to our farm. Lily is our new sow and is due to farrow in mid April. She will farrow without a farrowing crate and has done this successfully in the past. Lily is gentle and loves to have her ears and belly rubbed. Her favorite treat is egg bagels.

This is our first sow. Up to now we have been purchasing feeder pigs from local farmers that we have raised for our pork.

We are very happy to have Lily as she allows us to take the next steps toward sustainability, self sufficiency and animal welfare. We will be especially excited to see her farrow without being confined to a crate.

Stay Tuned,
Kim

Pastured Pork Available Soon - Reserve Yours Now

Over the next several weeks we will be taking our current batch of pastured pigs to our processors. This batch was raised on goat cheese whey, pasture, fallen apples, field corn (hogged down in the field) and our locally mixed feed. The picture here shows some of these pigs on pasture in warmer weather this past fall.

If you are interested in pasture pork from Coulee View Family Farm, please contact us quickly so that we can talk about processing options.
Per pound pricing for whole hogs is $2.35, halves are $2.45 and split quarters are $2.55 plus processing costs. Processing costs are explained on a previous blog at: http://couleeviewfarm.blogspot.com/2009/07/figuring-cost-of-whole-half-or-quarter.html

The cost is base on the pig's hanging weight. We are estimating that the hanging weight for these pigs will be between 190 and 230 lbs.

Gift CSA Shares and Gift Meat Samplers

Consider a 12 month or 6 month CSA share as a unique Christmas gift. We have pasted our CSA pricing further below. CSAs can be drop-offs are Prairie du Chien, LaCrosse, Platteville, Fitchburg, Madison, Lake Mills and Johnson Creek. For 12 or 6 month gift CSA orders we will send an attractive certificate announcing the gift CSA. If the order is place prior to our CSA delivery date, we can also include the first month CSA share packaged in a wrapped gift box that you can present during gift exchanges.

Another option is to purchase a special holiday sampler. This will be attractively packaged in a wrapped package. I should be kept frozen until gifts are exchanged. We are offering this in three sizes; the Super Holiday Sampler is 20 to 25 lbs of mixed meats, the Premium Holiday Sampler is 10 to 12 lbs of mixed meats, the Special Holiday Sampler is 5 to 6 lbs of mixed meats. The costs are $100 for the Super Holiday Sampler, $60 for the Premium Holiday Sampler and $35 for the Special Holiday Sampler. The Holiday Samplers need to be ordered prior to our CSA delivery date to be delivered or they can be picked up at the farm at a later date.


CSA Pricing (Click on the image to open a clearer version)

2009 Christmas Trees!!!

Holiday greetings from Coulee View Family Farm. Thanksgiving has past and it's time to get ready for Christmas. We again have good number of u-cut (we can help if you want) White Spruce Christmas trees available! These are un-trimmed, naturally grown, local trees. Come on up and cut your own tree so you know it's fresh. We will be open weekends (Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sunday from 11 to 5) until Christmas and weekdays by appointment. We'll have a couple of handsaws available but if you have one you like, feel free to bring it. We can't loan out our chainsaws for liability reasons so bring your own if you want to use a chainsaw. If you call ahead, Dean can also be available to cut your tree for you. We've attached a couple of pictures of our trees. The cost is $20 for any Christmas tree in our planting and $10 for trees in rows that we want thinned.

Figuring the Cost of a Whole, Half or Quarter Hog

Here is how to figure the cost of a whole, half or quarter hog:

There are the hog cost and the processing costs.

Processing Costs. Here are some of processing costs from our hogs from 2009:

Click on the image to open a clear version.


To summarize the data, there is a $24 kill fee plus $0.34 per pound is charged to cut and package the meat. Additionally, there is a cost of $0.75 per pound to smoke bacon and a cost of $0.55 per pound to smoke ham.

So assuming a 220 lb* hanging weight** hog. the processing cost*** would be about a $135 for a whole hog, $67.50 for a half hog, and $33.75 for a quarter hog.

* This is a target weight, because the weights of these hogs vary at slaughter time, actual hanging weights (and costs) will vary.
** Hanging Weight is the animal less the insides prior to cutting.
*** Processing costs are based on last season's cost. I'll check to see if these costs have increased.

Hog Cost. The hog cost would be figured as follows (hog prices updated 3/21/11):

Whole: $2.45/lb * 220 lb = $539 plus $135 processing brings the total to $674
You can figure about 155 to 165 lbs of meat from a whole hog.
If we had this cut up the same we we have in the past, you would get approximately 15
lbs of bacon, 19 lbs of smoked ham roast, 19 lbs of smoked ham steak (I like to have this cut thick so it is like another smoked ham - makes great hot ham and cheese), 2 - 1/4 lb tenderloin, 41 lbs of pork chops, 3 lbs of liver, 24 lbs of shoulder steak, 9 - 1/2 lbs of shoulder roast, 6 lbs of spare ribs, 8 - 3/4 lbs of hocks (we get ours fresh, but this can be smoked), 12 lbs of seasoned pork sausage,

Half: $2.45/lb * 110 lb = $269.50 plus $67.50 processing brings the total to $337
Qrtr: $2.55/lb * 55 lb = $140.25 plus $33.75 processing brings the total to $174


Also, note that our butcher double wraps; plastic first, then paper. This means that the final product keeps very well in the freezer - well over a year.

These Little Piggies are Going to Market

The pigs got out today. And yesterday. And the day before. I can't figure it out.

1. The fencer is on.
2. The fencer is working
3. The fence is not grounded out.
4. There are not openings.

When the pigs start out-smarting us, then it is time for them to go. Actually we scheduled their end prior to this spate of pork escapes. Maybe they know what's coming.

Next week Monday and Wednesday, we will be taking this batch of pastured pigs to our processors. If you are interested in pasture pork form Coulee View Family Farm, please contact us quickly so that we can talk about processing options.

Our pricing is pasted below by the cut or by the whole, half or quarter pig.

Click on the Image to Open a Larger Readable Version

Happy as a Pig in Mud

Ever hear the term "Happy as a Pig in Mud"? These pictures should help explain the saying.


Here are some rather happy pigs.


Why are pigs so happy in mud? Because pigs lack the ability to sweat, they need to get wet some other way to cool down. A puddle works. A mud hole works. And, as you can see, a hose works quite well.


Spray me. No, spray me! More please.