One of the most common questions we hear from customers considering a hog share is:

"What cuts will I actually get?"

The answer depends on your cutting instructions, but most customers are pleasantly surprised by how much variety comes from a single Kunekune hog.

When you purchase a whole or half hog from Dos Lobos Ranch, you're not simply buying pork—you're stocking your freezer with a wide range of premium cuts that can feed your family for months.

Depending on your custom processing selections, a whole hog may include:

Bacon

Bacon is often the first cut customers ask about—and for good reason.

Our pasture-raised Kunekune pork is known for exceptional marbling and rich flavor. Because Kunekunes are a smaller heritage breed, bacon is one of the most limited cuts available.

Most whole hog customers can expect approximately 12-15 pounds of bacon, depending on carcass size and processing choices.  You'll also receive bacon ends and pieces (1-2 pounds).

You can select thick, medium, or thin-cut bacon, cured & smoked, or uncured.

Pork Chops

Pork chops are cut from the loin and are one of the most versatile cuts in the freezer.

Our hogs typically yield 12-16 pounds worth of chops.

Options often include:

• Bone-in chops
• Boneless chops
• Thick-cut chops
• Thin-cut chops

Pork Ribeyes (Coppa or Shoulder Steaks)

One of the most sought-after cuts from our Kunekune pork.

Pork ribeyes come from the shoulder and offer exceptional marbling, tenderness, and flavor. Many customers compare them favorably to premium beef steaks.

Our pork shoulders yield on average 5-8 pounds per shoulder.  You can leave these as roasts or opt to have them made into ribeyes.

Sausage

Sausage is one of the most flexible ways to use your hog share.  Average yield of ground pork for sausage on one of our Kunekune hogs falls in the 15-20 pound range, more should you choose to grind more such as grinding the hams (leg).

Common options include:

• Breakfast sausage (Mild, Hot, Maple, Italian)
• Specialty sausage (Bratwursts or Summer Sausage with a 10 pound minimum per flavor.  Only whole hog share purchases qualify for this option due to the limited amount of grind you will get from one of our hogs).

Ribs

Most hog shares include:

• Baby back ribs (we DO NOT recommend baby backs from our hogs -- because Kunekunes are a smaller breed, the baby backs are too small to amount to anything.  We recommend the spare ribs instead).
• Spare ribs
• Country Style ribs

Perfect for smoking, grilling, or slow cooking.  Ribs usually yield 3 pounds worth.

Roasts

Roasts are excellent for family meals and meal prep.  Roasts are typically 8 pounds worth from the shoulders (Boston butt) and more if you select any other types of roasts, but it may change your desired amount of ground for sausages.

Common roast cuts include:

• Boston butt
• Picnic roast
• Loin roast
• Sirloin roast
• Osso bucco

When we butcher, we usually just do Boston butt roasts or pork ribeyes if any roasts at all and grind the picnic.

Ham

Customers can often choose:

• Fresh ham (no curing)
• Tenderized cutlet steaks (no curing)
• Smoked whole or half ham
• Ham steaks

Processing options vary by butcher.  Each ham (leg) of our Kunekune hogs yields about 8-10 pounds each.

Ground Pork

Ground pork is one of the most versatile products in the freezer.  Keep in mind this is can be limited depending upon the amount of sausage you want.

Use it for:

• Meatballs
• Burgers
• Meatloaf
• Stir fry
• Homemade sausage

Other Specialty Cuts

Depending on your preferences, you may also choose:

• Pork belly (changes your bacon yield should you select this)
• Jowl bacon (very small 1/4 pound yield per cheek)
• Hocks (usually left over from smoked hams)
• Feet
• Soup bones (5-15 pounds)
• Fat for rendering lard (20-30 pounds worth)
• Organ meats (5 pounds of heart, liver, kidneys)
  

Nothing goes to waste unless you choose otherwise.  

**On that note, the butcher we use will not do chicharrones (skin), brains, or any other specialty requests of the like (but they will let you take the head).

Grand Totals

Our Kunekune hogs average 110-150 pound hang weights and a 200-250 pound live weight.  A whole hog will yield 75-90 pounds of meaty cuts (depending upon your selection), 5 pounds of organs, 5-15 pounds of bones, and 20-30 pounds of fat.  Total take home if you opt for all meaty cuts + bones + organs + fat = 105 lbs.-140 lbs.

Comparing our Kunekune hogs to a commercial-sized heritage hog (such as a Berkshire), our Kunekunes yield approximately 25% less than a commercial hog.  While the Kunekunes may not compete on overall size of the animal and meat yield, where they win is the flavor and overall meat quality.

Absolutely.

One of the biggest advantages of buying directly from a farm is the ability to customize how your pork is processed.

You'll typically have choices regarding:

• Chop thickness
• Bacon thickness
• Sausage flavoring
• Roast sizes
• Ham options
• Specialty cuts
  
  

We'll guide you through the process so you don't need any prior experience.

Before reserving a hog share, it's important to understand freezer requirements.

Most customers find that:

A half hog requires approximately 4 cubic feet of freezer space.
A whole hog requires approximately 7 cubic feet of freezer space.

 👇Read our Freezer Space Guide👇

Many families find hog shares provide:

• Better value per pound
• Consistent supply
• Higher quality pork
• Access to premium cuts
• Greater connection to their food source

Most customers tell us they wish they had started sooner.

Ready to stock your freezer?

Learn more about our whole and half hog shares and reserve your place in an upcoming processing group.

👇View Whole & Half Hog Shares👇

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bacon comes from a whole hog?

Most customers receive approximately 12-15 pounds of bacon, depending on carcass size and processing selections.

How many pork chops come in a whole hog?

The number varies based on chop thickness and processing preferences, but many customers receive 12-16 chops from a whole hog, depending upon your chosen thickness of the cut.

Can I choose how my pork is cut?

Yes. Customers typically receive a cut sheet and can customize many aspects of processing.

Is a half hog enough for a family?

For many families, a half hog can provide several months of pork, depending on household size and eating habits.  (For our family of 2, we go through 2-3 whole hogs per year, but we really... really... REALLY... love our Kunekune pork!)

Do I need a chest freezer?

Most customers purchasing a half or whole hog use a dedicated freezer, although freezer requirements vary depending on available space and other foods stored.

Why are some cuts limited like bacon?

A pig only has two halves to its belly, which is where the bacon comes from.  So what that animal has cannot be changed.