The pig production system divides the herd into ten age-groups of 40-sows each. Every 2-weeks a group of 40 sows is artificially inseminated using semen from our own boars, a group farrows, a group of piglets are weaned at 3weeks of age and transferred to the weaner house. Sows are inseminated within 1 week of weaning. Using a 3-week weaning system the farm can achieve up to 2.4 litters per year and average 12 piglets per litter, providing 30 piglets per sow per year. At 8 weeks the weaners are transferred to the Grower & Finisher houses and achieve 100kg liveweight before 22weeks of age. This allows the sell 200 pigs per week (10,000 per year) to the pork market.
Key to the production system is the genetics of the pigs, quality feeds and skilled management. Also with the prevalence pig diseases, NFC has a full biosecurity system, restricting access to the farm and the pig unit and requiring all staff & visitors to undergo a full dry change of clothing and footwear to enter the farm and a further full shower, clothing & footwear change to access the pigs.
NFC will have the first pigs available for the pork market in early September 2020 under the brand “Hometown Hog – Great Tasting Pork”. At only five months old, NFC pork will be tender and juicy with 20% more meat than a traditional local pork carcass and minimal fat. NFC will also be chilling the carcasses to +/- 7degress centigrade to sustain high meat quality. With the introduction of an international standard abattoir at the farm, NFC will also be able export pork into the regional market.