Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Livestock and Growing on a larger scale => Topic started by: Dopey113 on March 30, 2012, 19:24

Title: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on March 30, 2012, 19:24
Where would you buy a suckling pig from (for eating) I haven't a clue, and what's the kind of price you would pay for one?


Edited sucking to suckling for search purposes
Title: Re: Where would you buy a sucking pig?
Post by: Goldfinger on March 30, 2012, 19:54

I would / should price around, when I hear of people asking for a suckler, they get thier eyes taken out!  :tongue2:

You could go direct to a slaughter house, a high quality butcher, or a farm shop that deals with meat and not just veg.

I think you may need to give them a bit of notice that you're after one, I don't think they'll stock them as the 'normal' meats.

I'll text my Bro' (that's if he replies) to see how much they roughly they are. (up this end of the country though)
Title: Re: Where would you buy a sucking pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on March 30, 2012, 19:58
Yea for sure at this end of the UK, you can be sure I will get ripped off, the reason I ask is we are thinking of having one on the allotment have a BBQ for everyone and bring the family along as well, dont even matter if its posted!! as long as its fresh & tasty
Title: Re: Where would you buy a sucking pig?
Post by: Goldfinger on March 30, 2012, 20:06

Got a reply straight away, (surprised actually, probably 'cos he's got a new toy (tractor)  :lol: )

He's going to ask tomorrow, he doesn't know ATM.....
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on March 30, 2012, 20:25
Top man, I appreciate that  :D
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 30, 2012, 22:03
Hi Dopey113.  We've never had a suckling pig before, the ones we get are a bit older than that, but you could google Liz Shankland at Tudful Tamworths.  I know she sells her pigs, but don't know how much or whether she sells them that young, but she is worth a try!

Or try looking on the River Cottage forum.  They have a Farmer's market bit and I know several piggy people advertise on there.  (sorry everyone for plugging another forum, but it is useful on occasions!!)
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on March 30, 2012, 22:19
Well when I say suckling pig, I dont know what the heck im talking about, but I do mean a smallish one, and not a full blown porker, (or we will never eat it all), thanks for the links and ideas though, I will have a look and see
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 30, 2012, 23:29
It's one of these!  Not very big for the money though!

http://www.formanandfield.com/pughs-suckling-pig-p-537.html?referer=63&gclid=CK_kndzVj68CFREPfAodCBGt0w
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Gandan57 on March 31, 2012, 04:20
£30 a kilo, bone in, there`s value for money for you. ;) ;)

Wonder what it died of? ::)
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on March 31, 2012, 11:44
Not over eating or old age thats for sure!!
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 31, 2012, 16:34
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Goldfinger on April 02, 2012, 17:39

Well, my brother replied today.....

£110 for a 50kg pig. 

I think that price came from Jewitt's meats at Spennymoor, if anyone's thinking of going there.

He says the price per kilo at the moment is down compared to the 'norm'.

I hope this helps in giving you a rough estimate on what you may pay where you live.


Goldfinger.  ;)
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 02, 2012, 18:08
Thanks, Goldfinger (first bond film I saw when I was a kid!) I will see if they have a website now
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 02, 2012, 18:12
Got a phone number (no website though) will give them a ring this week, thanks again, and seems a reasonable price as well
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Goldfinger on April 02, 2012, 18:21

As I said though, prices may differ around the country.

Would it help if you looked on the 'net for national meat prices per kilo, like what you find in the back pages of the 'Farmers weekly'?
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 02, 2012, 18:30
I'm not too bothered about a few ££ here and there, as long as its reasonable I can live with that, at the end of the day I dont begrudge a farmer or butcher making a profit, and long as I dont get ripped off, I'm sure you know what I mean, I might even ask for boar when I ring, I think its a stronger taste isn't it?
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Goldfinger on April 02, 2012, 18:34

A spit roast Boar? That's a new one for me, may even be a first.  :lol:

They are stronger tasting though, more 'gamey' they say.
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 02, 2012, 19:21
Buy  a small one and a few bic disposable razors...  :D and away you go!!
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: scabs on April 04, 2012, 08:03
not a full blown porker, (or we will never eat it all),

I can help you with that.
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Griffete on April 04, 2012, 13:38
were having a pig roast on are Allotment and were paying £1.50 a 1lb for the pig so a 100lb pig would be £150 so were paying over the odds
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Fen on April 19, 2012, 12:56
Not wanting to spoil your day but cooking a whole pig, of any size is not simple. I would get professional advice, easy to burn the outside and leave the middle raw. Underdone pork is not good.
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 19, 2012, 12:58
I know how to cook, so im OK (used to be a chef)
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Fen on April 19, 2012, 19:02
Sorry -didn't know that!
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Markw on April 19, 2012, 19:26
If you can get down to Smithfield market you can order from a supplier there. they were about half the price you would pay at your local butchers, the company I sometime use can get them. about 2 days notice he told me. mind you you will need to be down there very early in the morning,
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 20, 2012, 13:32
Sorry -didn't know that!

How would you!  :lol:

If you can get down to Smithfield market you can order from a supplier there. they were about half the price you would pay at your local butchers, the company I sometime use can get them. about 2 days notice he told me. mind you you will need to be down there very early in the morning,

I just finished a job in Blackfriers (I was working on the bridge converting it in to a station) Smithfield market is about 1/2 mile from where I was working, I was doing nights, so it was open while I was working, i have to say, if your not a trader, then your not treated well at all, there are some stall that are more public friendly though, but they tend to sell limited produce like cut meats and sausages... man do they sell sausages 1,000s of them!! but i see what your getting at, if you do find the right stall and someone who cares, then you will get a good deal and product from them
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Markw on April 20, 2012, 19:15
Ah Blackfriers is that the Costain job ? anyway you should get a deal up there, If I was you I would get the freezer empty. I get a short loin of pork, you get about 17 chops and a roasting joint, a strip loin sirloin,  or a whole ribeye 5kg boneless chicken breasts (£20) 5kg of Cumberland sausages £5 that lasts me ages, you wont get a good deal if you only want a few chops and bits and pieces.  As being a chef you will know what you are talking about,all you need to do is cut it up and eat it or stick it in the freezer. you save loads of money buying it this way
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Dopey113 on April 20, 2012, 22:57
Skanska job... yea its true, the less you want to spend the more they get rid of there rubbish and off cuts, the more you spend the more they will help out with good deals, we get a van load of us go once a week and do a big order, then pick it up a few days later, he didn't have a pig he was asking about, i think he thought i was joking or he forgot
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: Markw on April 21, 2012, 08:31
H & C Meats for your suckling pig or pork, and yes this is the best frugal way of buying meat that is what we do as well. we charge our friends a small amount for our trouble and what we make pays for all our meat for the whole mouth, good quality and free for an hours work and back in bed by 5.30 am.
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: jay001 on April 21, 2012, 09:51
suckling pig eh dopy over here in the uk rather expensive cooked loads of them cheffing in europe and prices were good then,one of my hero,s ---( was hugh fernliey witinstall ) untill he became yet another comercial sellar of product,s so river cottage prices --look--- and then find a local butcher/farmer instead they will beet him and his super inflated prices  :tongue2: ps i have some super marrinade recipes for the tiny porker,s if interested  :D
cheers jay  8)
Title: Re: Where would you buy a suckling pig?
Post by: massa on July 03, 2012, 09:18
they used to sell them frozen at makro! wont be fresh or prob the best quality but readily available.