Get Your Questions Answered
Learn all about our products, processes, Meishans, and more!
our products
What is heritage pork?
Heritage pork is meat from pig breeds that pre-date modern industrial farming practices. These breeds are known for their adaptability, hardiness, and ability to thrive on pasture-based systems, resulting in flavorful, well-marbled meat.
How do you sell your pork?
We sell individual cuts directly to customers in Stillwater County and through the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, at the Red Lodge Farmers Market, and at the Bozeman Farmers Market. Our online shop will be reopening soon for you to order meat bundles and individual cuts to pick up locally.
cooking your pork
what’s the best way to prepare pastured pork?
Meishan cooks best low and slow. Find cooking tips and recipes on our blog, or review this guide for tips!
what is the lard like?
Meishan lard is packed with vitamin D and renders at a lower temperature with much less odor than ‘typical’ lard. Anyone who is a serious baker will LOVE Meishan lard!
about meishans
why are meishans so special?
Meishans are an amazing breed for many reasons! Their calm, curious, and friendly nature make them easy to care for and a joy to raise. They are incredibly hardy with high disease-resistance, and their meat is delicious!
why eat meishans if they are so rare?
Like many other conservation breeders, we follow the “breed the best, eat the rest” philosophy. Not all animals have the ideal traits we want in our Meishan herd and the breed overall. More importantly, creating a practical use and market for Meishans and other heritage breeds ensures that the people raising them can create sustainable, stable businesses to support our herds long term.
where did the breed come from?
Meishans have been domesticated in the Taihu region of China for over 5,000 years!
our practices
what’s the difference between pasture-raised and grassfed pork?
Pigs are single-stomach omnivores just like us, and therefore need more than grass to be truly healthy. All our pigs are given free room to roam on our pastures where they do eat grass, but the foundation of their diet is a custom Montana grain and mineral mix sourced from a locally owned mill and Montana farmers.
do your pigs receive hormones, antibiotics, or medicines?
We never use hormones on our pigs. We will use antibiotics and other available medicines ONLY in individual animals and when medically needed and recommended by our veterinarian. We carefully exceed any withholding requirements and will be upfront when selling and processing pork from these animals.
what are the pigs’ lives like?
Our pigs roam freely on pasture for their entire lives. We do not use farrowing or gestational crates ever. We encourage natural behaviors, such as rooting, nesting, wallowing, group living, and co-farrowing.
is your pork organic?
We are currently preparing for organic certification, which is a three year process. While we are not yet certified, we follow organic practices.
how do you care for your land?
Our practices promote the health of our native prairie ecosystem, which means we don’t cover crop or till and encourage perennial and reseeding native pasture plants. We manage rooting and disturbance through rotational pasturing, and have planted 300+ trees (with more to come!) to create natural shelterbelts, windbreaks, and forage for wildlife and livestock.
We support our native ecosystem by using non-lethal methods and practices to deter large predators, and are planting plant species and shelterbelts to encourage local bat, bird, and pollinator populations.