HOG BUYERS GUIDE

A half hog can be approximately 115 lbs. And a whole hog can be approximately 230 lbs. The hanging weight hog.

BUYING A HALF OR WHOLE HOG

Buying meat in bulk is the most economical way to buy meat. You get the advantage of having the meat cut and wrapped the way you like it and at a bulk rate.

During the month of January, we have a steal of a deal on buying a half or whole hog. We get questions about how to order a half hog and how to choose the cuts you want. We thought we’d take the time to answer some of the commonly asked questions and give you the advice we give to all our customers when ordering a whole or half hog.

HOW MUCH DOES A HALF OR WHOLE HOG COST?

Please call us. We are happy to let you know the current cost.

WHAT CUTS SHOULD I GET?

Buying pork in bulk can sometimes be confusing, especially if you’ve never bought your meat this way.

The best place to start is to think about what cuts of pork you and your family like to eat.

Do you eat pork chops? Bacon? Ribs? Do you make smoked pork butt roasts? Soups and stews?

This will help us recommend to you how to cut your half or whole hog. You will receive freezer wrapped, in quality freezer paper, cuts that will last up to one year in your freezer.

Cuts of Pork:

Loin

Belly

Ham

Shoulders

Ribs

Loin

The loin section runs along the top of the ribs. You can choose to have this as a loin roast, specified as bone-in or boneless and desired size of roasts (average is 2 to 3 lbs). Alternately, you can have the loin cut into chops (bone-in) or steaks (boneless) and specify a thickness (average is 1?).

Belly

Fresh side, also known as pork belly, can be prepared in any number of ways. The belly is where the bacon comes from.

You can choose to have it made into bacon, which is cured and smoked for you. Our no-nitrate maple sugar and hickory smoked bacon is a favorite among our customers.

Instead of having the side meat cured and smoked, you could choose to have it fresh to cure it yourself. Or ask to have it added to your ground or sausage meat.

Ham

The ham can be left fresh or cured and smoked. You can leave the ham whole, have it cut in half, cut into roasts or steaks. The most popular way to cut the ham is center cut ham steaks and leave the ends as roasts.

Shoulder

The shoulder is where the Boston Butt and Picnic Roast are located. The shoulder can be left whole, cut in half as a whole Boston Butt or Picnic or ground. The Boston Butt and Picnic can be further cut into roasts or steaks.

Ribs

The most popular way to have the ribs cut is “spare ribs,” which are basically the whole ribs. You could instead have them cut into what’s known as St. Louis style ribs.

Ground Pork & Sausage

Any meat that you specify or whatever is not included in the cuts you’ve selected can be ground and left as ground pork or used for sausage. You can choose from Italian hot or mild, Basque chorizo, cajun creole, or breakfast sausage.

CAN I ORDER HALF OR WHOLE HOG ANYTIME?

Yes, you can order a half or whole hog at any time of the year. However, January is the only month to get this smokin’ deal.

Please call us 775-883-0211 to order your half or whole hog, and choose how you would like your hog cut and wrapped.

Butler Meats sells sides of beef as well.