WHAT IS "JUST HALF A PIG"?
Exactly that! You buy "half a pig" - usually known as a "side" of pork, butchered in the standard way, with all joints and pork chops cut to your own requirements.
We then arrange free local delivery direct to your home. So if you want free range pork and like to support local producers, you can't go wrong with a side of pork from us.
If you would like to call and see the pigs, just let us know and we can arrange for you to come and visit our smallholding.
ORGANIC?
Strictly speaking, no. We're too small scale to pay the Organic Certification fees but we think you'll agree that our truly free range product is about as good as it gets. Pigs have a natural rooting instinct that can only be achieved through free range living conditions. Home-fed or farm-reared usually still means they are kept indoors in a pen or a sty and on a concrete floor - much better than large scale commercial production of pigs, but still nowhere near as good as free range.
OUR PIGS
Our happy pigs are reared outdoors with a constant supply of fresh water. They can root around in the earth, wallow in the mud and on sunnier days they can either lay out in the sun or shelter in their hut.
We feed them all our leftovers (no meat - it's illegal), fruit, vegetables and pig nuts. Plus, whatever they can root out from the ground.
We do not use steroids, growth hormones or anti-biotics (unless required for veterinary reasons). The breeds we have are Rare Breed Pigs and are naturally slower to fatten up, this all helps impove the taste of the meat, which is fine by us!
WHEN?
In 2007 we ordered six Saddleback weaners from a young breeder in South Crosland. We took delivery at 8 weeks old and when they were ready at 22 weeks we took them to a local abattoir (close to Ainley Top roundabout) who also did the butchery. Free local delivery was provided directly to our customers home at which point the curing, drying, freezing, processing and cooking and tasting began.
In 2008, we have 5 Gloucestershire Old Spots (GOS's) that will be ready towards the end of June 08 / beginning of Jul 08, and we have 6 Saddlebacks that will be ready towards the end of August.
Stop Press (11/06/08) There are just 2 sides of the Gloucestershire Old Spots left.
WHERE ARE WE?
Knoll Top Smallholding is in Netherthong, Nr Holmfirth West Yorkshire. It's at the top of Knoll Lane between Honley and Netherthong - hence the name "Knoll Top"!
COST
We charge £6.00/kg for a side of pork and would expect it to weigh around 20kg-25kg. We will charge you a maximum of £120.00 per side which is inclusive of all costs including butchery and local delivery.
How does our price compare? We're not even going to consider the cheap, tasteless supermarket pork packed full of chemicals and intensively farmed with the minimum of welfare requirments. The superb quality meat we're offering is FREE RANGE PORK and it isn't that easy to find in the shops. Many farm shops sell home- fed or farm-reared pork but that's not the same as FREE RANGE so be aware of what you're buying!
SO WHAT NEXT?
Please let us know if wish to place an order either by e-mailing us on enquiry@justhalfapig.co.uk or calling on 01484 681809. An initial deposit of £30 guarantees your side of pork. We will then contact you a week before your side of pork is ready, to arrange delivery. The final payment is due on delivery.
STANDARD CUT
The number of joints will vary depending upon the size of the pig and your personal preference. A standard cut will include shoulder joints (about 3), the loin - either jointed or cut into chops with kidney, 3 leg joints and the belly either thinly sliced or cut into joints. Then there's the fore - which is the front leg and the head, trotters and tail - we cannot always guaruntee the head but will always ask for it to be included unless otherwise stated.