mbox-35: pork production

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I hear of plenty of folks raising free-range / Organic chicken, organic =
beef , eggs, and such for sale, and was thinking about ways to produce =
pork that would be of interest to CSA members or other discerning =
consumers concerned with the safety, nutrition, and flavor of their food =
and the environment.

Having worked on commercial hog farms in the past, I have no desire to =
build a multimillion $$ building and lagoon, but am interested in some =
form of "Pasture Pig" production system possibly combined with a Hoop =
House farrowing "barn" with a concrete floor where the sows would be =
bedded on wood chips or straw, and the waste and soiled bedding would be =
composted.

Anyone ever hear of anything similar? The hoop house idea was given to =
me from a friend who thought there was something on it on the internet, =
but I can't find it.

Also could use some info. on what is considered "organic" health care of =
livestock. Can vaccinations be used? Are antibiotics allowed for =
treatment of breeding animals (talking about injections to combat a =
specific illness, not preventative doses)?=20

If I take on this enterprise, I doubt that the pigs would be "organic" =
due to lack of available Organic feeds, but want to raise them to appeal =
to the "No additives, hormones, or antibiotics" crowd.

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Dear list,

I hear of plenty of folks raising free-range / = Organic=20 chicken, organic beef , eggs, and such for sale, and was thinking about = ways to=20 produce pork that would be of interest to CSA members or other = discerning=20 consumers concerned with the safety, nutrition, and flavor of their food = and the=20 environment.

Having worked on commercial hog farms in the past, I = have no=20 desire to build a multimillion $$ building and lagoon, but am interested = in some=20 form of "Pasture Pig" production system possibly combined with a Hoop = House=20 farrowing "barn" with a concrete floor where the sows would be bedded on = wood=20 chips or straw, and the waste and soiled bedding would be=20 composted.

Anyone ever hear of anything similar? The hoop house = idea was=20 given to me from a friend who thought there was something on it on the = internet,=20 but I can't find it.

Any feedback from others who sell meat as part of = their farm=20 operations?

Also could use some info. on what is considered "organic" health = care of=20 livestock. Can vaccinations be used? Are antibiotics allowed for = treatment of=20 breeding animals (talking about injections to combat a specific illness, = not=20 preventative doses)?

If I take on this enterprise, I doubt that the pigs would be = "organic" due=20 to lack of available Organic feeds, but want to raise them to appeal to = the "No=20 additives, hormones, or antibiotics" crowd.

Amy

Long Island VA

akjedj@gamewood.net